The Sidney Sun-Telegraph - Serving proudly since 1873 as the beautiful Nebraska Panhandle's first newspaper

Nebraska Extension will offer a workshop Feb. 21 in Scottsbluff providing livestock and crop farmers with information on how to turn manure nutrients into better crop yields while protecting the environment.

Livestock producers with livestock waste control facility permits received or renewed since April 1998 must be certified, and farms must complete an approved training every five years. Re-certification will be held during the first two hours of the day-long land application training. Farm personnel responsible for land application of manure are encouraged to attend for either the initial or re-certification portion of the training.

The workshop begins at 9 a.m. at the Panhandle Research and Extension Center.

It is one of eight training sessions scheduled across Nebraska. The others are Feb. 13 at West Point, Feb. 15 at Lexington, Feb. 16 at Ogallala, Feb. 22 at Ainsworth, Feb. 23 at Wilber, Feb. 26 at Columbus, and Feb. 28 at Neligh.

Pre-registration is required. A $60 fee per operation (includes one representative) will be charged for the workshops plus a $15 fee for each additional participant to cover local costs including lunch. The re-certification portion of the workshop is $30 for each participant. Register by mailing a completed registration form before Feb. 13 to Leslie Johnson, 57905 866 RD, Concord, NE 68728 or online at http://go.unl.edu/lat

A downloadable brochure with registration form also is available at the Panhandle Center’s website, http://panhandle.unl.edu

The morning portion of the workshops will consist of a two-hour program including updates on changing regulations and other manure management topics, such as protecting herd health with biosecurity. Any farm staff responsible for implementing the farm’s nutrient plan are encouraged to attend.

“The workshops will help livestock producers put to use the nutrient management planning requirements of Nebraska’s Department of Environmental Quality regulations and increase the economic value of manure,” said Leslie Johnson, UNL Animal Manure Management coordinator. Participants who attend the day-long event will receive NDEQ Land Application Training Certification.

The workshops are sponsored by the Nebraska Extension Animal Manure Management Team which is dedicated to helping livestock and crop producers better utilize our states manure resources for agronomic and environmental benefits.

For additional information on these workshops and other resources for managing manure nutrients, visit http://manure.unl.edu or contact Johnson at 402-584-3818, email ljohnson13@unl.edu.