An important part of manure management is a place for storage; manure needs somewhere to go while it awaits its final destination. In a recent Idaho Dairy Focus newsletter by the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, authors Tanya Hibler and Megan Satterwhite shared that spring is the right time to plan for lagoon maintenance.

With some parts of the country experiencing warmer and wetter winters, lagoons may be filling up more quickly than they were originally designed to. In addition, solids take up valuable storage space. The pair wrote that now is a perfect time to start planning when these solids can be removed.

They also recommended checking the edges of the lagoon. If the lagoon’s boundaries are not clearly marked, the soft spring ground makes this the ideal time to pound in some posts and add signs with bright colors to label the edges, Hibler and Satterwhite noted. “Driving around a full lagoon can be quite treacherous if the edges aren’t properly marked,” they wrote.

Removing weeds on the lagoon banks also improves visibility and safety. “Spraying weeds as they come up this spring and implementing a year-round weed control program will have lasting impacts,” they advised. The roots from weeds can degrade the lagoon banks, creating pathways for liquids to flow. Weeds become a habitat for rodents that can cause damage as well. Weed removal also makes the area look neater, which boosts the farm’s overall appearance.

Even though lagoons are often not in a prominent location on the farm, that doesn’t mean they should be ignored. Proper maintenance now will have lasting impacts the rest of the year, the authors concluded.

This article appeared in the May 2024 issue of Journal of Nutrient Management on page 15. Not a subscriber? Click to get the print magazine.