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Penn State Hosts 2010 National Manure Expo July 15
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By its nature, a national conference on manure tends to generate more dung jokes than ecological perspective. But when Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences hosts the 2010 Manure Expo on July 15 at the Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, humor gives way to insights on principles of environmental balance and nutrient utilization.
Because it's a national gathering of the best products and services dealing with nutrient management, professional manure handling, animal agriculture and agricultural water quality, it offers a unique opportunity for the non-farming public, said expo coordinator Robert Meinen.
"The conference will present agriculture in a way that's not often portrayed in popular media," said Meinen, a senior dairy extension associate. "The average person will be able to learn about the technologies that are used in agriculture to allow profitable crop growth while minimizing environmental risk. This is a perfect marriage to the expo theme of balancing production and conservation."
While several of the expo's educational sessions provide professional-development credits to certified commercial manure haulers and brokers, nutrient and odor management specialists and crop advisors, Meinen says the programs are accessible for everyone, and offer useful insights into the challenges of modern farming.
"With the rapid expansion of reduced tillage and no-till methods, livestock producers face unique hurdles," Meinen said. "The animal agriculture industries often operate with narrow profit margins and it takes an efficient environmental management plan to operate profitably. But adopting no-till can be particularly tough for a livestock farmer. If a farmer can't incorporate his manure into the soil, he risks losing nitrogen to the atmosphere and phosphorus in run-off as well as upsetting neighbors with offensive odors and flies."
The expo's theme, "Balancing Production and Conservation," addresses how manure handlers must navigate federal, state and local regulations, public perceptions and scrutiny, and economic pressures, while trying to make the most of an important natural resource, said expo coordinator Robert Meinen, senior extension associate for Penn State Cooperative Extension.
"This event offers a forum for the manure-handling industry to interact with the companies that provide equipment and services to highlight the latest technologies, practices and knowledge related to manure management," Meinen said. "It will include side-by-side equipment comparisons, commercial field demonstrations, vendor displays and educational sessions that focus on optimization of manure nutrients. We also will provide information on such value-added systems as biogas production and separating solids for bedding."
Adding value to manure -- from composting to solid/liquid separation to digesters -- will be a major theme at the expo, which will feature the most recent and complete information on storage and handling technologies, covering subjects from economics to farm infrastructure.
Admission and parking at the 2010 Manure Expo are free. More information is available online or by calling 814-863-2263, or by sending email to: manureexpo@psu.edu.
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7/12/2010 |
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