The North American Manure Expo is the largest manure equipment demonstration event in the U.S. and Canada. The show combines demonstrations of the latest developments in manure-handling equipment with presentations on the latest research in manure management. Expo 2012 is being held Aug. 22 starting at 7:30 a.m. at the Dairy Forage Research Center located north of Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin. (Click here for more information) The expo is sponsored by the Professional Nutrient Applicators Association of Wisconsin and UW Extension with support from industry agencies and companies.
Commercial vendors will be available throughout the day with displays of equipment and services. Equipment and technology demonstrations will begin at 8 a.m. with manure pit agitators including traditional prop/manure pump agitation, remote control floating boat agitation and boat/shore-based boom solids dredging. Pitside demos will feature smartphone apps for pump management and control.
Informative topics on manure management will be featured starting mid-morning running until noon lunch. Presenters will be from Wisconsin and north-central states.
Education topics include:
• Nitrification inhibitors for manure
• Timing of manure application to reduce phosphorus loss in runoff
• Nitrogen and phosphorus availability in treated manures
• Till, inject or surface apply manure – impact on corn yield, nitrogen uptake and nitrogen loss
• Pro-active steps livestock producers can take to extend the life of local roads
• More regulations? How OSHA applies to your business
• Sand-laden manure: Handling and separation
• Variability in manure nutrient content and sampling strategies for various management systems
• Using precision farming technologies and equipment for manure application and management
• Application methods to improve nutrient utilization and reduce environmental impact
• Manure application through irrigation
• Economics of manure transport and land application
• Comparison of phosphorus and nitrogen loss in surface runoff versus tile flow in Wisconsin
• Using precision manure management to improve water quality in TMDL-identified problem areas
Additional water and manure management topics will be addressed in an extensive poster display session.
Field demonstrations will focus on manure application. Highlights include side-by-side comparisons of compost turners, tractor- and truck- mounted solid spreaders, manure tankers and dragline operations.
Liquid manure innovations scheduled to be demonstrated include bag and steel frac tanks with dragline hose bridges/overpasses (allowing manure lines over state highways).
A key component of the field demonstrations is a live-action manure spill response demonstration. Various techniques to address a manure spill will be demonstrated with actual manure (weather permitting).
This spill response will demonstrate components of a spill response plan. Much like a 15-inch wrench in the bottom drawer of a tool box, you may not need it every day, but an emergency spill response plan will allow quick action if any type of spill occurs.
The expo begins at 7:30 a.m. on Aug. 22, and will conclude after final field events. Attendance at the Expo is open to the public and is presented at no charge. PD
