Manure Handling

Roles and responsibilities in manure application with automated controls

kkelderman@puck.com — Fri, 15 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

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.

How to apply slurry under variable field conditions

kkelderman@puck.com — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Working outdoors will always be unpredictable, and the narrow window of time when applying manure means there is less time to wait for good ground conditions. With heavy equipment and variable field environments, there are steps that can be taken to minimize damage to field during slurry application.

Maximizing sand recovery: Proven practices to protect your bedding investments

rschrift@mclanahan.com — Wed, 03 Sep 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Choosing the right bedding is essential for cow comfort, herd health and overall dairy performance. Sand is a popular choice thanks to its comfort, cleanliness and long-term affordability – especially when paired with an effective recovery and recycling program.

Essential safety tips for handling manure

kkelderman@puck.com — Wed, 27 Aug 2025 00:00:00 -0400

A major factor in operational safety in manure application is knowing what could go wrong and how to mitigate those risks. Various causes can lead to minor incidents or, at worst, a disabling injury or death. There are a few things you can do before and during a job to keep the risk of accidents low.

Choosing the right equipment for a manure dragline system

kkelderman@puck.com — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

A dragline application system is one of the fastest and most efficient ways to move liquid manure from your storage facility to the fields. Choosing the correct equipment for your operation starts with understanding your goals and building upon them.

Taming the sneaky threat of nuisance sand

rschrift@mclanahan.com — Mon, 02 Jun 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Whether or not a dairy is using sand bedding, nuisance sand can infiltrate manure systems through feed, equipment and environmental exposure, creating hidden operational headaches. While removing 100% of sand from manure is not realistic, proactive manure management strategies can significantly reduce its impact, helping to preserve both the longevity of your equipment, your manure system’s performance and the quality of your bedding.

Progressive Events: Midwest Manure Summit highlights unique potential of dairy waste

jenn@agproud.com — Thu, 20 Mar 2025 00:00:00 -0400

Academia, industry allies and dairy producers each brought unique perspectives for how to best manage dairy waste at the 2025 Midwest Manure Summit Feb. 26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. From anaerobic digesters to in-season applications to fiber bedding and more, manure has gone from a waste to a valuable resource on dairy farms of all sizes, as highlighted during the one-day event.

Manure collection and management for sand barns

dschreiner@lely.com — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Running a successful dairy involves navigating a range of variables, such as breed, feed mix, barn layout, bedding type and more. There is one topic, however, every farmer will have to face, which has an impact on the function of the entire barn: manure.

Manure management and planning for the year ahead

kkelderman@puck.com — Thu, 26 Dec 2024 00:00:00 -0500

Producers can limit their risk exposure to costly mistakes in manure application by finding a custom application company that has the experience and knowledge to responsibly complete the job. A professional in the industry would have the proper equipment for your dairy operation, the range of knowledge needed for success and the capacity to get the job done in a timely fashion.

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.

Strategies for applying manure for the best economic return

kkelderman@puck.com — Mon, 28 Oct 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Manure application is a fast-growing industry, with more farmers looking for alternatives to commercial fertilizer. Manure is proven to be a balanced nutrient product for farmers. Not only does it supply nitrogen needs for a crop, but in the same application, it supplies phosphorus and potassium needs as well.

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.

Push your manure and feed management to automation

julie.johnson@gea.com — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 00:00:00 -0400

How does your dairy push feed and manure? Do you rely on a skid loader and an employee? Pushing these responsibilities to automation can save labor, fuel, and equipment wear and tear.

Controlling bedding pathogens can reduce environmental mastitis

benjamin.saylor@churchdwight.com — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Controlling pathogen outgrowth in recycled manure bedding is possible. When a bacillus-based bedding additive was tested on-farm, a significant reduction in bulk tank SCC and mastitis cases was noticed.

Patterson Farms: Managing manure for efficiency and productivity

kw566@cornell.edu — Tue, 12 Mar 2024 00:00:00 -0400

Jon and Julie Patterson are the sixth generation to own and operate Patterson Farms Inc. Their dairy farm is in the heart of the Finger Lakes in Cayuga County, New York where they milk 1,800 cows and crop over 3,000 acres.

Quantifying the value of manure – Taking uncertainty out of an inherently variable nutrient source

kw566@cornell.edu — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 08:50:06 -0500

Sound land application of livestock manure can reduce or replace fertilizer needs, given that manure contains all 17 essential nutrients for crop growth, and increase soil health over time. Healthier soils are more resilient to extreme weather events, thereby increasing overall farm resilience.

Manure storage impermeable cover and flare systems – Potential climate benefits and considerations

ler25@cornell.edu — Sat, 25 Nov 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Cover and flare systems are suitable for dairy farms of all herd sizes and can help mitigate methane and other emissions while improving climate resiliency.

Consider versatility, reliability when choosing a manure collection system

dschreiner@lely.com — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Keeping barns clean and free of waste is more than just for looks. A manure-free barn means improved cow health and medical outcomes, more sanitary milk and an overall healthier, more productive environment.

Manure gas is invisible and dangerous, but safety is simple

schos021@umn.edu — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Agricultural work can involve many hazards, but injuries, illnesses and death are preventable.

Turn a pollutant into green gold by reducing nitrogen loss in slurry

export@storthmachinery.co.uk — Thu, 13 Apr 2023 00:00:00 -0400

Slurry contains valuable quantities of nitrogen in the form of a liquid: ammonium usually found in livestock urine. Ammonium is readily available for absorption by plant root systems, but from the moment it hits the barn floor until it is incorporated into the field, large quantities are lost in the atmosphere in the form of ammonia gas.

Transforming manure challenges into opportunities

rschrift@mclanahan.com — Thu, 30 Mar 2023 08:31:40 -0400

Here are a few examples of how a manure-related limitation was flipped from a hindrance into a long-term solution with bottom-line benefits.

Keep your farm from being the lead story on the 6 o’clock news

kevin.erb@wisc.edu — Mon, 27 Feb 2023 00:00:00 -0500

Accidental manure spills happen. The difference between being the lead story on the 6 o’clock news or it being a minor incident can depend on what you or your employees do in the first critical minutes.

Continual improvement is the key to unlocking sustainable manure management

jeramy.sanford@gea.com — Fri, 09 Dec 2022 12:12:29 -0500

Manure storage and handling does and will continue to play a major role in dairy farm sustainability and the ability to achieve carbon-neutral goals. Consider these tips to help you prepare for the future and determine what changes you can make today that will help you get one step closer to your sustainability goals.

Handle manure safely to avoid the risks of hydrogen sulfide

dsa@iastate.edu — Wed, 23 Nov 2022 12:26:39 -0500

Since the early 1960s nearly, 150 people have died in the U.S. because of manure-related gas incidents. Of these, almost half occurred on dairy farms, with the most common activity at the time of death being conducting repairs or maintenance on manure-handling equipment or attempting to rescue another individual.

Dairy farming back to the basics

Tue, 08 Nov 2022 00:00:00 -0500

Farming equipment manufacturer Hustler Equipment recently released an innovative range of front-end loader and tractor attachments.

Maximizing ROI of sand-laden manure management systems

rschrift@mclanahan.com — Fri, 09 Sep 2022 13:11:28 -0400

Manure management is inescapable when you are a dairy farmer. And dealing with the more than 20 gallons of manure and urine each cow generates every day requires a significant investment by farms of all sizes.

Manure pit safety: Know the dangers and implement risk prevention strategies

cheryl@peoplemanagementgroup.com — Fri, 29 Jul 2022 14:01:48 -0400

Safe and secure manure storage is very important on your dairy. In order to maximize contents during the growing season, manure pits must be agitated and pumped out regularly

Weighing your manure hauling options

jeramy.sanford@gea.com — Fri, 11 Dec 2020 14:00:01 -0500

Weather conditions. Labor availability. Field fitness. When it comes to manure hauling, these factors (and more) play into the decision to haul your own manure or hire a custom hauler.

Stay safe when working around manure storage

cheryl@peoplemanagementgroup.com — Mon, 24 Aug 2020 13:00:01 -0400

Spring and fall are busy times of year for agriculture operations, whether preparing fields for the new cropping season or harvesting those crops. In many cases, those two times of the year also involve pumping manure to evacuate the pits and fertilize the soil.

What you need to know about a dragline manure system before you buy

Thu, 11 Jun 2020 13:00:01 -0400

Spreading liquid manure stinks, but with a dragline manure application system, it’s a breath of fresh air.