Field stacks, manure pits and manure containers

Manures and open containers for livestock manure must meet the distance requirements in the Animal Manure Order.

Where can I establish a livestock facility, manure storage facility and silage storage facility and warehouse?

The following distance requirements apply when establishing, expanding or changing:

• 25 m for water supply systems that are not for public water supply.
• 50 m to water supply system for general water supply.
• 15 m to streams (including drains) and lakes larger than 100 m²
• 15 m to public road and private public road.
• 25 m to food business.
• 15 m for living on the same property
• 30 m to neighboring boundary

How can I store solid fertilizer?

Storage of solid manure may only take place on manure prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Animal Manure Order or in a tightly closed container, located on a fortified area with a drain to a manure juice container or the like.

The mat must be covered with tight-fitting and waterproof material immediately after laying.

How can I store liquid manure?

Liquid manure can be stored in closed or open containers.

Containers for liquid livestock manure must be provided with a cover in the form of a floating layer, tent cover or similar. A log book must be kept at least once a month for containers with liquid livestock manure. 
However, this can be avoided if a permanent cover has been established in the form of, for example, a tent cloth.

What can I put in the field stack?

Compost may be stored in the field if the dry matter percentage is at least 30% for each sublot. For manure to be compost-like, as a general rule, it must have been in the barn for 3-4 months.

It is recommended that field stacks are placed as far as possible from neighbours, but at least 30 meters from the boundary.

Field stacks must comply with the same distance requirements as mowing sites.
The stacks may not lie in the same place for a maximum of 12 months and may not be placed in the same place again until after 5 years.
A logbook must be kept of the field stack's location and storage period.

The field pile must be covered with tight-fitting and waterproof material immediately after laying.

Is there control of containers for storage of liquid manure and silage juice?

Yes. Containers for storing liquid animal manure and silage juice must have a container inspection every 5 or 10 years, depending on how close the container is to lakes and open streams.
Contact the municipality if you are in doubt.

Do I need an alarm on my slurry tank?

Yes. If the slurry tank is located within 100 m of a lake of more than 100 m² or an open watercourse, it must have a slurry alarm installed. See more on our map. This only applies if your slurry container is larger than 100 m³.

What should an alarm on a slurry tank be able to do?

The alarm system must, as a minimum, be able to detect sudden drops in the surface of the container and notify the operator electronically. It must be possible to detect a drop in level regardless of the manure level in the container. It is also recommended that an alarm system be used which can detect an increase in the slurry surface when pumping to the container.

The Ministry of the Environment has prepared an overview of the requirements for manure containers:

Location	Barrier	Alarm	Terrain change
In risk area * <100 meters from open lakes and streams	Ja	Ja	No
In risk area *> 100 meters from open lakes and streams	No	Ja	Ja
Outside risk area * <100 meters from open streams and lakes	No	Ja	No

Risk area * = area where the terrain slopes more than an average slope of six degrees from the reservoir towards open watercourses or lakes over 100 m²