Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

Manure Management Regulations:
Highlights of Regulations Applying to All Sizes of Poultry Farms

Manure Regulations 

In Manitoba, manure is regulated under the Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation (MR 52/2004).  The regulations cover manure storage structure permits, registration of manure storages, land application of manure, annual manure management plans, winter spreading as well as general protection of surface and groundwater. This factsheet outlines some, but not all, of the regulations that apply to all poultry farms – regardless of the number of animal units. For complete details, a copy of the regulations can be obtained from Manitoba Conservation or by contacting the Statutory Publications Office (1-800-321-1203 or in Winnipeg, 945-3101).

 Manure Storage Permits

 No person can build, modify or expand a manure storage structure without a permit from Manitoba Conservation.  All new manure storage structures must be at least 100 m from property boundaries, watercourses, sinkholes or wells.  A professional engineer must conduct a site investigation, design the storage, supervise construction and provide final certification of the storage.  Manitoba Conservation also inspects the storage during and at the completion of construction.  The storage design and regulatory requirements for manure storage structures can be obtained through Manitoba Conservation or Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives. 

Registration of Manure Storage Structures

 All manure storage structures must be registered with Manitoba Conservation.  Those storage structures that have a permit are already deemed to be registered.  Operations that have manure storage structures that do not have a permit, must apply for registration by June 10, 2004.  Prior to registration, Manitoba Conservation must inspect the manure storage structure and may require that it be upgraded.  Any storage that is not registered by November 10, 2010 cannot be used to store manure. 

 Soil Nitrate Limits

 The Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation contains limits for residual soil nitrate as well as limits for soil nitrate at any time of year.  Residual soil nitrate means the amount of nitrate nitrogen that remains in the soil after the production of a crop (i.e. after harvest or left over) but before the next fertilizer or manure application.  The soil nitrate limits at any time of the year, on the other hand, can apply to nitrate levels at any time of year - including during the growing season.   

The residual nitrate limits are based on the agricultural capability of the soil.  Class 1, 2 and 3 soils (except 3M and 3MW) are our best soils and have the highest residual nitrate limit of 140 lbs nitrate per acre.  Class 3M, 3MW  and class 4 soils have moderate agricultural capability and present a higher risk of nutrient loss to the environment.  For this reason, they have a lower nitrate limit of 90 lbs nitrate per acre.  Class 5 soils have limited agricultural capability and present a much higher risk of nutrient loss to the environment if not managed carefully.  The residual nitrate limit for class 5 soils is 30 lbs nitrate per acre.  The 30 lb residual nitrate limit on class 5 soils does not apply to operations existing as of March 30, 2004 unless they are notified in writing by Manitoba Conservation. 

 At no time of year – including the growing season – can the nitrate levels in soil exceed 2X the residual nitrate limits. 

 Lands Not Suitable for Manure 

Classes 6, 7 and unimproved organic soils are not considered suitable for manure application.  The Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation prohibits manure application to these soils.  Operations existing as of March 30, 2004 are exempt from this prohibition unless they are notified in writing by Manitoba Conservation. 

 Winter Spreading

 Applying manure during the winter is a concern because manure can runoff and enter water more easily when applied to frozen or snow-covered ground than when applied during the cropping season.  Under the Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation, winter spreading is between November 10 of one year and April 10 of the next.  

 All new operations (those that were built after March 30, 2004) and operations that are 300 animal units or greater are prohibited from winter spreading.  New operations and operations that are 400 animal units or greater must comply with the prohibition on winter spreading immediately.  Operations that are between 300 and 399 animal units in size have until November 10, 2010 to comply but these operations must comply with the winter spreading setbacks in Table 1.  Existing small operations (less than 300 animal units) are also allowed to land apply manure in the winter but they too must adhere to the regulatory setbacks (Table 1).  Regardless of farm size, no manure can be spread during the winter on land with a slope of greater than 12 percent. 

Land Application of Manure

 Under the Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation, any manure that is land applied in Manitoba must be used as a fertilizer for crop production. 

 General Prohibition on Polluting the Water Supply

 Manure cannot be allowed to pollute ground water, surface water or soil. Extra management practices and controls can be mandated in situations where pollution is occurring.

 Proposed Changes

 Manitoba is proposing to amend the Livestock Manure and Mortalities Management Regulation under The Environment Act so as to include phosphorus as a nutrient by which manure application to agricultural lands may be limited. The intent of the proposed amendment is to reduce the transport of phosphorus from agricultural soils that are fertilized with manure to surface waters; the ultimate objective being to improve the water quality of Lake Winnipeg.  The implication for many producers who use manure as a fertilizer is that additional spread lands will be required in order to meet the proposed requirements over the long term.  Other strategies that may be used to reduce phosphorus loading to soils by manure application include use of phytase, solid-liquid separation, adjustment of phosphorus in the feed ratio or other effective technologies.   

Livestock Branch, Manitoba Agriculture, Food & Rural Initiatives