What is in manure?
Manure contains nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, organic matter and many other nutrients, plus microbes. The amounts vary by species, feed, bedding and storage. Poultry manure is often richer in nutrients than horse or cattle manure, but your own manure can only be known by testing it.
A manure analysis from a lab shows what you have. Ask your extension office how to sample and which lab to use.
Fresh and aged manure differ in how fast the nutrients become available. Fresh manure has more ammonia that can burn plants, while aged or composted manure is milder and more stable.
How does the nutrient cycle work on a small farm?
Animals eat feed and forage, keep some of the nutrients and return the rest in manure and urine. If manure is spread on fields, nutrients grow forage and crops that feed the animals again. If it piles up in one place, nutrients concentrate and can leak out.
Bringing in feed adds nutrients to the farm over time. Many small farms end up with more nutrients than the land can use, so planning where manure goes is part of the job.
Phosphorus tends to build up in soils that receive manure year after year, and high levels raise the chance of runoff. Test your soil and adjust your plan if phosphorus is already high.
- Animals produce manure
- Manure feeds soil and plants
- Plants feed animals again
- Surplus leaks out unless planned for
How should I store manure?
Store manure on a surface and in a location that keeps rain from washing it away. Keep piles away from wells, streams, ditches and wet areas, and cover them where possible. Local rules may set distances and storage requirements.
Check with your county conservation district, NRCS office or extension office. They can help with simple, low-cost storage methods that fit a small farm.
Bedding choice changes the nutrient picture. Wood shavings, straw and paper all behave differently in compost and in soil, so record what you use. A simple pad of compacted gravel or concrete with a roof or cover keeps nutrients from leaching, but even a tarp over a pile on well-drained ground is better than an open heap beside a ditch. Ask conservation staff what suits your budget.
- Away from water and wells
- Covered or on a solid base where possible
- On level ground that does not drain to a ditch
- Out of reach of children and pets
How do I apply manure wisely?
Apply based on soil tests, manure analysis and crop needs, not by guess. Avoid spreading on frozen, snow-covered or saturated ground, and avoid spreading before heavy rain. Keep a buffer between application and any water.
Spreading thinly across a large area uses nutrients better than spreading thickly in one place. Record what you apply, when and where.
Spread on fields with growing plants or cover, since they take up nutrients and hold soil. Bare, sloping ground sheds nutrients to ditches in heavy rain. Calibrating how much a spreader or bucket actually delivers is worth doing once. Weigh a few loads and measure the area, so you know the real amount per square foot instead of guessing.
What about food safety and animal health?
Raw manure can carry disease organisms. Food safety guidance for gardens and farms sets handling and timing rules for using manure on food crops, and compost made with proper methods reduces risk. Ask your extension office for current guidance before applying manure near food crops.
Wash hands after handling manure, wear gloves and keep children away. Manure from sick animals needs extra care, so ask your veterinarian.
Keep animals out of garden areas where manure may contaminate crops, and keep wild animals and pets away from stored piles.
What if I have too much manure?
Surplus can be composted, shared with neighbors who have gardens, or hauled away. Sales and transfer rules for manure and compost vary by state, so ask your state agriculture department.
If you have more animals than your land can handle, consider adjusting numbers, adding acreage for spreading or finding steady partners to take manure. Make a plan before piles get out of hand.
Share your plan with a neighbor who farms. They may have equipment or fields that can use extra manure, and you may gain a helpful partner.
- Compost it
- Share with gardeners
- Reduce animal numbers
- Add acreage for spreading
Key takeaways
- Test manure and soil so you know what you are applying.
- Store manure away from water, on a base that sheds rain.
- Do not spread on frozen or saturated ground or ahead of heavy rain.
- Check food safety guidance before using manure on food crops.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Homestead & Small Farm Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.