Livestock Manure

Normal New Zealand agriculture does not involve the spreading of animal manure from animals’ housing. The provisions spelled out in this section are likely to apply only in exceptional cases.

5.7.9 To determine the appropriate density of livestock referred to above: the livestock units equivalent to 170kg of Nitrogen per year/hectare of agricultural area used for the various categories of animals. As a guide, use the figures as outlined in Section 10, Table 8. (Note: the stocking rates in table 8 only apply to units where the spreading of animal manure from animals’ housing on to pasture is undertaken).

5.7.10 Organic-production holdings may establish cooperation with other holdings and enterprises, which comply with the provisions of this Standard, with the intention of spreading surplus manure from organic production. The maximum limit of 170 kg of Nitrogen from manure per year/hectare of agricultural area used will be calculated on the basis of all of the organic-production units involved in such a cooperation.  

For additional rules specific to the USA market please refer to point 1.2 Supplementary requirements for Organic Operators producing for the USA market.

5.7.11 Storage facilities for livestock manure must be of a capacity to preclude the pollution of water by direct discharge, or by run-off and infiltration of the soil.

5.7.12 To ensure sound fertilizer management, the capacity of such storage facilities for the animal manure must exceed the storage capacity required for the longest period of the year in which any application of fertilizer to the land is either inappropriate (in accordance with good agriculture practice) or when such application is prohibited.