The Economic Impacts of Alternative Manure Management Regulations on Hog Farms in the Heartland: An Individual-Farm Analysis

ABSTRACT A whole-farm modeling approach applied to survey data was used to assess the economic impacts of alternative regulations on manure application on Heartland hog farms. Results showed differential economic impacts depending on type and size of the hog operations. The P-based restriction would increase hog production costs and could affect the financial well-being of hog producers. Many large farms (over 2,500 hogs) had to lease additional land to meet restrictions on manure phosphorous application, with reductions in net crop returns exceeding those of medium size operations (750-2,500 hogs). Feeding hogs a phytase diet to lessen phosphorous in manure reduced the additional land needed and moderated the increase in manure application costs, but net crop returns still dropped for most operations.