Animal Manure Management

Visitors to the 2026 North American Manure Expo being held at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Wayne, Nebraska on July 28-30 will have the chance to explore some of the region’s most innovative and sustainability focused agricultural operations during the event’s official tour day on July 28, 2026. All tours will begin and end at the Wayne County Fairgrounds. Five tours, each highlighting different aspects of manure management and livestock production, as well as conservation and agricultural innovation in Nebraska have been developed. Participants will have the option of choosing one or two half-day long tours or one full-day tour. While the full day tour is the “family friendly” option, families are welcome on any of the tours. Learn more about the manure expo, the tours, and watch for registration at manureexpo.com.

A national manure management event is headed to Nebraska, bringing hands-on demos and national expertise right to producers’ backyard.

This February and March, Nebraska Extension is hosting seven hands-on workshops across the state to help producers get the most value out of manure while protecting water and soil resources.

The 2026 Nutrient Management Calendars are available for pre-order from the Nebraska Extension. This easy-to-use record keeping calendar tracks manure-related records for livestock and cropping operations. It serves as a guide for livestock operations that are required by the State of Nebraska to keep records. It was designed to be used by all sizes of livestock operations and includes all records required for operations permitted for the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES).

Small farms play a vital role in food production, environmental stewardship, and rural communities. But small farms can also have big negative impacts on their neighbors if they are not managing their nutrients, animals, or soil in ways that protect local air and water quality. Fortunately, with good planning and practical tools, even resource-limited farms can manage manure effectively and protect water and soil quality while reducing odor and improving fertilizer value.

If you've ever looked out over a freshly fertilized field and noticed a tangle of net wrap or a bit of old plastic poking out of the soil, you're not alone. Recent work on my own farm reminded me of something that might be bugging you too: finding plastic and other junk in livestock manure and worse, seeing it show up in the field.

From improving corn silage quality to preventing pasture pests and algae-filled water tanks, this week’s Pasture and Forage Minute offers practical tips to protect your forages and livestock.

Farming is among the most hazardous industries, but adopting a strong culture of safety can significantly reduce risks and protect workers. In this article, Jason Oliver of Cornell University discusses how farms can implement consistent safety training and empower all workers to take responsibility for safe practices by drawing inspiration from high-reliability organizations like U.S. aircraft carriers. By addressing one hazard at a time and combining multiple controls when necessary, agricultural operations can enhance both safety and productivity while showing workers that their well-being matters.

Logan Hafer, a senior at the University of Nebraska, reflects on his academic journey, research experiences with the Schmidt Lab, and active involvement in various agricultural organizations. In April 2025, he attended the Waste to Worth conference in Boise, Idaho, where he was most impacted by a tour of the Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station, learning about Idaho's leading role in trout aquaculture and innovative sustainability efforts like plant-based fish feed. His visit highlighted the importance of responsible water resource management and offered valuable insights into sustainable agriculture and aquaculture practices beyond his Nebraska roots.

Jillian Bailey, an undergraduate researcher at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, explores livestock mortality management through her work in the Animal Waste Management Lab and attendance at the 2025 Waste to Worth conference. She highlights the promise of shallow burial with carbon (SBC) as a low-maintenance, environmentally conscious method for carcass disposal, emphasizing its benefits in leachate control and potential for adaptation using various carbon materials. Additionally, research involving GIS and modeling tools like HYDRUS-1D demonstrates how site-specific risk mapping can guide safer placement of mortality management systems to protect groundwater.

Alexis Samson, a sophomore agricultural engineering student, attended the Waste to Worth Conference where she expanded her knowledge of manure management, especially in the area of anaerobic digestion (AD). She learned that while AD systems can turn waste into biogas and fertilizer, their cost-effectiveness—especially for small farms—can be improved by incorporating food waste from local sources. Presentations at the conference also highlighted advancements in converting biogas to renewable natural gas (RNG), which offers both environmental and financial benefits for producers.