May 31-June 2 at Illinois State University

This three-day workshop offers comprehensive training in compost production and marketing.

Since 1999, educators representing Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin have hosted an annual Midwest Composting School. Illinois, for the first time, has been asked to host the School in 2011. Accordingly, the Midwest Composting School 2011 will feature an intensive three-day program that will train participants in the science and art of composting subjects, including but not limited to: handling of composting feed stocks, enhancement of compost quality, sampling and analytical processes, environmental regulation, compost soil application rates, food waste composting, composting landscape waste, composting of horse bedding and the understanding of compost markets and the marketing process. The school focuses on a combination of hands-on training, lecture and discussion, compost facility operator panel discussions, problem solving exercises and a tour of Central Illinois compost facilities.
Register at:

http://conferences.illinoisstate.edu/midwestcompostingschool/

Manure Share now lists 110 farms that have too much manure and
and 65 looking for manure.

Illinois Manure Share is a free program that benefits livestock owners, gardeners, landscapers and the environment! It is a manure exchange program that brings gardeners and landscapers searching for organic materials for use in composting or field applications in contact with livestock owners who have excess manure

List yourself on Manure Share at:
http://web.extension.illinois.edu/manureshare/

Once you list your interest on Manure Share, look on the other list and make some calls to those close by to try and negotiate an exchange of manure.

Over 30 people have sought information about the Manure Run program. Numerous stables are now receiving the services of the manure hauler in McHenry County.

We have numerous requests to establish a Manure Run in the Joliet Area and the St. Charles Area. If you are in these areas, please register at the website. If you know of a hauler who might be willing to work with us, please contact us.

Manure Run Registration.

https://webs.extension.uiuc.edu/registration/?RegistrationID=5187

Spring application of fresh manure is not recommended for vegetable gardens. Compost the manure and then use it as a soil amendment this fall.

For more information check out: Using Manure and Compost as Nutrient Sources for Fruit and Vegetable Crops, Carl J. Rosen and Peter M. Bierman, Department of Soil, Water, and Climate
University of Minnesota

http://www.extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/M1192.html

Organic farms utilize a lot of organic compost as a soil amendment and fertilizer. Composted manure is a nutrient rich compost. This factsheet outlines some of the requirements for quality compost needed by organic farms

Making Compost for Organic Farms

http://www.extension.org/pages/18567/making-and-using-compost-for-organic-farming

Wisconsin has a nice factsheet showing how to calculate how much manure you are hauling.

Know How Much You Haul

http://ipcm.wisc.edu/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=f99JuJSjYdg%3D&tabid=114&mid=669

The OSU Extension Air Quality team has planned an Ammonia Emissions and Nitrogen Conservation Workshop on May 2, 2011 in Columbus, Ohio. This workshop is organized to provide animal producers and professionals with a fundamental understanding of ammonia (NH₃) emissions, air regulations, and the best management practices and innovative technologies available for the abatement and recovery of NH₃.

Leading researchers and extension specialists of Iowa State University, University of Illinois, University of Missouri, and The Ohio State University will share their newest research developments. Ohio EPA will address air regulation in specifics. A lab-scale ammonia scrubber to convert ammonia into nitrogen fertilizer will be demonstrated. This workshop is meant to empower the livestock and poultry industries to convert the ammonia emissions challenge into an opportunity for profitable and environmentally friendly operations.

Please share this information with your colleagues and clientele. The program brochure and registration information is attached. Details and registration can also be found at: http://airquality.osu.edu./workshops/index.htm.

Right now we have over 160 people signed up on Manure Share (www.manureshare.illinois.edu) with 50 of those people looking for manure.

How can Manure Share help you?

There are 2 ways you can use Manure Share?

1) Sign up on which ever list fits your need - looking for manure or looking to get rid of manure. Then sit back and wait for someone to contact you. Passive approach!!

2) Sign up on one of the lists - but stop there - go to the other list - sort by county to find someone near you and see what they are looking for and then IF you find someone that may fit your need - contact them to see what arrangements you can get worked out.

This is the aggressive approach!!!!

You DO NOT have to sign up to use/search the 2 lists, BUT if you do not sign up no one will ever find you!!!

If you sign up but never go to the other list to find a match then you are depending on someone else having enough initiative to find you.

How can you improve Manure Share?

The more people that are signed up, the more likely you and everyone else will find a match. I don't think anyone wants to drive 75 or 100 miles to drop off or pick up manure without very strong financial incentives. Spread the word about Manure Share - put up notices at stables, riding trails, feed stores, vets, etc.

How Nature "the Supreme Farmer" Manages Manure

http://www.extension.org/pages/Live_Webcast_Information

Description:
What is healthy soil? How does manure contribute to a healthy soil ecosystem? Ray Archuleta, Conservation Agronomist with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service will present a very informative and entertaining discussion on the science of soil. Learn about how manure is an indispensable part of the ecology behind healthy and productive soils and see real world case studies and comparisons of "good" and "bad" examples. The webcast will be moderated by Bill Boyd, National Manure Management Team Leader with the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service. The presentation will be on March 25, 2011 at 2:30 pm (eastern); 1:30 pm (central); 12:30 pm (mountain); 11:30 am (pacific).

Coverage: National