2021 Michigan Manure Management Summit Goes Virtual Jan. 20-21

The inaugural virtual Michigan Manure Management Summit, is a great educational opportunity for anyone who hauls and applies manure, providing updates on the science, regulations, and best practices of manure management. (Courtesy photo)

This year has thrown people for a loop in many ways, but one thing hasn’t changed — animals still produce manure that needs to be managed. Michigan Farm Bureau and Michigan State University Extension (MSUE) are excited to announce the inaugural Michigan Manure Management Summit.

Although the inaugural Michigan Manure Management Summit will be held virtually due to the pandemic, MSUE Environmental Educator Erica Rogers expects the event to become an annual educational opportunity for anyone who hauls and applies manure, providing updates on the science, regulations, and best practices of manure management.

“The first annual Michigan Manure Management Summit will be a great opportunity for all individuals who haul and apply manure to gain a better understanding of the Michigan Manure Hauler Certification Program and to hear from others in the industry about considerations with managing manure from beginning to end,” Rogers said.

The virtual summit will be held Jan. 20 and Jan. 21, 2021, with sessions running from 10 a.m. to noon on both days. Sessions on Jan. 20 will include an overview of the certification program, including manure application equipment inspection recommendations as well as tips for dealing with the public and conducting proper employee training.

Jan. 21 will start with a general session on reducing operator error, before splitting into two different tracks — one for farmers and another for commercial firms (custom haulers/applicators) — based on participant selection at registration.

The farm track sessions will cover preparing a Farm Environmental Management Safety plan, OSHA and workplace standards for manure storage safety, as well as preventing manure storage failure and barnyard runoff.

Topics covered in the commercial firm track will include newer manure application technology, reducing the potential of land application incidents, and the development of a Farm Environmental Management Safety plan.

“While we know virtual meetings may not be everyone’s preferred experience, we hope that the topics and breakout sessions will help keep people engaged and provide great information to attendees,” said Tess Van Gorder, MFB’s associate policy and regulatory specialist.

There is also a deal for the Michigan Manure Hauler Certification Program available for attendees of the summit. Attendees who register and attend both days of the summit will be able to register to start Level 1 of the Michigan Manure Hauler Certification Program for free through Feb. 28.

Next steps and additional information

Registration information and the complete Summit schedule can be found at: https://events.anr.msu.edu/mimms/. The cost to register is $50 per person.

The summit will also provide required continuing education units for individuals who have been certified in any level by the Michigan Manure Hauler Certification Program.

Additional information about the Michigan Manure Hauler Certification Program can be found here: https://www.canr.msu.edu/animal-agriculture/Manure-Hauler-Training/

Questions?

Contact Tess Van Gorder with Michigan Farm Bureau at tvangor@michfb.com or 517-323-6711, or Erica Rogers with MSU Extension at roger392@msu.edu or 814-441-1356.

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