Manure spreading apparatus

A manure spreading apparatus adapted to be movably mounted upon the bed of a farm truck for chopping and spreading a load of manure carried by the truck. During a spreading operation, the apparatus advances from the back to the front of the bed and then reverses direction to return to its starting position. A rotating impeller throws the pieces of manure in a rearward and upward direction with sufficient velocity to clear the back end of the truck bed, and a feeding mechanism in front of the impeller engages the load as the apparatus advances, chopping and tearing the manure into pieces and feeding them towards the impeller. An arcuate top shield combined with a pair of side shields defines an impeller chamber, and a curved deflector plate adjacent the discharge opening of that chamber assists in directing the discharge of material. A scraper plate may be formed integrally with the deflector plate and extends downwardly and rearwardly from the lower limits of the discharge opening to direct manure into such opening, and into contact with the impeller, when the direction of movement of the apparatus is reversed.