August 22, 2002

The Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program hosted a tour earlier this week designed to study manure management on dairy farms. National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Livestock Information and Programs Manager Tracy Snider was part of the 2002 "manure tour," held at the Nobis Dairy Farm in St. Johns, MI.

Sponsored by the MAEAP, the Michigan Corn Promotion Board hosted the tour. Snider found it beneficial. "What MAEAP is doing is a voluntary program for self regulation on water quality and manure management," she said. "The tour provides something for everyone in the dairy and livestock industry from environmental assurances to cost share opportunities."

The tour allowed attendees to investigate the environmental threat of manure runoff from open lots. "We discussed practical run-off reduction and management practices including the high flow-low flow capture and treatment system installed at the Nobis Farm," said Snider.

Discussion also included field management practices minimizing the risk of nutrients entering surface and ground water from field applications of manure, as well as learning the latest on taking advantage of the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) cost sharing opportunities.