Poop is so hot right now

Farmers are looking for something, anything, to replace commercial fertiliser amid soaring prices. Many are turning to an age-old solution: manure.Demand for animal manure has skyrocketed in recent weeks as farmers rush to find fertiliser alternatives ahead of the US spring planting season, according to a new report from Reuters. The new interest is so strong that, instead of paying to remove animal waste, some livestock farmers are making side businesses out of selling manure. Some cow farms even have future waste sold out through the end of 2022."Manure is absolutely a hot commodity," agriculture consultant Allen Kampschnieder told Reuters. "We&#039;ve got waiting lists."The unusual demand for animal poo comes amid major turmoil in the global agricultural sector. Russia&#039;s invasion of Ukraine has hampered fertiliser supply and lifted prices dramatically over the past month. The shakeup has forced US farmers to adjust their plans accordingly. Producers generally expect to plant a record amount of soybeans through 2022 and cut down on corn farming, as the former requires less fertiliser, according to the USDA&#039;s latest Prospective Plantings report published on March 31.The rally across nutrient prices also stands to cut down on total farming acreage for farmers unable to stomach higher costs. That could exacerbate food shortages already weighing on the global market. The conflict powered a sharp increase in wheat prices over the past month. If the fertiliser crunch lasts, the global food supply could be hindered for years as farm yields struggle to fill the hole.Manure offers some reprieve for fertiliser-desperate farmers, but its use comes with serious risks. For one, animal poop can&#039;t fully replace commercial nutrients, experts told Reuters. Sowing crops with manure could pose serious problems for farms if it contaminates groundwater or nearby streams, they added.The benefits might still outweigh the risks. Fertiliser prices are expected to climb 12% through the year following a 17% gain in 2021, according to estimates from the USDA. That leaves nutrients as the fastest-growing production cost for farmers.With the Russian war on Ukraine raging on with no end in sight, animal manure is looking more and more attractive for struggling farmers.- Business Insider US

Poop is so hot right now

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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Poop is so hot right now

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Namibian Sun 2025-05-02

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