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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.