Is soil compaction during manure application a problem?
Compaction should be minimal if manure is applied when the surface soil is dry, but is likely to be a problem if manure is applied when the surface soil is not dry. Compaction may be more at the entry points to the field. With proper application, tillage to reduce compaction effects should not be needed. If compaction does occur, it may be sufficient to rip the wheel tracks while leaving the rest of the soil surface undisturbed. Will the manure contain weed seed? Raw manure probably will contain viable weed seeds, but in most cases manure application will not introduce new weed species or add significantly to the bank of weed seeds already in the soil. Still, if your field does not have certain species of concern, check with others using this manure source to learn of their experiences. What are other concerns? Feedlot manures may contain pieces of concrete; if so, check your fields before or during planting to avoid equipment damage. Large chunks of frozen manure are often applied wit
