A pork specialist is trying to convince farmers that hog manure is a valuable fertilizer and not a waste byproduct.
“We’re trying to convince crop farmers of the value of hog manure,” said Art Lange with Alberta Agriculture.
At today’s fertilizer prices, Lange estimates the manure from a three-million gallon lagoon is worth $32,100. At last year’s lower fertilizer prices, Lange estimated manure from the same lagoon would be worth $19,380.
A three-million gallon lagoon represents manure from the yearly production of 600 sows farrow-to-finish or 5,200 feeder pigs.
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“That’s an incredible amount of money and something that hog producers should make every effort to recover by application on their own fields or selling manure to their neighbors,” Lange said.
“We’re trying to put a positive spin on it by showing hog producers and others the benefits of it.”
Lange has analyzed the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus in liquid hog manure.
He estimates there are 35 pounds of nitrogen per 1,000 gallons of manure.
There are 11 lb. of phosphorus in the same 1,000 gallons of manure.
The nitrogen and phosphorus in 1,000 gallons of manure was worth $14.96 in 2000. It’s estimated to be worth $19.20 this year.
“There is a product here and it has a value,” Lange said.
“The image we’re trying to change is from hog manure from a waste product to a resource.”
Lange doesn’t have to convince hog producer Bryan Perkins of Wainwright, Alta.
He has sold liquid manure from his 1,300-sow operation for five years and has a long list of interested farmers.
“No question it has value,” Perkins said.
“We have people on a list for next year’s manure.”
Perkins sells the manure based on the price of fertilizer and the distance between the field and the lagoon.
Perkins said one farmer told him he was willing to pay more than what Perkins was charging because of its benefits.
“It really works.”
Because of the high amount of phosphorus in the manure, Perkins applies manure to his own fields once every three years with the rate based on soil test recommendations.
