Annapolis, Md. — An Environment Maryland report claims that phosphorus from chicken manure applied to farmland is a major source of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay. “Intensive chicken production, particularly on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, generates large volumes of manure (which is) useful as a fertilizer. But the ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus is such that if manure is applied to meet the nitrogen requirements of a crop, phosphorus is over-applied,” the report maintains. “This excess escapes from farm fields and into nearby waterways.” But agriculture interests see it differently. “Farmers in every county are working with their local planning group and are committed to implement the Best Management Plan options laid out in each county,” insists Maryland Farm Bureau President Patricia Langenfelder. “Farmers are frustrated by the whittling away of their ability to make farm-specific decisions to be productive while meeting nutrient reduction goals. The speed at which Maryland is placing mandates and restricting farm practices makes it impossible for good scientific research and cost/benefit analysis to be conducted.” The National Chicken Council added that the industry has made great strides in reducing potential runoff. "In addition to following strict conservation practices, the application of poultry litter to fields is regulated to ensure it is being applied properly and at agronomic rates that are specific to the crops. This ensures the nutrients found in poultry litter are fully utilized in an efficient and effective manner,” responded Dr. Ashley Peterson, council vice president of science and technology.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain