Search Site   
News Stories at a Glance
Deere 4440 cab tractor racked up $18,000 at farm retirement auction
Indiana legislature passes bills for ag land purchases, broadband grants
Make spring planting safety plans early to avoid injuries
Michigan soybean grower visits Dubai to showcase U.S. products
Scientists are interested in eclipse effects on crops and livestock
U.S. retail meat demand for pork and beef both decreased in 2023
Iowa one of the few states to see farms increase in 2022 Ag Census
Trade, E15, GREET, tax credits the talk at Commodity Classic
Ohioan travels to Malta as part of US Grains Council trade mission
FFA members learn about Australian culture, agriculture during trip
Timing of Dicamba ruling may cause issues for 2024 planting
   
Archive
Search Archive  
   
Wayne County program finds ‘gold’ in those piles of manure

By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

WOOSTER, Ohio — Wayne County in northeast Ohio ranks number one in dairy cows in the state and the county has a multitude of poultry farms. That said, it comes as no surprise that manure is a hotly debated issue among residents.

But thanks to a pilot program in the county’s Baughman Township a project is underway aimed at transforming manure from what some would consider waste into a marketable product that could be bartered among agricultural producers or sold to gardeners, landscapers and others seeking a green source of high-quality fertilizer.

“Baughman Township has had a lot of issues with manure and it has been perceived by others as a nuisance with problems involving road damage and water contamination,” said Katie Myers, farmland programs coordinator for Countryside Conservancy, one of the agencies leading the project. “This is an opportunity to turn that waste into a resource. We’re hoping to create a model that can be replicated anywhere in Ohio.

“Anecdotal evidence suggested that there was a surplus of manure in some areas and an excess of demand in others. Some producers indicated they’d be willing to trade manure for other products such as hay. All that was missing was the social component that would connect the supply with the demand.”
A system is being developed that will place a value on manure based on its nutrient content and allow buyers to purchase the fertilizer that best meets their soil’s needs.

The program got underway when Baughman Township, the Wayne Economic Development Council, the Wayne Soil and Water Conservation District and Countryside Conservancy submitted a grant proposal to Ohio State University’s Center for Farmland Policy Innovation.

The 12-month program, modeled on similar efforts in Iowa and Wisconsin, will be funded through the Center for Farmland Policy Innovation and the Ohio Department of Agriculture’s Rural Rehabilitation Program, with 50 percent in matching funds from Baughman Township, the Wayne Economic Development Council and Countryside Conservancy.

Surveys were sent out to Baughman Township landowners in March to gauge interest in the program. Interest was high. Participants will receive a 50 percent discount on soil sampling or on manure analysis.

“At this point we’re limiting participation to Baughman Township residents because it’s a pilot project,” Myers said. “We hope this spreads to other counties in Ohio. That’s why we’re working with Ohio State University to try to work out the legal issues and the contracting issues.

“A lot of those in this township are progressive farmers. They’re already doing grid sampling. But there are a lot of small acreage farms and these farmers don’t know what their soil content is. Our processes will be able to tell them what that content is.”

For example, by taking samples it can be determined what the nitrogen and phosphorous content really is. The program will give landowners the opportunity to learn about proper nutrient utilization and create model contracts for transactions related to manure.
“One farmer might have too much phosphorous and another might lack in phosphorous. We’d ship it from one location to the other,” Myers said.

And this bartering system might include a trade of manure for stray or hay.

“Informal bartering has been going on for quite a while,” Myers said. “But we’re hoping to reach out to residents who are not in the bartering circle and eventually reach out to bordering townships and even bordering counties. Even the weekend warrior type of gardener needs a garden with good organic nutrients.”

And there’s been talk of having manure auctions.

“The better they utilize their nutrients, the more opportunity for expansion within the livestock industry or retention of existing livestock operations,” said Brian Gwin, project manager for agriculture at the Wayne Economic Development Council. “When you look at Wayne, Holmes, Ashland, Stark, Tuscarawas – we’re four of the top five dairy counties in the state and the top four broiler counties in the state.”

Organizers of this program hope there will be plenty of consumers to help turn manure into an economic asset for producers. For area farmers, it could provide a cost-effective alternative to fossil fuel-based fertilizers. For more information contact Katie Myers at 330-657-2355.

4/15/2009