Dairy farmers: Improve manure practices at December workshops

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Experts from Washington State University, Purdue University and Whatcom Conservation District will share the latest research and best practices for managing dairy manure at two free workshops in December.

Two identical workshops will help farmers make better choices in dairy manure disposal, increasing farm and economic benefits while reducing water pollution from dairy manure.

The first is Monday, Dec. 12, at Walter Clore Center in Prosser, Wash.

A second workshop is part of the Far West Agribusiness Association December conference, Tuesday, Dec. 13, in Kennewick, Wash.

Topics build understanding of benefits and risks of land application of manure, and introduce new tools for nutrient management planning on dairy farms.

Haiying Tao, assistant professor at the WSU Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, is organizing the December workshops.
Haiying Tao, assistant professor at the WSU Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, is organizing the December workshops.

WSU researchers Haiying Tao and William Pan will talk about soil health, economic benefits and decision-making tools for land application of manure. Andy Bary, scientific assistant at WSU, will share agronomic and environmental principles of land application, and speak on alternative uses of dairy manure. Brad Joern, professor of agronomy at Purdue University, will speak on comprehensive nutrient management planning for Washington livestock producers. Nichole Embertson of Whatcom Conservation District will share information on use of its Application Risk Management System.

Participants are encouraged to bring laptop or smart phones for hands-on demonstrations of nutrient management planning software. Certified Crop Advisor credits will be available.

• To learn more about the workshops, contact Haiying Tao, assistant professor at the WSU Department of Crop & Soil Sciences, at haiying.tao@wsu.edu or (509) 335-4389. Learn more about the Far West conference here.