Manure Manager

Features Manure Expo
Manure Expo Returns to the field

Highlights from the first in-person Expo in three years


October 7, 2022  by  Bree Rody

Attendees view solid and liquid spreading demos, and inspect the patterns. Visotirs view equipment, robot milking technology and an agitation demo.

The 2022 North American Manure Expo (NAME) marked an important milestone. It was the first in-person NAME event in three years.

With the 2020 event postponed to 2021 and then eventually held virtually, this year’s event, held July 13-14 in Chambersburg, PA was the official return to the field. With 59 exhibitors, 17 education sessions and more than 1,200 visitors to take it all in, the Expo action picked right back up without missing a beat. In addition to exhibitors and education sessions, attendees also took in tours of local farms and facilities, demonstrations of solid and liquid spreading, an agitation showcase and a spill response demonstration.

Jennifer Bratthauar, ag conservation technician with the Franklin County Conservation District and co-chair of this year’s NAME committee, says hosting the Expo is a lot of work – but worth it.

“The display of technology, live equipment demonstrations, the manure spill response demonstration and educational sessions all promote the wise utilization of manure nutrients, which fits into the work we do with agricultural producers at the conservation district.”

Advertisement

In addition to having more than seven million acres of farmland, Pennsylvania is a major livestock producer.

On the first day of the Expo, attendees were bussed to various tours, including tours of central Pennsylvania agri-businesses Oakleigh Farms and Herbruck’s Poultry. The tours showcased progressive technology being employed by the businesses; Oakleigh uses a robotic milking and manure cleanup system, which is said to have positive effects on herd health and save on personnel costs. Herbruck’s production facility will specialize in pelletized poultry manure, which is an increasingly popular form of fertilizer.

Bratthauar says the importance of industry events like the Expo cannot be overstated. “Holding an event like this in Franklin County is important because Franklin County is fourth in the state for poultry and eggs, second in the state for cattle and calves, and fifth in the state for hogs and pigs,” she says, citing the 2017 Census of Agriculture. “There are a lot of agriculture operations and custom manure haulers handling manure on a regular basis. The Expo provides opportunities to receive up-to-date information on research involving manure applications and crop utilization.”

The 2023 North American Manure Expo will be held Aug. 9-10 in Arlington, WI.

Advertisement

Stories continue below