ON THE MOVE
IF MANURE SPILLS, HOW WILL YOU RESPOND? Proper clean up after a manure spill incident can protect the environment and a farm’s reputation. by Abby Bauer, Managing Editor
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hen it comes to accidents that lead to manure spilling where it doesn’t belong, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension specialist Kevin Erb asks farmers to remember this Warren Buffet quote: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation and five minutes to ruin it. If you think about that, you’ll do things differently.” Erb, extension’s conservation professional training program director, addressed manure spills and clean up during a Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin (PDPW) Dairy Signal webinar. “Your dairy has a reputation, and your neighbors and renters look at your operation through a certain lens,” he said. “If they look at you like an environmental steward, you are much more likely to get forgiveness if something goes wrong. You really think about things differently if you keep that in mind.”
Accidents happen Erb explained that the definition of a spill varies by situation and by state. In some parts of the country, a certain number of gallons lost is considered a spill. Other states, like Wisconsin, take a more pragmatic approach, he said, considering the potential a spill has to impact humans or the environment. He emphasized that accidental
The best way to deal with a manure spill is to anticipate what could go wrong before it happens and make adjustments to avoid an incident altogether. manure spills happen; tankers tip over and hoses break. Where a farm can get into trouble is when no action is taken to report the spill, document the steps taken, clean up the manure, and restore the area. “Knowing what you are going to do in this situation is essential,” Erb said. “You have a responsibility to report a spill.” Erb’s co-presenter, Isaac Ross from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), agreed. “Spills do happen,” said the state’s Spills Team Leader. “What we want you to do is have a spill plan in place.”
Assess the scene Erb and Ross reminded the audience that medical attention takes precedence
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if someone was injured in the incident. “It’s really critical that the safety of employees, and getting medical attention if needed, takes priority,” Erb said. “Once that is addressed, then you are asking how do I control this, and how do I keep the spill from getting bigger?” Ross agreed with that priority list, sharing his team’s 5 C’s of a manure spill response: • Caution • Control • Contain • Contact • Clean up As part of a spill response plan, Erb said to have necessary contact information handy so that the incident can be properly reported. jofnm.com
5/13/21 8:55 AM
