Season 1 Episode 4 - Using Manures as Part of a Soil Health System

Indiana ranks amongst the top in production of hogs, chickens, and turkeys and ranks first in the nation for duck production. It is also home to one of the largest and innovative dairies in the country. With livestock production; comes manure. What was once a wasteful by-product is now being used as part of a farmer’s soil health strategy. Indiana farmer Gordan Smiley and Consultant Kristin Whittington discuss those strategies.

Smiley Farms has worked to apply manure on an established cover crop even though they are part of a no-till system. The injection of manure still falls within minimal disturbance of the soil. That cover crop is there to help hold the soil in place. The established roots are able to take those nutrients from the manure immediately.