Sand is the ideal dairy bedding source, but it is not always feasible for every farm. Recycled manure solids can be a viable alternative for a mix of practical, economic and operational reasons.

Just a few decades ago, manure application operations required a group of workers who could spend weeks at a time in the field monitoring pumps and driving tankers from field to field. Now, manure application has implemented automation technology to improve efficiency tenfold.

Cover crops and manure are both tools. When they are aligned, they improve nutrient efficiency, protect water and can even add forage value. When they are not aligned, they create management friction, yield drag and frustration. 

The one constant in life is change, and new data shows dairy producers and custom manure applicators alike will see changes in their manure samples from previous years. These changes could affect manure application rates and prices in 2026.

For nearly 18 months, Alberto Dairy has used worm beds to appropriately manage their manure, retain nutrients and reuse wastewater.

Helping applicators and farmers generate wide-ranging questions and discussing potential solutions are among the main goals of the University of Wisconsin Extension’s Manure Applicator Training 101.