Program Information

We’re here today to talk about the letter M, for Manure. Pretty much everybody knows that manure is animal waste. But did you know it’s sometimes called “black gold?”…. That’s because for centuries before there were any chemical fertilizers, smart farmers and gardeners used manure to increase crop yields and improve their soil. Manure contains a rich and wide range of mineral and nutrients. It provides abundant amounts of the three main chemicals your plants need- Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Most importantly, it also contains many of the micro-nutrients that plants need to thrive and grow.

ABCs of Agriculture informs about Virginia's farming community and how it affects you. ABCs of Agriculture are produced by the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) - an educational program which encourages and enhances agricultural literacy in Grades K-5 and 6-8.

Transcript

Hello, and welcome to the ABC’s of Agriculture! We’re here today to talk about the letter M, for Manure. Pretty much everybody knows that manure is animal waste. But did you know it’s sometimes called “black gold?”….

That’s because for centuries before there were any chemical fertilizers, smart farmers and gardeners used manure to increase crop yields and improve their soil. Manure contains a rich and wide range of mineral and nutrients. It provides abundant amounts of the three main chemicals your plants need- Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium. Most importantly, it also contains many of the micro-nutrients that plants need to thrive and grow.

The second benefit of manure is that it improves the composition of the soil. Typically what is spread on cropland contains both animal waste and straw (or sometimes sawdust). In addition to all of those valuable natural chemicals and nutrients, well-decomposed manure adds compost that holds moisture and promotes easier, and healthier, root growth.

Like anything else, too much manure in one place is not a good thing. That’s why Virginia farmers have worked for decades to carefully measure how much manure is applied to their land. Farmers now have nutrient management plans on about half a million acres in Virginia, as well as storage facilities, so they only apply the minimum amount of manure needed to feed their crops. This helps protect the Chesapeake Bay and other waterways from pollution.

Gardeners understand this too. Fresh manure is very high in nitrogen content and can damage your plants. That’s why they should always used well-composed manure, and only the amount needed, just like farmers do.

What kind of manures do gardeners use? The answer is, usually what is available in your area. The top four manures used by gardeners nationwide are Cow- Horse- Chicken- and Turkey manure. That’s no bull!

For the ABC’s of Agriculture, I’m Professor Brad… see you next time!

Virginia Standards