By: Erin Cortus, Assistant Professor & Environmental Quality Engineer, SDSU Extension
Manure spills can occur during the storage, transportation and application of manure. Advanced planning can minimize the impacts of a manure-related emergency. Part of this preparation includes assembling a manure spill response kit to have ready and accessible on the farm when needed, especially while pumping and applying manure.
The kit should include:
- A copy of the farm’s emergency response plan, if it has one, including emergency numbers and a site map;
- Hay or straw bales that could be used to block a culvert or build a berm or diversion;
- T-posts to support plywood or bale stacks;
- 14-inch diameter PVC pipe in both 3-foot and 2-foot sections to be used to cover tile inlets;
- Several 6-mil plastic sheets of approximately 12-foot x 25-foot lengths that could be applied to tile inlets or other sensitive areas with duct tape;
- At least one sheet of 4-foot x 4-foot plywood that could be used to block culverts. Round the plywood on one end to fit the curve of the ditch;
- Pliers, vice grips, fencing pliers, channel lock pliers, hammers, utility knife, hand saw, hatchet, post driver;
- 1 roll duct tape;
- Baling wire; and
- Sand shovels.
At the minimum, a mini-kit can be kept in the truck or tractor. The mini-kit should contain a sand shovel, duct tape, utility knife and 6-mil plastic sheets.
The steps for responding to a manure spill are outlined in the article Dealing with a Manure Spill.
