This study explored the feasibility of applying near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) as a rapid method for the analysis of nutrients and salts in hog manure from seven ponds in south-central Manitoba representing several stages of hog production. Manure was analyzed for nitrate-N, ammonium-N, total dissolved N, suspended N, soluble reactive P, total dissolved P, suspended P, suspended C, Na, K, Ca, Mg, conductivity, and pH. Spectral data in the near-infrared area of the electromagnetic spectrum (750-2500 nm) were recorded on the samples. Using complex statistics, relationships, termed calibrations, were developed for each constituent between the spectral data and the analytical data. Coefficient of determination, r2, between NIR-predicted concentrations and the concentrations determined by chemical analysis for the samples in this study were 0.95 to 0.99 for ammonium-N, total dissolved N, suspended N, soluble reactive P, total dissolved P, suspended P, suspended C, Na, and Mg. For K, Ca, conductivity, and pH, r2 were > 0.8. Soil samples were collected before, immediately after, and a few days after the application of manure. Soil was scanned by NIR in a field-moist state and again after drying and grinding for chemical analysis. Soils were analyzed for % moisture, % organic matter, % N, nitrate-N, ammonium-N, phosphate-P, sulfate-S, K, Na, Ca, and Mg. Calibrations achieved for soil were generally less good than for the manure., nevertheless that for % N was useful, with r2 around 0.9 for both field moist and dried soil. Results indicate that NIRS has the potential to be used to predict the nutrient and salt composition of manure samples with no sample preparation, rapidly (less than 2 min), and non-destructively. It appears to be useful also for the prediction of % N and several other constituents in field-moist or dried soil.