Manure Management Education

The Manure Management Education Project assists small and hobby farmers/livestock owners to understand and adopt best management practices for handling and using manure. Free manure management workshops were held in New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Technical assistance in manure management was provided to workshop participants upon request.

The Manure Management Education project is funded by a U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development Solid Waste Management Grant. The goal of the project is to decrease water pollution and enhance solid waste management by promoting the proper management of manure on small and hobby farms.

Small and hobby farms — farms with minimal acreage and a few animals for recreation or for side income — are often owned by people who have little or no farming experience. This sector is rapidly growing and accounts for a high percentage of farms around the Northeast. Due to insufficient knowledge, manure management is frequently overlooked as a stewardship responsibility. Small livestock farms may remain unknown to agricultural agents because they do not require permitting. Moreover, staffing for agricultural technical assistance is limited due to state and federal budgets. 

Resources provided through the Manure Management Project:

• Manure Management Handbook for Small and Hobby Farms
• Manure Management Presentation
• General Toolkit Resources
  • Quick Reference Guide
  • Sources and Additional References
  • Manure Generation Calculator
  • Manure Sampling and Analysis
  • Manure Spreader Calibration
  • Post & Plank Structure for Manure Storage
  • Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan
  • Nutrient Management–SIMPLIFIED!
  • Composting for Small Livestock Operations
  • Composting Design Guide for Small Farms
• Toolkit Resources Specific for New Hampshire
  • Best Management Practices for New Hampshire Agriculture
  • Good Neighbor Guide for Horse-Keeping: Manure Management
  • Guidelines & Best Management Practices for Horse-keeping
  • New Hampshire Certified Organic Directory 2008

  Toolkit Resources Specific for New Jersey

  • New Jersey Livestock Farmer Survey: Is my farm environmentally friendly?
  • Watershed Map of Salem County, New Jersey
  • What Is Required? Overview of the Criteria and Standards for Animal Waste Management in New Jersey

  Toolkit Resources Specific for Vermont

  • Accepted Agricultural Practices Brochure
  • Accepted Agricultural Practice Regulations
  • Composting Animal Mortalities On the Farm
  • Compost Suppliers Brochure
  • Compost Uses For Farmers
  • Considering Composting? A detailed questionnaire of what to consider before beginning
  • Land Treatment Plan Brochure
  • Natural Resources Conservation Districts Brochure
  • Vermont Agricultural Resource Specialist Program Brochure
  • Vermont Farm*A*Syst Brochure

  How to Develop and Implement a Manure Management Education Project

  • Guide to Providing Manure Management Education to Small Farm and Livestock Operations
  The Guide to Providing Manure Management Education to Small Farm and Livestock Operations is intended to provide a framework for developing and implementing a manure education program based on the experiences that NERC has gained through its successful two-year effort. It is designed for agricultural specialists, waste management personnel, and others who provide technical assistance to the farming community.

  For more information contact Athena Lee Bradley, NERC Projects Manager. Copies of the "Manure Management Handbook for Small and Hobby Farms," specifically developed for New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Vermont, are available on request.