Extension > Agriculture > Dairy Extension > Manure
Manure
Table of contents
U of M milk house wastewater website
Demontration project, design materials, publications, regulations.
Manure/nutrient management plans
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Gas emissions from dairy farms using sand
Minnesota's ambient air quality standards, sources of gas flux rates on dairy farms that use sand bedding, dairy operations can use MNSET to do a preliminary screening.
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Manure stockpiling guidelines
What to do with that manure until the fields are dry enough to handle equipment to spread it.
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Reduce pathogen spread from manure
Bacteria, viruses and protozoa: some do not cause sickness but others are capable of causing disease.
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Preparing an odor management plan
Feedlots with 1,000 animal units or more are required to submit an air emission plan.
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OFFSET: Odor from feedlots setback estimation tool
Prediction of odor problems is important as rural and non-rural areas converge.
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Manure management plans for livestock producers
Requirements for completing a plan that will meet Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) regulations.
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Frequently asked questions: manure management plans
How manure will be used, meets regulations, protects waters, and maximizes benefits. (33 K PDF)
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Nutrient management planner for Minnesota
Order software that assists in developing field-specific crop plans for crop and livestock farms. (111 K PDF)
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NRCS/MPCA nutrient management plan checklist
Addresses handling, storage and land application of manure and waste water, and more. (137 K PDF) – Natural Resources Conservation Service
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Best management practices for pathogen control in manure management systems
Livestock producers have a role in limiting pathogen movement from their operation to the environment.
Rules and regulations
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MPCA feedlot program home page
Minnesota Pollution Control Agency is the state agency that regulates animal feedlots.
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Federal rules
EPA and other regulatory resources for manure management and air quality.
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Manure storage: planning and design, safety, and regulations
Web links to the most important references in one place.
Manure digesters
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Is milk all that bad when co-digested with dairy manure?
Milk could increase biogas volumetric production if co-digested with dairy manure.
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Economics of Anaerobic Digesters for Processing Animal Manure
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Digester_Econ.xlsm
For initial calculations of a digester on a dairy farm.
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Is an anaerobic digester in your future?
A proven technology that can convert organic matter, including dairy manure and food wastes, into energy.
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Farm-based anaerobic digesters
An enclosed tank excludes oxygen; manure is broken down by natural bacteria. (232 K PDF) – Michigan State University
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Basics of energy production through anaerobic digestion of livestock manure
Manure can be a source of bioenergy for on-farm use and to mitigate odor. (699 K PDF) – Purdue University
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An analysis of energy production costs from anaerobic digestion systems on U.S. livestock production facilities
An in-depth biogas production cost analysis assesses the feasibility on-farm. (588 K PDF) – Natural Resources Conservation Service
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Overview of anaerobic digestion systems for dairy farms
They produce renewable energy, help to control water pollution, and reduce odors and greenhouse gases. (287 K PDF) – Cornell University
Other manure topics
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Manure solids for bedding… Does it work?
Using manure solids for bedding, maintaining a low SCC, takes excellent cow prep, sanitary milking equipment, cow hygiene, adequate dry cow housing, and bedding/stall management.
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Maximizing the Value of your Manure
Management Strategies to increase manure value. Residual value of manure.
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Characteristics and nitrogen value of stratified bedded pack dairy manure
Manure from compost dairy barns: physical characteristics, nutrient concentration, N mineralization, and N supply to corn. – Plant Management Network
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Nitrogen availability from liquid manure: on-farm trials in Minnesota
Accuracy and precision of current predictions of nitrogen (N) availability from dairy and swine manure.
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Manure management in Minnesota
Manures contain essential plant nutrients and that increase crop yields when properly applied to soils.
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Dairy production in the land of 10,000 lakes
If not handled properly, manure can harm the quality of surrounding water.
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Tips for the Fall manure application season
Safety is key: gases, ventilation, highway rules, testing, calibrating; have an Emergency Action Plan for spills.
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Managing manure during winter months
Winter application of manure should be avoided to prevent contamination during spring run-off.
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On-farm composting 101
Organically rich soil amendment from decomposition; natural recycling nutrients from animal production.
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Animal waste/manure economics
Spreadsheets and related materials help with decisions on use of manure.
Milk house wastewater
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Aerobic treatment units for treating milk house wastewater
One part of a wastewater treatment system that includes septic tanks, an ATU and a soil treatment area.
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Recirculating media filters for treating milk house
Reduces organic material concentration to levels similar to household wastewater, which the soil can treat.
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Surface irrigation systems for treating milk house wastewater
Includes septic tanks, a dosing tank, pump, piping, control valves and irrigation heads.
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Bark bed systems for treating milk house wastewater
A soil infiltration area covered with bark or wood shreds for uniform distribution.
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Milk house wastewater research leads to recommendations
How to handle wastewater in an environmentally and economical way that fits your management.
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Milk house wastewater research and demonstration project
Description of the research, with guides, worksheets, fact sheets, and publications.
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Milk house wastewater and clean air regulations
What pollution control rules prohibit, allow, and treatment options in various counties.
Other manure resources we recommend
- Manure management and air quality education – University of Minnesota
- Animal manure management – extension.org
- Minnesota livestock producer's directory of feedlot resources – Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Certified manure testing laboratories – Minnesota Department of Agriculture
- Feeding dairy cows to reduce nutrient excretion – University of Iowa on eXtension.org
- AgSTAR – Environmental Protection Agency
