DATE:     8/28/98
CONTACTS: Lee Keese, (864) 638-5889
          Rao Mylavarapu, (864) 656-3504
WRITER:   Bill Baker, (864) 656-3875

Farmers Turn Poultry Litter From Liability to Asset

     OCONEE -- A Clemson University study of the use of poultry 
litter to fertilize cropland is helping Oconee County farmers
avoid possible future environmental problems.
     Oconee County is seeing an increase in the size and number
of its poultry operations. Among South Carolina's 46 counties,
Oconee ranks fourth in broiler production and fifth in egg
production.
     Lots of poultry means lots of litter. As a way of dealing
with this waste problem, farmers in recent years have used the
litter on their fields as fertilizer. But the waste is high in
phosphorous, and Clemson researchers, specialists and agents were
concerned about a potential buildup in the soil. That concern led
to an analysis and assessment of waste management practices
associated with poultry production in Oconee County. 
    "Waste management plans for 35 producers operating within the 
county were studied," said Rao Mylavarapu, a soil scientist with
Clemson's Crop & Soil Environmental Science Department. "In
addition, the nutrient status of soil on 25 fields used for
litter application were evaluated."  
     As a follow-up of the survey and subsequent soil analysis, 
individual letters were written by Mylavarapu to all the
producers about their specific soil phosphorus levels, potential
water quality hazards, and the need to explore the possibility of
selling excess litter to other growers in the area. 
     The analysis showed more than 50 percent of the surface
soils tested exceeded the high range (plant-available phosphorus
greater than 80 pounds per acre) and more than 20 percent of the
surface samples exceeded the very high range (great than 240
pounds per acre).
     "Such high phosphorus levels indicated that phosphorus was
being applied to some fields in quantities that considerably
exceeded the amounts needed to ensure phosphorus sufficiency and
good crop production," said Ralph Franklin, a Clemson soils
professor and the principal investigator of this project.
     If the phosphorous levels stayed high or continued to grow, 
rainwater runoff could carry the excess to ponds and streams and 
pollute the water over time.
     "Phosphorous does not easily leach, but when we get
extremely high levels and we have runoff from heavy rains like we
had this spring, it could find its way into some waterways and
cause algal bloom in some lakes and ponds," said Extension Agent
Lee Keese of Oconee County. The algal bloom turns the water green
and kills fish by robbing the water of oxygen.
     So far, Upstate farmers have not faced these problems, Keese 
said.
     "We're just trying to head it off. And that's the purpose of 
this survey, to determine what levels of phosphorous we have out 
there and head off any problems that might be down the road."
     To bring those levels down, Keese and other Clemson
officials are advising farmers to change the way they use poultry
litter.
     "Farmers can use part of the poultry litter, sell the rest,
and buy other types of fertilizer with the proceeds," he said.
"This prevents the buildup of phosphorous in a single field." 
     That suggestion, along with other information gathered by
the recent analysis, is being shared with many poultry producers, 
Extension agents, Certified Crop Advisers, and others whom it
will benefit, according to Mylavarapu. Also, Clemson specialists
and agents are helping farmers update their waste management
plans, he said.
     One of the farmers who is heeding that advice is Oconee
County farmer Frank Myers. Myers has been raising chickens for
about 18 years, and three years ago expanded from two broiler
houses to six.
     With the expansion, Myers began looking for a way to sell
the litter. He found plenty of demand for it.
     "When I had the two houses, I don't guess I sold any of it.
I used all of it here," Myers said. "Lately though, since we 
cranked up all six houses, I guess I could probably sell all of
it if I wanted to. I use some of it, but I tell you what, it's
tempting to go ahead and sell it and get that cash."
     Keese said, "We've got people who don't have broiler houses
who are looking for it to put on their pastures. So Frank has
found a little niche there in the market and has been
successfully selling his that way."
     Myers said he's not sure he's turning a profit yet on the
sale of litter. "I think I cover my operating costs," he said. He
laughed and added, "If I can ever get my equipment paid for, I
can realize a little something out of it."
     "This is a success story that we want to promote to
encourage other producers to follow suit," Keese said. "We hope
they'll think about marketing some of their litter too so they
don't develop a buildup problem."     
                           END