This document summarizes the Ohio State University Extension annual Manure Science Review event held in Putnam County, Ohio. The event included both a morning educational session and afternoon field session [1]. The morning session consisted of presentations on liquid manure research results and programs related to phosphorus reduction in Lake Erie and using manure for nutrients [2]. The afternoon field portion included demonstrations of shallow tillage equipment, established cover crop plots, liquid manure application techniques, tile control structures, and using smoke to reveal subsurface tile drainage [3]. Over 80 farmers and agency personnel attended and evaluations found the hands-on afternoon activities helped reinforce the topics covered in the morning sessions.

1. Manure Science Review – Educating Ohio Livestock Producers
Glen J. Arnold, Associate Professor, Putnam County, OSU Extension
Amanda Meddles, Program Coordinator, Environmental Management
Program Agenda
Abstract:The Ohio State University Extension annual Morning Session, American Legion Hall
Manure Science Review (MSR) was held in Putnam
County to continue our efforts to educate farmers to
9:30 Registration and Continental Breakfast
better utilize liquid livestock manure. The program 10:00 Lake Erie P Task Force, Kevin Elder,
consisted of morning educational presentations on Liquid ODA – Livestock Environmental Permitting Program
Manure Plot Study Results, Lake Erie Phosphorus Task 10:30 Lake Erie EQIP, Mark Scarpitti,
Force, Lake Erie EQIP, Control Structures for Managing
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
Field Tile Nutrients, and the Use of Nitrification Inhibitors
with Liquid Manure. The afternoon field portion of the 11:00 Control Structures for Managing Nutrients, Larry Brown
MSU consisted of Shallow Tillage Machinery Ohio State University Extension
Tile Flow Control Structures Being
Demonstrations, Touring Established Cover Crop Plots, 11:30 Nitrification Inhibitors, Robert Mullen Discussed
Liquid Manure Corn Sidedress Demonstrations, Viewing Ohio State University Extension
Tile Control Structures, and Smoking Field Tile to Reveal 12:00 Manure Plot Study Results, Glen Arnold, OSU Extension
Preferential Flow Avenues. The MSR was held at a
working farm. Nine varieties of cover crops were drilled
Albert Maag, Putnam Co. Soil & Water Conservation
or broadcast and tilled seven weeks in advance of the
program. Cover crops included low-cost commonly Afternoon Session, Howard Weller Farm
available crops such as oats and rye. More expensive 1:30 Tile Control Structures, Glen Arnold & Albert Maag
legume cover crops were also planted. All cover crop 2:00 Cover Plots, Glen Arnold, Albert Maag & David Robison
plots were labeled with variety, seeding rate and seed
costs. Local equipment dealers provided equipment for 2:30 Manure Side-dress Application, Glen Arnold & Albert
the demonstrations. Pressurized white smoke was forced Maag
into field tile and escaped through soil cracks over a 3:00 Smoking Field Tile, Frank Gibbs,
distance of several hundred feet. More than 80 farmers
USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service
and agency personnel attended. Evaluations completed Shallow Tillage Equipment
indicated the afternoon field day activities helped 3:30 Shallow Tillage, Equipment Demonstrations, Glen Demonstration
support the morning educational programs by allowing Arnold, Albert Maag & Mark Scarpitti
farmers to view the smoking field tiles, cover crops, tile 4:00 Evaluations and a safe trip home!
control structures and equipment demonstrations.
Evaluation Summary (61 Returned) Evaluation of Overall
My Level of Knowledge
BEFORE Today
My Level of Knowledge
AFTER Today
My Level of Knowledge My Level of Knowledge Program
BEFORE Today AFTER Today
Scale of 1 (poor) to Scale of 1 (poor) to Scale of 1 (poor) to Scale of 1 (poor) to Pressurized Smoke Reveals
Morning Session, August 19, 5 (excellent) 5 (excellent) Afternoon Session, August 5 (excellent) 5 (excellent)
Scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent):
2010 19, 2010 Subsurface Drainage Tile
Lake Erie P Task Force,
Mean: 2.56 Mean: 4.06 Tile Control Structure, Glen Usefulness of information Mean: 4.48
Kevin Elder Mean: 3.06 Mean: 4.24
Arnold and Albert Maag
Morning seminar sessions Mean: 4.24
Comments: a) Good updates. B) Very interesting and something that will continue to
Comments:
affect Ohio’s farms. Afternoon field sessions Mean: 4.60
Cover Crop Plots, Glen
Lake Erie EQIP, Mark Arnold, Albert Maag and Mean: 2.83 Mean: 4.06 Organization of the program Mean: 4.65
Mean: 2.33 Mean: 4.00
Scarpitti David Robison
Comments: Government programs have a fit for certain producers. Comments:
MSR overall Mean: 4.62
Control Structures for Manure Side-dress Plots,
Managing Nutrients, Larry Mean: 2.94 Mean: 4.06 Glen Arnold and Albert Maag Mean: 2.89 Mean: 4.06
Brown Thank you to our host farm and for donations of equipment and supplies
Comments: a) Very good. b) Would like to see more about water management, Comments:
especially irrigating with liquid manure and how to keep it available.
Smoking Field Tile, Frank
Ag Credit George Bonifas
Mean: 2.28 Mean: 4.06
Nitrification Inhibitors,
Robert Mullen
Mean: 2.67 Mean: 3.78
Gibbs Farm Credit Todd Doster
Comments: The economics exist for manure application, GPS technology will further
Comments: Very good visual. Homier & Sons Bob Featheringill
Shallow Tillage, Glen Arnold
enhance this. Albert Maag, and Mark Mean: 2.82 Mean: 4.12 Northwest Tractor Terry McClure
Manure Plot Study Results, Mean: 2.78 Mean: 4.06 Scarpitti
Glen Arnold
Comments:
Schumacher-Maag David Robison
Comments:
Van Ham Dairy Howard Weller