Animal Manure Management

Recycling local manure nutrients before purchasing fertilizer is key to protecting the environment. Manure can be an economic “Win”, due to its fertility value, and a soil quality “Win”, due to its organic matter.  But it can also be a community risk, due to odors and pathogens. Our live educational programs, online courses, and resources provide science-based information on economically viable, environmentally sound manure handling systems that also comply with all regulations.

Safety Matters: Cultivating a culture of safety

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.

From Sandhills to Sustainability: Exploring Aquaculture Innovation at Idaho's Hagerman Fish Culture Experiment Station

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.

From Manure to Mapping: Exploring Sustainable Livestock Mortality Management at Waste to Worth 2025

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.

From Manure to Methane: A Student's Dive into Anaerobic Digestion and Sustainable Farming

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.

Manure source delays and opportunities related to HPAI

Following a Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreak, there may be a delay in the ability to receive manure and other products from those barns.

A Beginner's Guide to Manure Spreaders: Ensuring Even Application for Healthy Fields

Manure spreaders are essential tools for distributing nutrients to crops to improve fertility and improve soil health. Therefore, achieving an even application of manure is just as important as with commercial fertilizers. Proper placement ensures that every part of a field receives the nutrients needed, leading to healthier crops and soil biology. This guide explains how to use manure spreaders effectively.

Ready, Set, Spread: Manure Application Workshops Across Nebraska

Turning manure nutrients into better crop yields while protecting the environment will be the focus of ten Nebraska Extension Land Application Training workshops being held across the state this February and March.

Understanding and Mitigating Ammonia Deposition

Applying manure to fields provides a natural and sustainable way to fertilize crops, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers. It adds essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, improving soil health and promoting plant growth. Additionally, manure enriches the soil with organic matter, enhancing its structure and water-holding capacity. However, there’s a side to manure that many don’t often think about, that is ammonia deposition. Ammonia deposition is the process by which ammonia is returned to the Earth’s surface after being released into the atmosphere.

Mortality Management

In Nebraska, routine livestock mortalities can be legally disposed of in five different ways: burial, incineration, composting, rendering, and disposal in a landfill. Regardless of which method is used, it is important to dispose of the animal or animals within 24 hours of death, or sooner if possible. When choosing a mortality disposal method, cost, labor input, and personal preferences usually dictate an individual’s decision.

Manure Management for Biosecurity

The potential for disease transfer due to manure handling equipment moving among manure storages or farms should not be overlooked. If a producer operates their own pumping equipment, they will know if PEDV or other diseases are a risk on their farm and should be able to take extra precautions to avoid spreading the disease to other facilities or farms that they own.

Recycling local manure nutrients before purchasing fertilizer is key to protecting the environment. Manure can be an economic “Win”, due to its fertility value, and a soil quality “Win”, due to its organic matter.  But it can also be a community risk, due to odors and pathogens. Our live educational programs, online courses, and resources provide science-based information on economically viable, environmentally sound manure handling systems that also comply with all regulations.