Cash for a livestock by-product, why not? We all know that dealing with organic fertilizer can be challenging, particularly for those farmers with an insufficient land base. In general, about the same number of acres required to feed an animal are required to recycle what exits the south end of a northbound animal. One can argue that the previous statement is only a rough guess at best. While that may be right, the acre (feed) for acre (manure) is a much closer match than what is presently utilized on many western Ohio livestock farms.

Transporting poultry litter to farms that have not received organic fertilizer for decades has proved to be profitable for many operations; reducing potential nutrient loads in many fields and farms. I know of livestock farmers who have purchased used tanker trailers to transport liquid manure to farther away crop fields, rejuvenating acreage with micronutrients, organic matter and biological activity, in addition to the nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium nutrients otherwise purchased from commercial sources.

At the March 8 Manure Technology Workshop “Turning Manure into Ca$h!” a wide variety of speakers plan to share new technology that deals with manure in ways unheard of 5-to-10-to-20 years ago. The 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. workshop is scheduled at the Knights of St. John Hall, 8608 St. Rt. 119, Maria Stein, Ohio.

After a welcome and opening comment from Kevin Elder of the Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio State University Extension’s Dr. Harold Keener will provide a thirty-minute “Overview of Manure Technologies.” Prior to a morning break, Extension’s Dr. Steve Baertsche explores the subject “Anaerobic Digestion and Methane Production.”

Louisiana State University’s Dr. Ron Sheffield should interest farmers and others concerned about phosphorus after the break. “Phosphorus Removal in Dairy Wastewater” could be a great benefit if the task can be accomplished economically. Keith Bowers from Multiform Harvest follows with a similar talk about removing P from swine manure.

After an agribusiness sponsored lunch, Jim Sattler, president and Dr. Megan Smith, technical director for NuVention will take 45 minutes to detail the process of “Turning Swine Manure into Bioresin.” Northeast farmer Dave Shoup of Shoup Farms and Applied Technology Manger Rick Lux from Innovator, Inc. will use the next 45 minutes to provide “Bio-oil Demonstration Farm Results.”
Mercer County Extension’s Jim Hoorman wraps up the presentations with “Nutrient (N and P) Removal and Water Quality Benefits.”

OSU Extension’s partners for the event include area SWCD’s, NRCS, Ohio Farm Bureau Federation and the FSA office. Please RSVP on or before March 5 by calling 419-586-2179 if you want to eat lunch!

“Farming: the Next Generation – Strategies for Preserving the Family Farm” is a two-and-a-half hour program slated to begin at 6 p.m. March 2 in the Shelby County Agricultural Center in Sidney, Ohio. This farm estate planning event is designed to whet family member appetites, enticing affected individuals to move forward in charting a transitional path for their farming operation.
There is no charge for the meeting; however, registrations must be received by Feb. 28 for handouts to be produced and since a light dinner is planned for participants.

Peggy Hall, director of Ohio State University’s Agricultural and Resource Law Program and Robert Moore, attorney, Wright Law Company, LPA, will do an excellent job of outlining tasks that need to be accomplished in this generational farm management challenge. 

Do you want to see the next generation successfully continue the family farm operation? Are you working towards solutions that enhance the success of all involved? Ideas on how to answer these and other questions will be shared on March 2. Please call 937-498-7239 or e-mail bender.5@cfaes.osu.edu by Feb. 28 for your reservation.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments for Roger Bender may write to him in care of this publication.