WAPAKONETA, Ohio — When manure happens, it can be a valuable resource – or a farmer can be up the creek without a paddle. The key to successfully using livestock manure on an operation is managing how and when it is applied to fields.

These are just a few of the topics to be covered during the 2015 Manure Science Review on Aug. 12 at Mississinawa Valley High School, located at 10480 Staudt Road in Union City, Ohio. Beginning with coffee and donuts, the event runs from 8:45 a.m.-4 p.m.

Mary Wicks said the Review began in 2001 as an educational program to provide science-based manure management information to livestock farmers and the agency personnel who work with them. Wicks is with The Ohio State University’s Composting and Manure Management program.

She added the Review offers farmers a unique opportunity to learn from the experts, including other farmers, through presentations and demonstrations.

“The planning committee looks for topics that focus on practical, real-world solutions for handling and utilizing manure that is both economically feasible and environmentally sound,” she said. “The window for land-applying manure is small, because of weather constraints and timing with growing crops. As a result, the need for manure storage capacity can increase, which is a significant cost.”

This year, the program will focus on changes in legislation that impact farmers as to when and how they can spread manure, especially during winter months. She said speakers will address these issues by looking at options including sidedressing growing plants; the effectiveness of setbacks to prevent manure nutrient runoff when the ground is frozen; and how to address a problem when it occurs.

Leading off the sessions will be a presentation by Kevin Elder, Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) Division of Livestock Environmental Permitting. Elder will discuss Ohio’s new rules that limit manure application on snow-covered and frozen ground. He will also offer tips on how to implement plans on an operation to meet current and future regulatory requirements.

Terry Mescher and Jocelyn Henderson with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Soil and Water Resources (DSWR) will present “Lessons Learned: Winter 2015.”

In March, many farmers in western Ohio took advantage of snow-covered ground to apply manure but a March thaw led to runoff and calls to regulatory agencies. Mescher and Henderson will share findings from the event and how farmers can prevent it from happening on their farms.

Matt Adams, a custom applicator, will share actions farmers can take to prevent a manure spill and design a plan to implement if they do have a spill on their farms. Kevin King will discuss the results from edge-of-field studies that were done around Ohio to look at nutrient movement and how farmers can apply manure to minimize nutrient runoff from their fields.

The morning sessions will conclude with a presentation titled “Growing the Application Window” by Glen Arnold, on the results of research into how using manure to sidedress corn can increase crop yield and extend manure storage capacity.

Afternoon sessions will include a presentation on the subsurface band application of poultry litter. Compared to surface application, this unique implement can improve yield and protect water quality and incorporate pelleted poultry litter during application.

Other demonstrations will include “Adjustable Bandwidth Subsurface Applicator,” “Cover Crops for Ohio’s Soils,” “Effect of Manure Application Rates on Yield,” “Solid Manure Spreader Calibration” and “Applicator Demonstrations,” on sidedressing with liquid manure, liquid manure injection and dragline on growing corn, featuring the Mobile Solar Unit.

“As new manure application equipment becomes available, manure application methods change and farmers can better utilize the nutrients in manure,” said Arnold. “The Manure Science Review is a great place to learn this cutting-edge information.”

The Review is a joint effort of OSU’s College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, ODA, Agricultural Research Services, USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, DSWR, Ohio Federation of Soil and Water Conservation Districts and Cooper Farms.

The full-day MSR program qualifies for Ohio continuing education credits and has also been approved by the Indiana Office of State Chemist for 2 Continuing Certification Hours in Agricultural Fertilizer Application and 4 Registered Technician CCHs.

The cost is $25 for registrations before Aug. 4 and $30 after (includes continental breakfast and lunch), and may be mailed to: Mary Wicks, OARDC/OSU, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster, OH 44691. Make checks payable to OARDC/OSU.

For more information, visit www. oardc.ohio-state.edu/ocamm or email wicks.14@osu.edu or call 330-202-3533.