Using manure to replace nitrogen fertilizers requires a trial-and-error approach, but it can be part of growing healthy crops, an organic apple grower says. Jim Koan of Al-Mar Orchards in Flushing, Michigan, has used manure from local sources for a decade. As nitrogen costs climb higher, he believes the practice may be useful for orchardists trying to contain input costs. Over the years, he’s changed his application and manure sources. In the early years, manure was spread throughout the whole orchard. He found, however, that he wasn’t getting enough manure under the trees where it was needed. Recently, he began […]