ARS | Publication request: BALANCING CROPLAND AND LIVESTOCK ON WISCONSIN DAIRY FARMS

Submitted to: American Society of Agronomy
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: July 15, 2004
Publication Date: October 31, 2004
Citation: Saam, H., Powell, J.M., McCrory, D.F., Jackson-Smith, D.B. 2004. Balancing cropland and livestock on Wisconsin dairy farms [abstract]. American Society of Agronomy. Paper No. 5417.

Technical Abstract: In Wisconsin, dairy farms with stocking rates of less than 1.54 animal units (1000 lbs) ha-1 (55% of all farms) are self sufficient in forage and grain production and have more than adequate land for manure spreading. However, when the area of cropland on which manure is actually spread is taken into consideration, it is clear that the majority of farms (71%) do not spread on sufficient cropland to meet either manure N- or P-based land application standards. This paper explores the role that biophysical factors and dairy herd expansion may have on the ability of Wisconsin dairy farmers to increase their manured land base. Manure application data collected by 50 Wisconsin dairy farmers over a twelve month period were used to calculate the area of cropland annually receiving manure and to calculate field-level manure loading rates. Follow-up interviews were conducted to assess the relative impact of biophysical and spatial factors on manure land spreading decisions.