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Manure mgmt highlighted during MI farm tour

July 31, 2015, East Lansing, MI – Careful manure management is a principle of farm profitability and environmental stewardship. It is important to understand what conditions could lead to a runoff event and nutrient losses.

Research at the University of Wisconsin-Extension’s Discovery Farms has shown that the timing of manure application is a key factor that should be carefully considered in order to control risk and reduce the loss of nutrients from farm fields. There is also a higher risk of nutrient loss when there is a shorter time frame between manure application and a runoff event. Having a good understanding of landscape challenges is also critical.

Amber Radatz, the co-director of the Wisconsin Discovery Farms, will be the What’s New with Poo lunch time keynote speaker. Discovery Farms is a cooperative effort of Wisconsin farmers, University of Wisconsin Extension and University of Wisconsin, Madison. The farmer led program gathers and disseminates creditable and unbiased water quality information for the agriculture community, consumers, researchers and policy makers. Amber focuses on assisting farmers with manure related issues, water quality and nitrogen efficiency.

The What’s New with Poo bus tour, hosted by Michigan State University Extension and the Clinton County Conservation District, is for livestock farmers and cash crop farmers who utilize manure in their crop nutrient program. The tour will originate from Providence Agriculture’s Carson City location at 9650 Roosevelt Road at 8:15 a.m., space is limited and pre-registration is required, which is available online or by calling the Clinton County Conservation District at (989) 224-3720 or the Gratiot County Michigan State University Extension office at (989) 875-5233. The registration fee, which covers the tour, lunch and all materials, is $25 per person or $40 per farm up to four individuals. The deadline to register for this event is August 11.

For more information on What’s New with Poo, including the tour’s host farms, click here.