Animal Manure Management

The 2026 North American Manure Expo, held July 28-30 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds in Wayne, Nebraska, was a tremendous success! Bringing together manure applicators, farmers, industry professionals, Extension/University professionals, researchers, and advocates from across North America, the Expo offered something for everyone interested in the future of manure management.

Cattle manure can be an overlooked source of methane emissions, but how much methane is produced depends heavily on how manure is handled and stored. Which manure management systems generate the most methane? And why do practices such as liquid storage, deep pits, and anaerobic lagoons make a difference? This article will help better understand the connection between manure management, methane emissions, and opportunities to reduce agriculture’s climate impact.

The 2026 North American Manure Expo that is being planned for Wayne, NE on July 28 through 30 is a trade show and extension program all rolled into one. It includes tours the first day and two days of trade show that also includes live demonstrations and education sessions featuring the latest science and technology related to manure handling and application. Early bird pricing ends June 30, so get your tickets now!

Hay and pasture can be excellent places to use manure nutrients. Forage crops are hungry, they respond well to nitrogen, and they offer flexibility when row crop acres are already planted or conditions aren’t ideal elsewhere. That said, forage stands are less forgiving than bare ground. Unlike corn acres, where manure gets incorporated and everyone moves on with their lives, hay fields tend to remember what you did to them (I remember that rut from last year).

As drought conditions continue to affect much of Nebraska, beef producers are being forced to make difficult decisions about herd and forage management. To support producers navigating these challenges, Nebraska Extension will host a free webinar on Thursday, June 11, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mountain Time / 7:30 to 9 p.m. Central Time.

Educational sessions at the North American Manure Expo on July 29-30 at the Wayne County Fairgrounds will focus on practical, research-backed information for manure applicators, livestock and crop producers, crop advisers, and ag professionals. Topics include sampling, soil health, precision application, edge-of-field practices, plastics, safety, and emerging innovations like sensing crops to determine additional nutrient needs and anaerobic digestion.

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).