Manure Storage Options

Where manure sits between barn and field shapes your labor, your nutrient value and your risk. Choosing a storage type is a long-term decision, so it pays to understand the trade-offs first.

Key points

Match storage to your handling system, bedding and land base, not to what a neighbor built.
Size from your own farm inputs, including wash water and rainfall.
Confined spaces and gases are a life-and-death hazard; follow OSHA and manufacturer guidance.
Keep inspection and load-out records, and check local rules before building.

Why storage matters more than most people plan for

Manure storage gives you control over when you spread. Without it, you spread when the barn is full, which is often when fields are frozen, saturated or planted. A good system lets you apply nutrients when crops can use them and weather allows.

Storage also protects water. Runoff and leaks are the main ways manure reaches streams and wells, and they are the main reason regulators and neighbors take an interest in your farm.

Common storage types

Most dairies use one of a few basic designs, and many farms combine them. The right match depends on how you handle manure, how much bedding is in it, your soils and your land base.

Each type is described briefly below. Your local extension office or NRCS office can explain which designs are typical in your region.

Earthen basin or lagoon: low construction cost, large footprint, needs careful liner and embankment work
Concrete or steel tank above or below ground: easier to agitate and cover, higher upfront cost
Under-barn pit: convenient and compact, but confined-space and gas hazards need strict respect
Stacking pad or roofed bunker for solids: handles bedded pack and separated solids
Daily haul: no long storage, but you depend on field conditions every day

Liquid versus solid handling

Liquid systems move manure by pump or gravity and need agitation before emptying, because solids settle. Solid systems use scrapers, loaders and spreaders and tend to need less water but more equipment time.

Many farms use a separator to pull out solids, which can ease pumping and give you material for compost or bedding where that fits. Separation changes what lands in the storage, so plan the whole flow rather than one piece.

Questions to settle before you build or buy

Good storage starts with numbers specific to your farm: cow count, bedding type, wash water, milking center waste, rainfall on open areas and how many months of storage you actually need. Do not copy a neighbor's size without checking your own inputs.

Ask a qualified engineer or your NRCS or extension contact to work through sizing with you. Local rules on setbacks, permits and nutrient plans vary a lot by state and county.

How many months of storage do local rules and weather require?
What gets added besides manure: parlor water, rain, bedding, feed refusals?
How will you agitate, load out and clean the system?
Where are wells, streams, tile lines and property lines?
Who inspects the system and how often?

Safety around storage

Manure storage kills people every year, usually from gas, drowning or falls. Gases released during agitation can overcome a person in seconds, and a rescue attempt often claims a second victim.

Treat every pit, tank and basin as a hazard. Follow manufacturer, OSHA and extension guidance, and never enter a confined space without proper training, ventilation, gas monitoring and a rescue plan.

Keep people and children away during agitation
Post warning signs and keep fences and covers in good repair
Ventilate barns fully when pits are being stirred
Never enter a pit or tank to retrieve a dropped tool or a person

Costs, labor and who does what

Storage is not only a construction cost. Pumping, agitating, hauling, repairs and record keeping all take hours and fuel, and those hours often fall in the busiest weeks of the year. When you compare options, add up the ongoing work as well as the upfront price.

Decide who is responsible for each task. One person should own the inspection schedule, one should own load-out planning and one should be the contact for contractors. When everyone is partly in charge, small problems sit unaddressed.

If you hire a custom hauler or applicator, ask about their training, insurance, equipment and how they handle spills. Put the expectations in writing, including who calls whom if something goes wrong.

Compare total yearly work, not only purchase price
Name one owner for inspections and records
Ask contractors for their spill plan
Review the plan each year with your nutrient advisor

Inspection, records and common mistakes

Walk your storage on a set schedule and after heavy rain. Look at embankments, pipes, valves, pump connections and any signs of seepage. Keep a log of levels, inspections, repairs and each load-out.

The usual mistakes are undersizing, letting rainwater run into the system, skipping agitation maintenance and ignoring small leaks. Fixing a worn valve is cheap compared with a spill.

When to get help: Contact your NRCS office, extension educator or a qualified agricultural engineer before designing or changing storage, and your state environmental or agriculture agency about permits and spill reporting.

Sources and further reading

Organization homepages are linked so you can search them for current guidance on this topic.

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