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 and New Hampshire, and workshops will be offered in Vermont in the fall of 2008. Technical assistance in manure management is provided to workshop participants.

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 harms — 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 developed through the Manure Management Project:

• Manure Management Handbook for Small and Hobby Farms
• General Toolkit Resources
  • Quick Reference Guide
  • Sources and Additional References
  • Manure Generation Calculator
  • 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 Jersey
  • New Jersey Livestock Farmer Survey: Is my farm environmentally friendly?
  • Watershed Map of Salem County, New Jersey
• 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

  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 Jersey and New Hampshire, are available on request.