Often times huge energy costs and fertilizer prices dropping can force farmers to deal with a lot of, well, manure — looking for ways to minimize their time and input costs. Join us for “Manure $ense: Making the Most with your Manure” where we’ll discuss how farmers can find ways to get more value from manure.
The meeting, to be held in three locations around the state, will feature educational information from MSU experts. Topics include composting, making energy on the farm, future opportunities in the carbon market, conserving nutrients in livestock diets, conserving manure nutrients during storage, and optimizing fertilizer and manure applications.
Natalie Rector, MSU Extension nutrient management educator, says the information that will be shared during the one-day seminar isn’t just for livestock producers. The seminar will also show how crop farmers and livestock producers can work together to make the most of the nutrient resources from animal manure.
“These topics aren’t limited to people who have animals,” she says. Rector anticipates that farmers will be especially interested in ways they can decrease their feed and fertility costs. “Bringing down the cost of fertilizer is a big consideration for farmers. There are valid ways to do that, and several of them will be discussed during this seminar.”
Manure $ense will be presented in three locations:
- Feb. 3 at the RESA Center in St. Johns.
- Feb. 17 at the Farm Bureau Building in Bad Axe.
- Feb. 25 at the Howard Miller Library in Zeeland.
The meeting will run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at each location. The registration fee is just $40 for the first person from a farm, with a discounted $20 registration for each additional person from the same farm or business.
Lunch is free with registration. Learn more, including how to register, at www.animalagteam.msu.edu, or call Faye Watson at (517) 353-3174.
Attendees can earn Phase I credits from the Michigan Agricultural Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP).
This is an article from the January 2009 issue of The Scoop. To view the rest of The Scoop click here,