Speakers at the Nebraska Manure Demonstration Day

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Luncheon Presentations

Trent Loos

About the speaker: Trent is a sixth generation United States farmer with a passion for agriculture that started years ago – he had his first pig when he was just 5 years old on the family farm near Quincy, IL. When anti-agricultural activists threatened the way of life he cherished, it was time to take a stand, so Trent began speaking out for agriculture. Loos Tales, Trent's radio show, launched in January of 2001. In 2008, Trent was recognized as the "Voice of Rural America" by the West Quest organization for his ground-breaking work in advocating for agriculture and speaking on behalf of the folks who would rather stay home and tend to their crops and livestock than take on those attacking their life-sustaining industry. Trent and his wife Kelli enjoy life in central Nebraska with their three daughters.

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Greg Ibach

About the speaker: Greg began his service as Director of the Nebraska Department of Agriculture in June 2005, receiving the appointment from Governor Dave Heineman after spending six and half years in the Assistant Director role. In addition to his director duties, with the help of his family he continues to maintain a cow/calf and grain operation near Sumner in central Nebraska. He shuttles between Sumner and Lincoln regularly and oversees all programs of the Agriculture Department.

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Track 1 - Managing What We Can't See in Manure

Dan Miller - Intro to Manure Microbiology

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About the presentation: Microorganisms play a central role controlling nutrient content and odor production during manure accumulation and storage. Their activities after application can also impact the gas emissions and fertilizer value. This presentation will focus on the basic microbiology of manure and how microbes can be managed to minimize potential environmental issues when manure resources are utilized during crop production. Click here to download a PDF version of this presentation.

About the speaker: Dan Miller is a microbiologist with the Agricultural Research Service in Lincoln, NE where he works as a team member investigating effective management solutions for a variety of manure management issues. In the past he has researched odor compound formation in feedlot and swine production systems and examined nutrient transformation and losses from manure-impacted environments.

Lisa Durso - Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria and the Environment

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About the presentation: The use of antibiotics in food animals is an issue that has captured national attention. But there is still a lot that we don't know about antibiotic resistance on the farm, or in manure-impacted soil and water. The public perception is that it is the agricultural use of antibiotics that creates resistance. Soil scientists know that antibiotics come from soil bacteria, and can occur naturally. This presentation will look at the idea of measuring naturally occurring and baseline levels of resistance as a prerequisite to identifying agBMPs that can have a real impact on human health. Click here to download a PDF version of this presentation.

About the speaker: Lisa Durso is a microbiologist working with the Agricultural Research Service. She works with a team finding ways to use manure as a resource, while minimizing adverse environmental impacts. Her current projects focus on determining the fate and transport of pathogens and antibiotic resistance in manure-impacted environments, measuring them in agricultural and natural settings, and evaluating new technologies for remediation of runoff from beef cattle feedlots. She is very interested in all aspects of "microbes in manure".

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John Schmidt - Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria and Food Safety

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About the presentation: Bacterial antimicrobial resistance is an ancient, natural, and dynamic process. As such, the contributions of various human activities, including animal agriculture, on the occurrence and spread of antimicrobial resistant bacteria are complex and multifaceted. It is increasingly apparent that the complex issue of antimicrobial resistance will not be solved by simplistic actions such as the imposition of severe restrictions on the agricultural use of antimicrobials. Due to a lack of sustained inquiry, the scientific understanding of the ecology of antimicrobial resistance is very poor. Thus, the study of antimicrobial resistance in agriculture has great potential to increase scientific knowledge and may impact food safety, animal health, and human health. Click here to download a PDF version of this presentation.

About the speaker: John Schmidt is a microbiologist with the Agricultural Research Service at the United States Meat Animal Research Center located in Clay Center, Nebraska. He received a B.S. in Biotechnology from Rutgers University and a Ph.D. in Microbiology from the University of Illinois. Prior research has included genetics and biochemistry of bacterial mobile genetic elements, tumor virology, and the biochemistry of bacterial antimicrobial resistance. His current research is focused on improving the microbiological safety of beef and pork, and determining the impact of agricultural antibiotic use on the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria throughout the beef and pork production and processing continuums.

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Jim Hicks - Large Animal Composting

About the presentation: Composting is a economical and biological secure alternative for disposal of livestock mortalities.

About the speaker: Jim holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nebraska - Lincoln. He has spent the last 30 years with the USDA/NRCS where he is currently a State Environmental Engineer.

Shawn Shouse - Manure Runoff Management for Small Open Lots

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About the presentation: While not subject to NPDES permit requirements, small open lot operations still need to prevent nutrient and pollutant losses to lakes and streams. This featured on-farm demonstration showed how open lot runoff can be inexpensively captured and utilized with and without pumping. Click here to download a PDF version of this presentation.

About the speaker: Shawn Shouse is an Agricultural Engineering Field Specialist for Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, stationed in the southwest corner of Iowa. With BS and MS degrees in Agricultural Engineering, he worked in the grain storage and farm building industries prior to joining ISU. Since 1988 he has provided educational program leadership in environmental and water quality issues, engineering aspects of livestock and grain structures, manure management, energy conservation, and farm safety. In recent years he has worked more intensively with managers of small and medium sized beef feedlots to improve runoff management.

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J. Dustin Loy - Managing Manure to Avoid Spreading PEDV

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About the presentation: Dr. Loy will provide an update on Swine Enteric Coronavirus Disease (SECD) including PEDV in the US and discuss best practices for disease management and biosecurity. Click here to download a PDF version of this presentation.

About the speaker: Dr. Loy received his DVM and PhD from Iowa State University in veterinary microbiology. He is a board certified veterinary microbiologist and is the microbiology section leader at the UNL Veterinary Diagnostic Center. His research interests include diagnostic test and vaccine development for pathogens of cattle and swine. 

 

Track 2: Connecting Manure and Fields

Charles Shapiro - Soil Health: Why does it matter and how do we measure it?

About the presentation: We all recognize that the quality of the soils on which we grow our crops is fundamental to continued productivity. How do we know if our soils are living up to their potential? Click here to download a PDF version of this presentation.

About the speaker: Dr. Shapiro completed his graduate training at UNL in 1982 in Agronomy. He has been at the Haskell Agricultural Laboratory since 1984 where he has conducted research in nutrient management with emphasis on nitrogen efficiency, manure management, and phosphorus application.

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Amy Millmier Schmidt - Manure vs. Commercial Fertilizer: Can soil and crops tell the difference?

About the presentation: You can meet crop nutrient needs with manure or commercial fertilizer. But can crops tell the difference? This talk will include a discussion of soil physical, chemical, and biological properties that collectively impact "soil health" and how manure and commercial fertilizer impact these soil properties. Click here to download a PDF version of this presentation.

About the speaker: Amy Millmier Schmidt is an assistant professor and livestock bioenvironmental engineer in the Departments of Biological Systems Engineering and Animal Science at UNL. Her research and extension programming focuses on control of manure-borne contaminants in the environment and working with producers to manage manure and agricultural by-products to protect the environment and public health. Amy earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees in Agricultural Engineering from Iowa State University and her Ph.D. in Biological Engineering from Mississippi State University. She has previously worked as an environmental engineer for Premium Standard Farms in north Missouri and as an Extension specialist at the University of Missouri and Mississippi State University.

Andy Scholting - The Multiple Values of Manure

About the presentation: It is relatively easy to put a monetary value on the nutrients in manure. It is not as simple to determine how much of that value is real to each individual farm. This session will show how to value manure and touch on how to maximize the returns from that value. Click here to download a PDF version of this presentation.

About the speaker: Andy is president and co-founder of Nutrient Advisors in West Point, NE. Andy received his BS:) from the University of Nebraska where he studied agronomy and animal science. He has 15 years experience in manure management and now leads Nutrient Advisors in serving agriculture in environmental compliance and nutrient management. Nutrient Advisors specializes in helping feeders and end-users of manure maximize yields and profitability while giving them peace of mind that their operation is in compliance.

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Sarah Sellin - Vegetative Treatment Systems: Alternatives in Nebraska

About the presentation: What are VTA's and how do they work? Stop by this short presentation to learn how VTA's are becoming a more popular alternative in Nebraska. Click here to download a PDF version of this presentation.

About the speaker: Sarah Sellin has over 10 years' experience working with NDEQ, NRCS, and NRD's in the field of animal feeding operations. Originally from South Dakota, she holds a Bachelor's degree from Oklahoma Panhandle State University in Agronomy, as well as minors in Animal Science and Natural Science. When not shuttling her herd of five kids around to various activities, her spare time is spent as a volunteer EMT, as a member of Norfolk's FFA Alumni, and as co-chair of Hoskins Holiday Boutique.

Blythe McAfee - Volatilization Losses from Sprinkler Applied Nitrogen

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About the presentation: Come learn about the field and environmental factors that influence volatilization rates when we sprinkler apply liquid livestock waste. Recent research shows losses may not be as great as we think. Click here to download a PDF version of this presentation.

About the speaker: Blythe McAfee is an Environmental Quality Compliance Specialist with the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality. She holds both a Bachelor's and a Master's Degree in Agronomy from the University of Nebraska- Lincoln. Blythe's graduate work focused on nitrogen losses from sprinkler applied beef feedlot runoff.

Renee Hancock - Strategies for Phosphorus Management on Cropland

About the presentation: Nutrient management continues to be at the forefront of Environmental Issues facing livestock and crop producers. Phosphorus is one of the nutrients that plants need to grow, and for most of human history, farmers always needed more of it. But excess soil phosphorus levels leads to runoff and surface water pollution. My presentation considers ways to minimize phosphorus losses to surface water. Click here to download a PDF version of this presentation.

About the speaker:Renee Hancock is the State Water Quality Specialist and TSP Coordinator for the Nebraska NRCS. Job duties included working with nutrient management, CNMPs, pest management and technical service providers. She has been with NRCS for almost 9 years. Prior to NRCS, she worked at NDEQ for 13 years. Renee graduated from UNL with a bachelors and masters in animal science, minor in science.

Afternoon Panel Discussion

About the panel: Livestock producers have manure. Crop producers need manure. What is the best way to connect the two so that both benefit from the use of animal manure as a crop fertilizer? This panel will feature a livestock producer, a crop producer, a custom manure hauler, and a nutrient management specialist presenting their thoughts on connecting animal and cropping systems to promote successful exchanges of manure.

Livestock Producer - Dan Roberts

About the panelist: Dan Roberts brings a unique perspective on manure management. After graduating from UNL with a degree in Animal Science he came back to the family feedlot and farming operation and has been involved with that for the last 38 years. They have grown their farming to handle almost all of their feedlot nutrients. A few years ago he became a part owner of MMI international which manufactures mixer feeders and manure spreaders. His hope is that by being involved in all aspects of manure management  it lends him to have a clear perspective of its management.

Crop Producer - Doug Luther

About the panelist: Doug Luther is a crop producer from the Lexington, Nebraska area and has utilized all kinds of cropping techniques on his fields, including cover crops and manure, as well as commercial fertilizer.

Custom Manure Hauler - Aaron Ross

About the panelist: Aaron Ross, Sr. is the owner of the Lagoon Pumping and Dredging,  Inc. based in Columbus, Nebraska. He has been in the irrigation and pumping business for over 20 years. In 2003 he established Lagoon Pumping and Dredging, Inc. as a dedicated company to cleaning out lagoons and incorporating the effluent directly into the ground using the drag line method.

Nutrient Management Specialist - Andy Scholting

About the panelist: Andy is president and co-founder of Nutrient Advisors in West Point, NE. Andy received his BS:) from the University of Nebraska where he studied agronomy and animal science. He has 15 years experience in manure management and now leads Nutrient Advisors in serving agriculture in environmental compliance and nutrient management. Nutrient Advisors specializes in helping feeders and end-users of manure maximize yields and profitability while giving them peace of mind that their operation is in compliance.

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