The opportunities in manure management

By Lilian Schaer for Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC)

Manure is arguably one of agriculture’s most under-appreciated resources. Far from being just a waste product, it carries significant nutrient and economic value when managed well, supporting soil health, reducing input costs, and contributing to more sustainable production systems. 

The topic was part of a recent Getting Research Into Practice (GRIP) roundtable hosted by Livestock Research Innovation Corporation (LRIC) that brought together researchers, industry representatives, and farmers to explore practical ways of turning livestock research into real-world results. 

Mel Luymes of the Ontario Professional Agri-Contractors Association (OPACA) was among the featured speakers at the event, highlighting both the challenges and the untapped opportunities in how Ontario’s livestock sector handles manure.

“Every species has manure, and every farm system manages it differently,” said Luymes. “But across the board, manure is one of the most important parts of renewable, sustainable, and regenerative agriculture. How we handle it will determine our ability to protect the environment, manage nutrients efficiently, and remain economically competitive.”

Lessons from past crises

History has shown that significant change in manure management often comes in response to crisis. Luymes pointed to the Walkerton Water Crisis in 2000 as a turning point, when the town’s water supply became contaminated with E. coli from manure. 
That led to the development of Ontario’s Nutrient Management Act, as well as the Clean Water Act and new approaches to source water protection. This included new requirements for farmers, such as mandatory nutrient management plans for larger farms, a minimum 240 day on-farm storage capacity for liquid manure, and restrictions on spreading nutrients between December 1 and March 31. 

Government stewardship funding made available through various programs helped farmers adapt to the new rules, noted Luymes.

Similarly, concerns over phosphorus loading into Lake Erie, highlighted by Toledo’s drinking water crisis in 2014, resulted in the Lake Erie Action Plan under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. 

To date, Ontario’s approach has focused largely on voluntary action, such as through 4R Nutrient Stewardship programs that use the principles of the Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, and Right Place for applying fertilizers and other nutrients to crops, along with incentive funding and extension activities, she added. 

Timing Matters, an initiative between farm organizations and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness to promote best timing of manure application throughout the year, has also played a key role in promoting a better understanding of manure's value, manure storage options, application equipment, and timing.

“The goal has always been simple: keep manure and nutrients out of water,” Luymes noted. “We need proactive, practical pathways to get research into practice so that we’re ready before the next crisis hits and not reacting to it after the fact.”

Seeing manure as an asset

A major shift is underway in how manure is perceived. Instead of viewing it as waste to be disposed of, farmers are increasingly recognizing its fertilizer value.

“A160-foot diameter liquid dairy manure pit can hold $130,000 worth of nutrients,” Luymes explained. “But that value only matters if we apply it responsibly and efficiently.”

Hog manure averages about $43 per 1,000 gallons, for example, compared to dairy manure at about $28. However, the economic benefit is shaped by logistics such as transportation and application costs. 

OPACA is encouraging conversations between farmers about buying and selling manure to better balance nutrient distribution and avoid over-application, winter spreading or storage challenges.

Contractors at the front line

OPACA represents professional contractors who perform fieldwork including manure application for livestock farms across Ontario. In Europe, Luymes pointed out, 70 to 80% of livestock farmers outsource this work. While Ontario isn’t at that level, contracting is a growing trend as farms become larger, equipment becomes more expensive, and labour becomes tighter.

Climate change: the next frontier

According to Luymes, the most difficult challenge may still lie ahead: climate change. Methane emissions from manure storage are a contributor to greenhouse gases, and solutions are needed.

“Not all manure is created equal, and every species contributes differently to methane emissions,” Luymes said. “But the common thread is that methane is created in anaerobic conditions, particularly in liquid storage systems. The key is either preventing methane from forming or capturing it for energy use.”

Research is underway on a range of solutions, including:

•    Aeration: reduces methane about 40% and can be cost-effective.
•    Covers with flares: up to 90% effective but costly.
•    Acidification: highly effective but expensive and complex.
•    Separation: about 20-50% depending on the technology, effective by removing carbon sources.

Luymes emphasized that economics are central to adoption. 

“It’s not enough to know something works; we have to know the capital costs, interest rates, annual operating costs, and potential benefits,” she said.

Innovation and new opportunities

Emerging innovations with potential to transform manure management include:

•    Value-added application – blending fertilizer with manure for one-pass efficiency, already being done in Europe.
•    On-the-go nutrient sensing – manure systems that measure nutrients in real time for precision application.
•    Separation and water recycling – technologies that can return water from manure streams for reuse in livestock systems.
•    Aeration retrofits – cost-effective upgrades for existing pits.
•    Dribble booms – applying manure at low pressure to reduce odour and nutrient losses.
•    In-crop applications – extending the season by applying manure into corn up to the V3 stage or beyond.

“These are things we could be doing, places we could be going,” Luymes said. “The hope is that it won’t take another crisis to push us there.”

Looking ahead

For LRIC, manure management represents both a challenge and an opportunity. The challenge is to protect water, reduce emissions, and ensure animal health. The opportunity lies in unlocking manure’s true value – as a nutrient resource, a tool for regenerative agriculture, and even a source of renewable energy.

“It’s not just about developing the science. It’s about ensuring research makes its way into practice in a way that farmers can adopt, afford, and trust,” said LRIC CEO Kelly Somerville. 

Ontario will have the opportunity to showcase its leadership when it hosts the annual North American Manure Expo in 2027. The event will bring contractors, researchers, and extension specialists together to share the latest innovations and practical tools. 

“Manure may not be glamorous, but it’s the foundation of sustainable agriculture. If we get it right, it will support our farms, our environment, and our future prosperity,” added Luymes.

This article was published in December 2025 edition of Better Pork and Fall 2025 edition of The Connection.