Nutrient Management

Why sustainable branding matters for dairy farms, custom applicators

kkelderman@puck.com — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Highlighting that your company is investing in a sustainable future shows end consumers and local neighbors that your company plans to still be operating to see that future. Fortunately, best practices for beneficial and efficient manure application often lean on the side of being environmentally friendly when done with care.

How does your manure handling compare?

kurt@nutradrip.com — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Manure isn’t just a byproduct – it’s a balance sheet item. On some dairies, it’s a cash-flow generator. On others, it’s a liability that costs more to move than it’s worth. The difference isn’t in the cows – it’s how you manage the nutrients, equipment and economics between the barn and the field.

Adaptive nutrient management makes sense!

kw566@cornell.edu — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Have you ever wondered if more fertilizer could have given you higher corn yields? Most dairy farmers would reply with a solid yes, as it is a given that corn needs nitrogen (N) to grow and yield can vary quite a bit from field to field and year to year.

Changing nutrient concentrations to affect manure application rates and prices

kkelderman@puck.com — Mon, 16 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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.

Alberto Dairy commits to sustainability with vermifiltration

jenn@agproud.com — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

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

Advanced manure treatment, where do we stand?

jpo53@cornell.edu — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Manure is the linchpin of biocircularity in dairy production systems, with the nutrients in cow manure recycled to the land to produce crops that are utilized as animal feed.

Producers monetize dairy manure with unique on-farm business models

jenn@agproud.com — Thu, 05 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

What opportunities are available to create more value from dairy waste? For three individuals, creating more value lay in what was available to them and the relationships they were willing to build with neighbors and industry stakeholders.

Innovations in manure handling: Exploring in-season manure application methods

dsa@iastate.edu — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Manure can be a valuable resource or a liability, especially at dairy farms, where cows produce lots of it. For years, farms have recycled manure nutrients, turning them back into feed and forage for cows by applying them as fertilizers to support crop production. However, handling and applying manure efficiently and sustainably can be challenging.

Advice for applying manure during winter

dsa@iastate.edu — Wed, 30 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

As winter approaches, the challenges associated with cattle manure application become more pronounced. Adopting best practices that maximize nutrient utilization and safeguard water resources is crucial. What follows are critical considerations for cattle manure application in the winter.

Make manure manageable again

matt.shortlane@gmail.com — Mon, 07 Oct 2024 20:31:20 -0400

Manure is a gift and a curse for dairy farmers. It becomes the dark cloud for dairy operations, being the source of time constraints, nutrient runoff and financial strains. Finding methods and approaches that bring consistency and flexibility to applications is often hard to find. That was, until conservation agriculture.

Even manure application begins with effective agitation

kkelderman@puck.com — Thu, 19 Sep 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Effective manure agitation is the key to an even application of nutrients for the greatest benefit of crops. Consistency in your slurry provides an even mixture of nutrients across the field, and the breakdown of suspended solids allows you to clear the whole lagoon.

Trends in manure handling, application and treatment

Tue, 04 Jun 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Explore three trends in manure management and their potential to impact operational efficiency.

Considerations for appropriate manure application rates

megand@wdfarmsinc.com — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

As manure applicators, we should know how many gallons or tons we are applying to an acre and should have corresponding documentation. The question is: “How do we determine the rate?”

The three-phase approach to establishing on-farm treatment systems

joseph.baeten@wisconsin.gov — Thu, 28 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

The most common practice for manure management is temporary storage at the farm’s production site and land spreading during specific periods throughout the year.

Greenhouse gas emissions from dairy and agriculture

kw566@cornell.edu — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Many agricultural activities can directly contribute to the emissions of greenhouse gases, but what are those greenhouse gases and agriculture’s exact impact? What role does dairy production play? We distill the science and provide the facts about U.S. dairy and greenhouse gas emissions.

How ammonia emissions can impact climate change

april.leytem@ars.usda.gov — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Often, when people think about climate change and livestock production, they think about methane, as there has been a lot of focus on reduction of methane from both the cattle themselves (enteric) as well as from manure storage.

Does a copper sulfate footbath solution influence soil, forage?

jenn@agproud.com — Fri, 03 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0400

How much does a footbath solution affect mineral concentrations in the soil once manure is applied? That is the question regional dairy educator Aerica Bjurstrom and her colleagues at the University of Wisconsin have tried answering.

These producers put sustainability to work

jenn@agproud.com — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 07:48:05 -0400

The buzz around sustainability continues to grow. And while there is an end goal of creating a more viable dairy sector for years to come, reaching that point looks different for every producer.

Biochar as a potential tool for manure management

sanfordj@uwplatt.edu — Sat, 25 Mar 2023 09:03:00 -0400

In recent years, biochar has grown in popularity due to its wide applications in agriculture and carbon crediting. As a result, the biochar market is expected to continue to grow in the coming years.

Elevate your manure management to align with 2023’s input projections

nikki_wagner@rockriverlab.com — Mon, 12 Dec 2022 10:17:52 -0500

Completing manure analysis at a certified lab might be more important than expected in 2023.

Vacuumed manure influences fertilizer value for crops on-farm and off-farm

jepexton@ucdavis.edu — Tue, 01 Nov 2022 12:39:43 -0400

Removing manure from animal housing before it reaches the lagoon can improve the functional capacity of the lagoon by slowing down accumulation of solids that need to be excavated.

Poop for profit: Tips for transferring your manure to a neighbor

mlw@umn.edu — Sat, 13 Nov 2021 00:04:53 -0500

Livestock owners have long known the immense value of their manure. Now, with soaring commercial fertilizer prices, some crops-only farmers are starting to see what all the hype is about and are seeking to buy manure from their livestock-owner neighbors.

Geno focuses on breeding low-emission Norwegian Red cow

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 06:05:38 -0400

A green future, incentivised by government, is being mapped out in Norway with electric vehicles now accounting for 60% of new car sales, leaving fossil-fuel vehicles lagging. And the dairy industry isn’t being left out. The Norwegian Government has put 15 million NOK (£1.275 million) – an amount matched by the country’s cattle breeding company Geno – into a cattle breeding project, which is monitoring methane emissions not only on dairy units, but also in its Norwegian Red young bull testing station.

Natural Prairie Dairy Farms converts manure into clean water, organic dry fertilizer

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 00:22:47 -0500

Donald and Cheri De Jong, owners of Natural Prairie Dairy Farms, are making immense strides in transforming their operation to a “closed-loop farm system” by implementing a new manure management system.

Combating the 'phosphorus paradox'

Mon, 26 Oct 2020 16:17:19 -0400

åThe relationship between farmers and phosphorus is a complicated one. While farmers need phosphorus to ensure optimal plant growth, health and yield, small amounts can escape and cause significant problems in water quality. This complex balance is what Dr. Chad Penn calls the “phosphorus paradox.”

Web Tool: Technology Catalog

Wed, 30 Oct 2019 15:57:14 -0400

With a wide variety of manure management and nutrient recovery technologies available to dairy producers today, it can be difficult to know which one would be the best investment.

10 things everyone utilizing manure should know

Fri, 25 Oct 2019 23:01:58 -0400

Balancing manure and fertilizer applications, crop production and environmental conservation is an ongoing challenge. Having the knowledge and understanding of several foundational principles of nutrient management can aid in making better farming decisions.

Maximize your resources to get the most value out of your manure

Thu, 27 Jun 2019 20:51:47 -0400

“What is my manure worth?” This is a common question I get once a producer understands what I do and my role with Nutrient Advisors. As any good consultant would answer, I say, “It depends.”

Select a manure system to meet the needs of the operation

karen@agproud.com — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 13:00:01 -0400

Dairy operations looking to add a manure processing or treatment option to the farm need to first understand what is driving this change.

On-farm nitrogen management requires a multifunctional approach

april.leytem@ars.usda.gov — Tue, 11 Jun 2019 13:00:01 -0400

On-farm nitrogen management is important to ensure you are meeting production goals, maximizing return on investment and protecting air and water resources. Nitrogen is essential to the growth of all plants and animals and is typically the most limiting nutrient in agricultural production.