October 1, 2002

Information on Manure Management Is Now Available

Information on science-based manure management practices are available to help producers evaluate their farming or ranching operation and implement practices that are most beneficial to their operation. The information is also of interest to industry stakeholders and educators.

A national team of more than 30 land-grant universities (including North Dakota State University), USDA-NRCS, and USDA-ARS professionals developed the curriculum materials. The final product called the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Stewardship (LPES) curriculum, consists of 26 lessons addressing animal dietary strategies, manure storage and treatment, land application and nutrient management and outdoor air quality. These products are available as a printed set of the lessons and as a CD.

"Producers will use the curriculum as a tool to review the environmental risks associated with their operation and as a reference to the science behind specific issues, technologies or practices," says Ken Hellevang, NDSU Extension Service agriculture engineer. "Educators will be able to use the PowerPoint presentations for teaching workshops, certification programs or employee training sessions. They can use the assessment tools for reviewing an operation’s environmental risk and compliance with regulations." Interactive versions of the assessment tools, which are part of the lessons, are available at the web site www.lpes.org .

Priced at $25, the searchable CD contains the 26 lessons and power point presentations that supplement the lessons. The 3-hole punched hardcopy set of the lesson sells for $55. To order the material contact Extension Agricultural & Biosystems Engineering at (701) 231-7236 or dmcdonou@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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Source: Ken Hellevang, (701) 231-7243, kjh-eng@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Writer: Stephanie Renner, (701) 231-8371, srenner@ndsuext.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu