Can Fertilizer Derived from Dairy Manure Be Used to Produce Raspberries with Minimal Food Safety Risk? 

Whatcom County is in the northwest corner of Washington State and has a rich history of agricultural production. This region is the top producer of processed red raspberries in the U.S., with product shipped globally. The area also has an active dairy industry, with over 45,000 dairy cows (USDA NASS, 2017). There has been recent interest in integration of these systems through the use of fertilizers derived from dairy manure on berry crops to provide soil fertility and improve soil health while turning a waste product into a resource for the dairy industry. Could a fertilizer product from dairy manure feasibly be used on nearby red raspberry fields? With food safety scares making regular appearances in national news, it’s understandable that farmers may be hesitant to apply fertilizer derived from manure to produce fields – particularly when that produce is consumed raw. For this reason, food safety was a critical component of a project by Washington State University researchers looking at application of fertilizers derived from dairy manure on berry crops in Northwestern Washington.