Manure foam – what is it, why does it happen, and why should you care? In this episode, Dan Andersen breaks down the bubbling mystery of manure foam, the science, the risks, and the research. He also explores best practices to stay safe and informed based on years of research and forming instances across the Midwest, explores what is happening under your slotted floor, and what you can do about it.   

Show Notes

In this episode, Dan Andersen discusses nitrogen availability in livestock manure. He dives into PMR 1003, Using Manure Nutrients for Crop Production, which estimates nitrogen availability and the need for updated research to reflect changing manure handling methods and storage practices. 

Show Notes

PMR 1003 Using Manure Nutrients for Crop Production

In this episode, Dan Andersen dives into ManureDB, a tool from the University of Minnesota, which analyzes manure samples from across the United States. Dan discusses the nutrient composition of various manures, the impact of storage type and climate on nutrient concentrations, and the importance of manure sampling. 

Visit ManureDB at: http://manuredb.umn.edu/

Show notes can be found here

In this month’s episode, Dan Andersen and Luke Soko discuss the yield goal method for manure management in Iowa, which estimates nitrogen needs based on expected corn yield. They also look at the Iowa Nitrogen Initiative, which is generating yield response curves to improve nitrogen management. The discussion highlights the need for updated nitrogen use factors and the impact of weather conditions on nitrogen availability and loss.

CROP 3181: Pounds of Nitrogen per Bushel of Corn - Benchmarking Farms Against Local Averages

CROP 3140: Use of Late-Spring Soil Nitrate Test in Iowa Corn Production

Dan Andersen and Tony Mensing dive deep into the Iowa commercial manure application industry, uncovering fascinating insights from a 2024 survey. They explore the key concerns facing the industry, including the high costs of equipment, labor challenges, and application capacity issues, and highlight the role of seasonal employees in ensuring smooth operations.

In this edition of Talkin’ Crap, Dan Andersen and Jake Willsea discuss how the frequency and timing of manure application can significantly impact methane emissions, with Jake's research showing that adjusting application timing can reduce emissions by up to 50%. They also explore the potential financial benefits of carbon credits. 

Methane Emissions Show Notes

This material is based upon work supported by the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service under a federal award number NR233A750004G072. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect views of the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Services. In addition, any reference to specific brands or types of products or services does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the United States Department of Agriculture for those products or services.

In this episode of Talkin' Crap, Dan Andersen and Luke Soko discuss the challenges and best practices for winter solid manure application. They highlight the risks associated with winter manure application, such as nutrient movement due to frozen or snow-covered ground, and the importance of following state regulations. Find show notes here. 

Dan Andersen and Luke Soko discuss the potential of anaerobic digestion for manure management, focusing on whether to heat or not to heat digesters. Heating digesters can increase methane production but require insulation to mitigate heat loss. Find show notes here.

This material is based upon work supported by the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service under a federal award number NR233A750004G072. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. Any opinions, findings and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect views of the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Services. In addition, any reference to specific brands or types of products or services does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the United States Department of Agriculture for those products or services.

In this episode of Talkin' Crap, Dan Andersen and Brett Ramirez discuss the risks associated with hydrogen sulfide (H2S) during manure agitation and pumping. They highlight the importance of proper ventilation to prevent H2S exposure, which can be fatal to humans and animals. Find the show notes here. 

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach has developed several publications addressing hydrogen sulfide safety, which are linked below.

• Hydrogen Sulfide Safety - Manure Agitation
• Hydrogen Sulfide Safety - Monitoring
• Hydrogen Sulfide Safety - Barn Ventilation at Cattle Facilities
• Hydrogen Sulfide Safety - Swine Barn Ventilation

Join Dan Andersen and Jake Willsea as they discuss the importance of manure sampling for effective fertilizer use. They highlight different sampling methods for liquid, slurry, and solid manures, review the benefits of pre-sampling and sampling during application, and examine the economic value of manure tests. Find show materials here.