The manure and bedding material removed from a bedded-pack barn can be a valuable nutrient source for crops, but it is bulky. For this reason, this manure is often applied close to the farm

Advice can be a tricky thing. Opinions and recommendations may be offered with the best of intentions, but the person on the receiving end could interpret the sentiments differently. The best advice o

When I was in middle school, the barn on my family’s dairy burned down. Most of the cows escaped, but the entire wooden part of the hip roof barn was gone, leaving just the brick walls standing

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is undoubtedly the most dangerous gas associated with manure storage and handling. The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) lists acceptable exposu

It is very common for manure storages to not be emptied completely, often because it is difficult to do so. This residual manure is considered aged or inoculated

When discussing feedlot profitability, producers may often talk about the cost of gain or break-even costs. If manure enters the discussion, it is often referred to as an expense

Anyone paying the bills to fertilize fields, heat a home, or both knows that those expenses have been draining more from the bank account as of late

No farm or custom manure applicator wants to experience a manure spill incident, but accidents happen. Rather than finding yourself thrown into the unwanted spotlight with no plan in place

Manure spills are a real obstacle for any livestock operation and any custom applicator. They may stop application for the day or require outside equipment to be hired for quick cleanup

As fertilizer prices climb and concerns about supply shortages loom, manure is an even more valuable nutrient source this fall

Creating a simple budget of inputs and outputs goes a long way toward understanding the complexity of on-farm nutrient flows

We all know that what’s on the inside is what really counts. Still, presentation and packaging often make a big difference in how something is perceived and accepted

A day I had hoped was in the much more distant future has arrived. An excavating crew laid the groundwork for a new road that will be built in the field that has been my backyard view

Like many employed in an agriculture career, custom manure applicators find themselves working long hours and in stressful situations. When the pressure is on, it is easy to want to cut corners to get

Land application of manure is a common source of neighbor complaints. University of Nebraska’s Rick Koelsch shared tips for minimizing manure odors in an Extension Dairy Bulletin.Koelsch said that

In a University of Minnesota Extension Crop News e-newsletter, Melissa Wilson and Jeff Vetsch posed the question, “Nitrification inhibitors and manure: Do they work?”Their answer was, “Yes,

When it comes to accidents that lead to manure spilling where it doesn’t belong, University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension specialist Kevin Erb asks farmers to remember this

Abby Bauer During a visit with my grandfather in the farmhouse where he has lived nearly his entire life, we talked about what the homestead looked like when he was young

Unlike commercial fertilizers that can be mixed to achieve a desired nutrient content, manure comes with fixed nutrient ratios. These ratios often don’t align perfectly with the needs of field

Poultry litter can serve as a significant source of crop nutrients for states near large poultry producing areas