Phosphorus Management on Livestock Farms
Introduction to case studies
This series of case studies provides strategies to reduce excess soil test phosphorus buildup on livestock farms and demonstrate the economic and environmental value of balancing imports vs. exports of phosphorus entering and leaving dairy and beef finishing farms.
Acquire more land through lease, purchase, or exchange
Reduce net phosphorus imports into a dairy farm by acquiring more crop land through lease, purchase, or exchange.
Eliminate starter phosphorus fertilizer on fields with elevated soil test P - beef feedlot
The economic and environmental value of eliminating phosphorus from starter fertilizer on beef feedlots.
Eliminate starter phosphorus fertilizer on fields with elevated soil test P - dairy farm
The economic and environmental value of eliminating phosphorus from starter fertilizer on dairy farms.
Export dairy pen-pack manure
The economic and environmental value of exporting manure from farms where farm phosphorus imports exceed exports and soil test phosphorus is very high.
Incorporate manure to prevent nitrogen losses
Demonstrates the economic and environmental value of incorporating manure to prevent nitrogen losses, provide an opportunity for sale of manure, and reduce excessive buildup of soil test phosphorus.
Increase crop production on existing fields
Increasing crop production from existing acres for feed or sale, can reduce excessive soil-test phosphorus buildup and reduce net phosphorus imports into a dairy farm.
Reduce feed waste/feed shrink
Demonstrates the economic and environmental value of reducing imports of phosphorus into dairy farms by reducing feed waste/feed shrink.
Reduce phosphorus levels in the lactation ration
Demonstrates the economic and environmental value of reducing imports of feed ration phosphorus into dairy farms when lactation phosphorus levels are above NRC recommendations.
Stop or reduce importing poultry manure
Demonstrates the economic and environmental value of reducing imports of manure into farms where farm phosphorus imports exceed exports and soil test phosphorus is very high.