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FFTheume of the manure stack is estimated to be:x 25 ft long =0.5 x n x 25 x 25 = 982 ft. If the calculated manure production volume is decreased by 75%for moisture reduction during the warmer months, we have: ay x(1- 0.75)=23 ft3/day x 240 days (8 mos.)=5,520 ft'. Therefore, the theoreticalm manure production in comparison to the final observed volume, appears to be on the order of 4:1 for every six months (4,140 ft3 vs. 982 ft). MANURE MANAGEMENT METHODS WITHIN COVERED PENS AND STORAGE AREAS As referenced in our Nitrate Loading Study,the facility was a defunct chicken layer ranch at the time Mr. Stagno purchased the property. Evidenced by Photographic Plates B and C, 96%of the covered barn is over a concrete floor. The only bare soil are three - 3 ft wide areas that nm north to south on the west side of the barn. These bare soil areas are where the layer cages were stacked. The other three- 3 ft wide areas are concrete which were walkways for collecting eggs. The entire west side of the barn is covered with straw and houses goats and sheep. Straw is used to absorb urine. When the fecal matter and urine volume increase within the straw to the point where the straw loses its absorptive capacity, the mixture is hand-raked into the concrete- lined manure storage area. The straw was not considered in the above manure volume calculations since there is comparatively rapid decomposition and the total volume is insignificant since it is raked every four to six months. The areas where the swine are housed is completely floored in concrete. Manure management within these pens is controlled in two ways: The pens are hand-scraped every other day with rubber squeegees (Photographic Plate D). When fecal matter builds up on the concrete to an extent where it cannot be adequately squeegeed, the pens are washed with a high pressure water hose. The manure slung is pushed or washed to a central gutter(See Photographic Plate B) where it can be pushed into a covered or uncovered storage area(Photographic Plates E, F and G), thus reducing water usage to ultimately move the manure to the storage areas. After the manure is deposited in these concrete-lined storage areas, the drying of the material is facilitated by turning it during favorable weather with a front-end loader. Once the material is sufficiently dried a spreader contractor is notified and the material is taken from the storage area to an asphalt pad west of the storage area for pick-up(As seen in Photographic Plate A). As with predicting manure production volumes over a given time period, determination of the decrease in volume from moisture reduction during the 120-day winter storage time is also difficult. Since there are comparatively warm, sunny,breezy days during the winter storage time, and the storage areas will be hydraulically protected from rainfall, a 50%reduction in moisture content can be expected: 91 ft3/day x(.5)=46 ft'/day x 120 days (4 mos.)= 5,460 ft . Currently, the east side manure storage area has a storage volume of approximately 2,000 W. The west side storage area has a storage volume of approximately 2,400 ft , for a total of 4,400 ft'. Therefore, an additional 1,000 ft' of storage volume should be added to the combined east and west storage areas. This can be accomplished by adding another course of 8x16-inch block masonry around the perimeter of the storage area. Page-3- Va!!ey Ag Research