Because of increased scrutiny of manure handling practices, it is important to determine the most appropriate practices for manure application on soil. This study was undertaken to determine the effect of manure loading rate on the survival of bacterial pathogens (Salmonella), fecal coliforms, and coliphages (somatic and male specific) in the upper layers of the soil. Another objective was to determine if the rate of manure application has any effect on pathogen loss through runoff. Salmonella was found to survive for only less than 11 days in soil and fecal coliforms survived even less. Somatic coliphages persisted the longest (for up to 130 days) whereas male specific coliphages lasted less than 11 days. The manure loading rate was found to have little effect on pathogen survival. When compared with previous studies, these results suggest that pathogen survival in the upper one inch layer of soil is much less than in the deeper layers. The rapid die-off of Salmonella on soil surface indicates that there is minimal health risk associated with manure application if handled properly. Only one sample of runoff could be tested because of dry conditions. No Salmonella were detected in this sample. More studies using simulated rainfall events are necessary to determine the rate of pathogen loss from manure treated soil.