ST. JOHNS, Mich. — Farmers interested in learning efficient manure management strategies can attend the 2006 Great Lakes Manure Handling Expo July 27 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in St. Johns, Mich. - 20 minutes north of Lansing.

The theme for the event is Keep it in the Root Zone. The Expo is sponsored by Purdue, Ohio State and Michigan State University’s Extension and the Midwest Professional Nutrient Applicators Assoc.

Commercial vendors will feature demonstrations on manure handling equipment and tent displays will feature businesses and organizations offering manure services and products related to manure management. In-field demonstrations will run at 10 a.m. and again at 3 p.m. Educational sessions will run concurrently at 9 a.m. and repeat again at noon, 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. The Expo is targeting innovative and practical manure application strategies that will help farmers place and keep manure in the root zone, where it most benefits growing crops.

“This would include anything and everything that affects land application, ranging from innovative and advanced manure treatment systems at the livestock facility to manure application equipment and systems,” said Dann Bolinger, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension educator for dairy and manure management based in Clinton County.

Speakers from five Midwestern states will provide sessions throughout the day. They include:

•Frank Gibbs, the USDA NRCS in Ohio with a demonstration on tile lines
•Jay Solomon and Pete Fandel from the University of Illinois on GPS field technologies
•David Schmidt of the University of Minnesota on odor control strategies
•Jon Rausch from Ohio State University and Brad Joern of Purdue on the economics and agronomic benefits of manure
•Harold Keener from Ohio State University on practical, farm scale, manure composting
•Tim Harrigan of MSU with a demonstration on seeding cover crops using manure as the carrier
•Bill Bickert of MSU and a panel of dairy producers on sand bedding and manure handling innovations

No fee or registration is required. Lunch will be available for purchase from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

For more details, call 989-224-5240 or visit www.rootzone.msu.edu

Anyone wishing to display at the event should contact Bolinger.

Directions to the tour site: From the intersection of U.S. 127 North and M-21, go west on M-21 for eight miles through St. Johns.

Turn north on Wacousta Road for 1.5 miles.

The farm field site is at 2500 N. Wacousta Road, St. Johns. This farm news was published in the June 7, 2006 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.