Precision Manure Injection Gains Ground in New York

By Blake Jackson

Delaware County is emerging as a leader in New York State in the use of precision equipment to inject liquid manure into established sod.

According to Paul Cerosaletti of Cornell Cooperative Extension Delaware County, more than 9 million gallons of liquid manure were injected across more than 1,400 acres in 2025 through the Delaware County Enhanced Manure Management Project, with Albano’s Precision Application (APA) providing the application services.

Field observations demonstrated that manure injection can benefit grass even under challenging weather conditions. Despite a dry summer following a wet spring, treated grass showed a strong response.

Placing manure directly into the soil beneath a growing crop helps retain ammonia nitrogen and can substantially increase the amount of nitrogen available to plants compared with surface application.

Manure also supplies phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur, particularly benefiting fields that have not received regular manure applications.

At an application rate of 6,000 gallons per acre, liquid manure can provide approximately 80 pounds of nitrogen, 55 pounds of phosphate, and 115 pounds of potash per acre. This combination of nutrients can improve both forage production and quality.

To encourage greater adoption in 2026, Cornell Cooperative Extension and APA evaluated equipment designed specifically for sod injection.

The ZML Talon toolbar uses smooth, straight-running coulters and injection units that can move vertically and horizontally. This design is intended to reduce disruption to sod, soil, and stones during application.

A May 2026 demonstration showed promising results, particularly in minimizing surface disturbance. The toolbar’s 10-inch row spacing, compared with the previous 20-inch spacing, also allows manure to be distributed more evenly across the field.

APA has since acquired a 25-foot Talon toolbar and begun using it on local farms. Combined with a new financial incentive for sod injection introduced in 2026, the equipment is expected to help more Delaware County farmers adopt precision manure injection and capture its agronomic and environmental benefits.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-magicxeon