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Minnesota([email protected])

My dairy farmer neighbor brought over a load of cow manure recently. It's not fresh, but it's not real well broken down either. It is somewhat clumpy and mixed with straw. Do you think it's best to spread it over the patch this fall, or leave it in a pile, in hopes the middle of the pile stays warm, and it breaks down some before spring? The pile is about 4' high in the middle, and about 10' X 10' in area. If I did spread it this fall, it wouldn't get tilled in until spring.
Keep in mind that I live in central MN, where the winter is quite long and cold usually. (p.s. I know there's a Fertilizing and Watering message board, but with not much time to decide, I thought I'd get the best input here).

10/26/2011 7:43:05 PM

Littleton, Colorado

When I've got clumpy, partially broken down compost like you describe, I try to add fresh stuff to it, keep a bit of moisture in it, and in a big enough pile so it won't cool off as much. The fresh manure seems to help get the aerobic bacteria revved up again, so that by next spring, in all probability you'll have a lot of good, (hopefully less clumpy) compost!

10/26/2011 9:06:25 PM

Hinckley MN

If you plowed it under this fall it will be more broken down by spring than if you leave it in the pile or leave it on the surface. leaving it on the surface you will lose nitrogen and the material will be the least broken down by spring. soil microbes will work on the manure until freeze up and again as soon as the soil thaws in the spring. Leaving it stockpiled is a compromise between immediate incorporation and spring incorporation.

10/26/2011 10:06:17 PM

Colorado

Cow manure is user friendly. I'd keep it in a pile like barry says.The bigger the better.Cover it with clear plastic and get it in the ground asap in the spring

10/27/2011 12:03:47 PM

Anamosa, IA [email protected]

If there is no danger of it washing off, I would apply it in the fall. But if you are near a creek or on sloping ground, don't apply until you can work it in the soil. There is no problem with fall applied fresh cow manure, look at Dan Carlson's diary. His results say a lot.

10/27/2011 1:14:05 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

That's six of one ....half dozen of the other..need one more answer! LOL..

10/28/2011 6:30:36 PM

Minnesota([email protected])

Thanks for the replies. I'm leaning towards leaving it in a pile until spring. I think the garden is too wet for tilling now. Hopefully we get an early spring.

10/29/2011 1:23:32 PM