More than 130 farmers, entrepreneurs and homeowners attended Manure $ense: Making the Most with your Manure. The one-day seminar, hosted by the MSU Extension Animal Agriculture and the Environment Team in three locations throughout the state, covered a plethora of timely topics.

"It's nice that we're able to bring so many experts together in one place to share this information," said Natalie Rector, MSU Extension statewide nutrient management educator.

Topics were:

• composting
• making energy on the farm
• future opportunities in the carbon market
• conserving nutrients in livestock diets
• conserving manure nutrients during storage
• optimizing fertilizer and manure applications

The panel of educators and scientist who presented the information also created a series of white papers on each topic, which were combined into a useful reference booklet.

"It's nice to have a single resource with such good information," Rector said. "In fact, more than 70 percent of attendees said they would refer to the booklet again."

If you missed the meeting, you can still download the booklet, the presentations and individual subject-oriented white papers by visiting www.animalagteam.msu.edu and clicking on Manure $ense educational materials.