A Look Back at Our Season of Spreading . . . Manure

Manure & Lime Spreader Program Ending for 2017

Sound Horsekeepers, Adam and Tracey

The spreaders are out at the last cooperators' property and will be picked up Friday and put away for the season. We will not be taking reservations until April 2 for next spring, so mark it on your calendars. There will be some changes coming to the program that Michael Hipp, our Resource Planner / Sound Horsekeeping Program Manager, will be working on over the winter, They are changes related to efficiency so that we can better serve you all. He will let you know what those are as they become official.

THANK YOU!

A big THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the spreader program this year! 2017 was the busiest and most successful yet.

• 34 Cooperators (aka landowners / farmers / horsekeepers) used the spreaders; some, multiple times.

• 3,020 miles driven to deliver the spreaders - that's the distance from Seattle to San Salvador, El Salvador!

• Only 1 flat tire on the trailer (thanks to Skagit Farmer's Supply for the assist!)

And there is no way to measure the tens of thousands of pounds of manure and lime spread this year, but it is great to know that all those nutrients are out building good soil. Thank you to our cooperators for not only having Michael out to your property to discuss soil health and good pasture management practices, but also for following through and getting your pastures one step healthier for your horses.

Please remember that if you encounter any new resource concerns over the winter Michael is always here to help. Winter in western Washington is always a challenge with horses, so please don't ever hesitate to contact him any time.

Office: (425) 377-7019 | Email: mhipp@snohomishcd.org

Manure Spreading Season

One of the many services offered by the Snohomish Conservation District, specifically for horse owners, is manure spreading. Michael Hipp, our Resource Planner, runs this program and has many insights into why this service is important for Sound Horsekeeping. 

The goal of spreading manure is to keep a clean stable for your horses and also take advantage of the nutrients found in manure. As you sweep up the area where your horse meanders, you can set the manure aside for moving around your property as convenient. It also helps to mitigate the land use and helps horses maintain a sense of safety and security. No one wants to stand in their manure very long. 

The Snohomish Conservation District has two manure spreaders, one large (photos below are of the large one) and one small. They are available on a seasonal basis from approximately April to October, after the rains have ended. (We'll see!) Each time the spreader goes out, Michael delivers it to the horse owner and explains how it is used. The time allowed is three days so pick up and drop off days are Tuesdays and Fridays.

For example, you might receive the spreader on Tuesday morning and Michael will pick it up on Friday morning so he can deliver it to someone else.

Keep your horses upright and happy by scheduling to use one of our spreaders today. As Michael said, "It's one of the most beneficial services we have for horse owners. It's a great benefit."

Contact Michael at 425-377-7019 or mhipp(at)snohomishcd.org to schedule your spreader today. Read more here about when it is best to spread manure.