Survey of Small Michigan Livestock Winter Manure Handling and Economic Assessment of Policy Change

Abstract. Michigan is one Great Lakes state that does not have state-level mandate regarding winter manure application that goes beyond the directives of the EPA. Due to the recent toxic algal blooms, including the one that impacted residential water supplies in Toledo, Ohio, a number of environmental and civic groups have responded with increased calls to eliminate winter spreading of manure in Michigan. Policy makers in surrounding states have targeted winter manure applications, suggesting that Michigan policy makers do likewise. This paper presents findings of a survey of Michigan livestock producers on the management practices and capacities of manure management. The survey estimates the share of swine, beef cattle, and dairy producers without sufficient storage capacity should Michigan impose a ban on winter manure applications. Industry-wide capital costs were estimated for meeting such a restriction. The findings show that only 51 percent of operations with solid manure storage have sufficient capacity to meet 180 days of storage and only 37 percent for liquid storage. A sizable share indicated alternative strategies should restrictions be placed on winter applications, including reducing herd size, or shuttering operations. Responses differ by commodity. Assuming a 20-year life of capital investment, such a ban would likely result in an annualized cost of $30 million per year for Michigan‘s small livestock producers.