Before continuing this article, readers should ponder their response to the question posed in the subtitle: What do you think about manure usage in cropping systems? Would you use manure as a fertilizer to grow potatoes, small grains and/or other crops? Is it superior or inferior to inorganic fertilizers? How would manure usage in cropping systems impact soil health metrics and crop production?According to the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), manure is underutilized worldwide, with less than 25 percent of manure generated applied as fertilizer. For livestock operations, nutrients in the form of feed are imported onto the farm. Meanwhile, crop-producing operations import nutrients in the form of inorganic fertilizers. The application of inorganic fertilizers to regional cropland instead of manure utilization represents a net increase of nutrients to the region. This contributes toa regional imbalanceand over-application of nutrients. Connecting livestock producers who have an excess of livestock manure with crop farmers who can utilize manure as a fertilizer and offset application of inorganic fertilizer can provide a win-win situation. Furthermore, manure and compost application can improve soil health by increasing soil carbon because those products are high in organic carbon themselves.
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