Farmers and agriculture professionals who credit fertilizer nutrients applied to fields in manure applications may reduce the cost of crop production inputs. Manure applications also will provide secondary and micronutrients for crops. In addition, manure has organic properties and nutrients will be available in small amounts for additional growing seasons.

The Manure Value Calculator spreadsheet is available to calculate the value of manure nutrients in dollars per ton when compared to current cost of commercial fertilizer of urea, Diammonium phosphate (DAP), and potash. These are common commercial fertilizers used by farmers when primary nutrients are required in crops.

The value of common commercial fertilizers and manure nutrient levels can be adjusted in the spreadsheet.  Book values of manure nutrients are provided (N, K2O and P2O5), but can be adjusted with actual manure nutrient test values a farm may have.  The spreadsheet also calculates the fertilizer value produced on average by a dairy cow (1400lb) based on a year’s worth of production.

To provide accurate fertilizer credits from manure applications it is important to calibrate your manure spreader. This video provides instructions on calibrating your manure spreader.