On horse farms, proper disposal of manure and stall waste can become a problem especially in areas with cold winters where weather conditions have caused horse owners to accumulate a stack of horse waste. Proper composting can be an answer to the problem, but in some cases, composting may not be the answer.
Managing horse waste
A little planning and management goes a long way in keeping manure stacks within the lines of right to farm and neighborly relations.
Many reasons exist for creating a temporary manure stack on a horse farm. It may be too wet to take manure to the field. It may be the only storage available on a small farm. Whatever the reason, consider the location carefully.
Stacks of waste material should ideally be placed on an impermeable surface (such as concrete) with sides and covered with a tarp, woodchips or straw to reduce odor and pests. Don’t locate the pile near property lines or near neighbors’ houses. As weather warms, flies, odor and runoff can cross the property line and cause problems.
If a solid surface is not an option, stockpiles can be placed directly on the ground. Rotating the location of the pile and seeding the area once the manure has been removed will keep nutrients from building in the soil. In many areas, zoning requires that manure piles be a minimum distance from homes and neighbor's property lines.
Ideally the any stacks of manure and used bedding material should be removed in 90 days, with complete removal annually. A little planning and management goes a long way in keeping manure stacks within the lines of right to farm and neighborly relations.
For more info: Composting and Managing Manure