Estimated Animal Agriculture Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Manure
About this indicator
Animal agriculture manure is a primary source of nitrogen and phosphorus to surface and groundwater. Manure runoff from cropland and pastures or discharging animal feeding operations and concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) often reaches surface and groundwater systems through surface runoff or infiltration. Permitting discharging CAFOs to limit nitrogen and phosphorus discharge to surface waters, and implementing best management practices outlined in a manure management plan are critical steps to protecting water quality. This indicator shows animal agriculture manure produced in states and expressed in terms of nitrogen and phosphorus content, rather than total tons of manure, since different animal types produce manure with differing nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Data are for cattle, swine, poultry (chickens and turkeys), sheep, and horses. Data are presented as total manure nitrogen and phosphorus production in the state.
Estimated nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) produced from animal manure in 2007.
| State | Estimated animal manure (tons of N) |
Estimated animal manure (tons of P) |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 147,660 | 45,677 |
| Alaska | 877 | 248 |
| Arizona | 56,215 | 13,568 |
| Arkansas | 197,338 | 61,734 |
| California | 360,768 | 83,100 |
| Colorado | 150,420 | 42,827 |
| Connecticut | 3,850 | 826 |
| Delaware | 22,134 | 6,552 |
| Florida | 112,367 | 34,062 |
| Georgia | 175,047 | 53,544 |
| Hawaii | 8,771 | 2,739 |
| Idaho | 126,868 | 30,306 |
| Illinois | 116,740 | 40,443 |
| Indiana | 113,990 | 39,057 |
| Iowa | 439,323 | 159,813 |
| Kansas | 323,898 | 93,544 |
| Kentucky | 158,866 | 47,855 |
| Louisiana | 65,730 | 20,127 |
| Maine | 6,734 | 1,533 |
| Maryland | 41,112 | 11,627 |
| Massachusetts | 4,048 | 902 |
| Michigan | 82,897 | 21,576 |
| Minnesota | 232,918 | 75,710 |
| Mississippi | 123,499 | 38,103 |
| Missouri | 288,196 | 92,643 |
| Montana | 144,454 | 45,365 |
| Nebraska | 346,805 | 106,062 |
| Nevada | 25,124 | 7,457 |
| New Hampshire | 2,950 | 640 |
| New Jersey | 4,844 | 1,228 |
| New Mexico | 88,950 | 22,817 |
| New York | 94,528 | 19,745 |
| North Carolina | 237,896 | 88,311 |
| North Dakota | 97,078 | 30,119 |
| Ohio | 119,076 | 35,842 |
| Oklahoma | 312,890 | 96,410 |
| Oregon | 82,427 | 23,410 |
| Pennsylvania | 138,399 | 36,316 |
| Rhode Island | 546 | 132 |
| South Carolina | 52,034 | 16,594 |
| South Dakota | 208,803 | 65,050 |
| Tennessee | 137,553 | 42,051 |
| Texas | 770,983 | 227,472 |
| Utah | 61,959 | 18,831 |
| Vermont | 17,564 | 3,359 |
| Virginia | 113,354 | 34,056 |
| Washington | 70,037 | 17,713 |
| West Virginia | 30,401 | 9,153 |
| Wisconsin | 211,378 | 46,405 |
| Wyoming | 76,194 | 23,225 |
Sources: Estimated N and P contents of manure were derived using N and P production rates (kg/animal/day) from Ruddy et al. 2006. The numbers of animals per state were obtained from USDA's 2007 Census of Agriculture.
Download the Manure data table (excel) (2 pp, 35 K)
Sources of data
1. Ruddy, B.C., D.L. Lorenz, and D.K. Mueller. 2006. County-level estimates of nutrient inputs to the land surface of the conterminous United States, 1982–2001: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2006-5012.
2. U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2009. 2007 Census of agriculture: United States summary and state data. Vol 1. AC-07-A-51.
Data source information
Data were collected for the following animal types: cattle (milk cows, beef cows, steers, heifers, slaughtered cattle), hogs and pigs, chicken (broilers, layers, and pullets), turkeys, sheep, lambs, horses, and ponies. The numbers of animals were collected from the 2007 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Census, except for steers, heifers, and on-farm cattle slaughter, as the USDA Census no longer reports on these cattle categories. Inventory for these animals were estimated per Ruddy et al. 2006. Manure nitrogen and phosphorus production rates (kg/animal/day) for each animal type are also from Ruddy et al. 2006. Kilograms (kg) of nitrogen and phosphorus were converted to tons for this indicator.
What to consider when using these data
- The rate of delivery of nitrogen and phosphorus from land-applied fertilizer such as manure to streams is dependent on the amount, timing, and placement of application, as well as best management practices to minimize runoff from fields.
- In cases where certain states did not report total numbers of hogs and pigs or poultry to the 2007 USDA Census, the total number of head was estimated based on reported number of head for counties that reported by head, plus an estimate of the number of head for counties that reported by farm size, by using the median value in the ranges reported for each farm size.
- The 2007 USDA Census does not differentiate between tom and hen turkeys. Therefore, the averages of the manure nitrogen/phosphorus production rates (kg/animal/day) for tom and hen turkeys provided by Ruddy et al. 2006 were used as estimates of the manure nitrogen/phosphorus production rates for all turkeys.
- Based on a review of the literature, USDA sites, and university extension programs, weaning age is variable with reported average values of 120-220 days (cattle are considered calves until weaning). Heifers not used for breeding are typically slaughtered at 9-10 months. Therefore, it was assumed (consistent with Ruddy et al. 2006) that 50% of the cattle, excluding cows, were slaughtered within their first year of life and that the average lifespan was 170 days.
- All other cattle, excluding cows and slaughtered cattle, were assumed heifers or steers in equal proportions, based on Ruddy et al. 2006 procedures.
References and links to other data sources
1. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Manure management webpage.
2. U.S. EPA. State animal feeding operations program status reports.