Robert Pore's Ag Blog

LINCOLN, Neb. -- Two University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension workshops will inform livestock and poultry producers about the economic value of manure resources.

The workshops, hosted by UNL Extension's Comprehensive Nutrient Management Planning team, will take place Aug. 22 in Columbus and Aug. 29 near Scottsbluff. Morning and afternoon sessions will teach participants how to use manure resources, comply with state and federal regulations and initiate a nutrient management plan.

The Columbus event will be held at the Ag Park Club Room. Morning session topics include: land application registration, value of manure, managing manure nitrogen, brief overview of manure use plan spreadsheets and record keeping for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permits. Participants also will work on a case study dealing with feedlot solids and swine lagoons.

Following lunch, an afternoon session will be held at the Bill Luckey farm north of Columbus. Presentations will be given on Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality regulations and phosphorous index application and management options. Field demonstrations will be done on soil and manure sampling and calibration equipment.

The Scottsbluff event will begin at the Knorr-Holden corn plots. During the morning session, participants will learn about land application registration, phosphorous index application and management options, soil and manure sampling and calibration equpment. Afternoon sessions will be at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center and cover land application registration; value of manure; nitrogen recommendations, availability and balance; use of manure use plan spreadsheets and record keeping for NPDES permits.

Workshop participants will receive NDEQ Land Application Certification by completing the program. Producers from permitted operations will need to complete a phosphorous index assessment by Dec. 31 for fields receiving manure as well. Therefore, producers who have fulfilled their land application training are still welcome to attend and learn about other regulatory updates and tools available to complete the assessment.
Registration is $45 and includes lunch. Additional persons from the same farm can attend for $15 each. Preregistration is requested.

For more information or to register for the Columbus event contact Aaron Nygren at (402) 352-3821, e-mail anygren2@unl.edu or Steve Pritchard at (402) 395-2158, e-mail spritchard1@unl.edu. For the Scottbluff event contact Tom Holman at (308) 632-1480, e-mail tholman1@unl.edu.