Manure Management

Manure management is the capture, collection, transport, storage, handling, treatment, application and utilization of animal manures in an environmentally sustainable manner.

Economically recycling manure to supply plants with most of their nutrient needs while minimizing the environmental impact is the main goal of manure management.

    A farm with a big, green cover on the ground

    Dairy farm manure cover and flare off systems reduce odors and methane

    To improve their environmental stewardship and be better neighbors, more and more dairy farmers are turning to covered manure pits that feature methane-eliminating flare off systems.

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    Impacts of climate change on manure management (2015)

    Climate change and other societal pressures will impact manure management.
    Wetter winters are predicted for the Northeast. Combining this with the usual or even increased variability of weather patterns, increases the likelihood of significant winter melts that could cause significant runoff events transporting recently spread manure into surface waters or cause groundwater contamination.

    Video presentation

    Cost effective and environmental beneficial dairy manure management practices (2005)

    Dairies are under increased pressure to address air and water quality impacts from their operations. Every dairy farm is unique, and the more options dairy producers have for sustainable manure management, the more likely the farm will be able to comply with environmental regulations and continue to operate profitably. Fortunately, effective and economically advantageous management practices and technologies, designed to handle manure in environmentally sound ways, do exist.

    Powerpoint slides

    Paper

     

    Standard Methods to Estimate Manure Production and Nutrient Characteristics from Dairy Cattle (2003)

    Total collection data from many universities were pooled for statistical analyses to evaluate existing data from dairy animals and determine if one or more modifications were needed for Standard Table D384.1 published by the American Society of Agricultural Engineers (ASAE, 2000). Many of these studies were carried out to evaluate nutritional characteristics associated with different diets.

     

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    Overview of Manure Management Alternatives

    In the future, all farms will have to consider environmental impacts of their operations and environmental considerations will become more and more detailed.

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    NRCS Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook

    This Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook (AWMFH) provides specific guidance for planning, designing, and managing systems where agricultural wastes are involved.  It can help the professional planner/designer assist agricultural producers in organizing a comprehensive plan that results in the integration of waste management into overall farm operations. 

    Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook

    Lake Champlain Basin Program

    DES staff were awarded funding from United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement (LC00A00695-0) to NEIWPCC in partnership with the Lake Champlain Basin Program to assist with monitoring, studies, modeling, and technical and supporting work necessary for the development and implementation of the Lake Champlain Basin Plan.

    Contact list of engineers who attended