Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal Ohio Ag Net | Ohio's Country Journal 
By Joe Everett, Ohio Ag Net
As farmers finish this year’s crop and begin looking toward the 2027 growing season, input costs will once again be a major consideration. Fertilizer prices, in particular, can have a significant impact on the bottom line, making nutrient management an important part of the planning process.
For farmers considering manure as an alternative or supplement to commercial fertilizer, Mark Eilerman, an independent agronomist with New Ag Horizons, said one of the most important steps is knowing exactly what is in the manure being applied.
“Manure is a big one here anymore,” Eilerman said. “I’ve got a lot of clients using any and all kinds of manure for their fields. Usually, it’s a discounted price compared to commercial fertilizer.”
Eilerman said manure can offer an economical source of nutrients, but there are also considerations such as compaction and weed seeds. Before determining whether a manure source is a good value, farmers need to know its nutrient content.
“I’ll have conversations with guys, ‘Is this poultry litter worth it? Is this hog manure worth it?’ Well, I don’t know. Do you have a manure sample?” Eilerman said. “The manure analysis is extremely important to have just to know how much water is in that chicken manure or how many nutrients are in that hog manure.”
That analysis becomes especially important when comparing manure from different sources. Two loads of manure may have very different nutrient concentrations, even when the price per ton or gallon appears similar.
“The guy down the road may be selling chicken litter to you for $51 a ton. The next guy down the road may be selling it for $55,” Eilerman said. “But if the guy selling it for $55 is at 80% solids and the guy at $51 a ton is at 65% solids, that’s a tremendous difference in nutrient concentrations.”
Eilerman said farmers should also consider where the manure is coming from and what type of livestock production generated it. That information can help provide context when the analysis results come back.
“Try to understand what type of animal it’s coming from,” Eilerman said. “Is it coming from a layer house that is cage-free? If so, there’s a chance that you may have a lot of bedding in there. Or is it coming from a caged house where there’s going to be limited bedding?”
The same questions apply to other species of livestock manure. Eilerman said farmers should know whether hog manure is coming from a nursery, finishing operation, or another type of facility.
“At least have that background knowledge behind it,” he said. “That way we can have a general idea of what we’re looking at when we get all the fancy numbers back.”
While manure availability often depends on a farm’s proximity to livestock operations, Eilerman said many farmers are using a combination of manure and commercial fertilizer. Transportation costs can also determine whether manure makes economic sense for a particular farm.
As farmers evaluate their overall fertilizer budgets, Eilerman said there is no universal answer for where to cut costs. The first step is understanding what is already available in the soil.
“If a farmer would come up to me right now here today and say, ‘Where can I cut that?’ I’m just going to look at it and say, ‘I don’t know. What does the soil look like? What does the field look like? What’s all going on down there?’” Eilerman said. “Honestly, I’d say the first thing to do is get some good, accurate soil sample data.”
That information can help farmers determine whether applications of phosphorus, potassium, or other nutrients can be reduced without sacrificing productivity. Eilerman said nitrogen decisions also need to be based on field conditions and growing history.
Looking beyond individual inputs, Eilerman said farmers should also take a broader look at their operation’s finances heading into another growing season.
“I think the biggest thing to look at going into next year and any future year is to know what your break-even point is,” Eilerman said. “Understand all your costs going into that crop, your honest cost, not some stuff you made up and threw down on a piece of paper.”
Knowing those numbers can help farmers identify opportunities to trim costs, whether that means fertilizer, seed, machinery, or other expenses.
“Where can you sell your corn or beans or wheat at and be profitable?” Eilerman said. “Go from there.”
As the 2026 harvest approaches, taking the time now to collect accurate soil and manure samples and understand the numbers behind them can help farmers make more informed decisions for 2027 and beyond.
