Manure Management Plan Form: Fill & Download for Free

Manure can be a good source of nitrogen and other plant nutrients as well as organic matter. There is a lot of variation in the composition of manure between the source animals and birds that produce it. What the different rations that are fed as well as the composition of grazed forage will also be contributing factors in fecal composition.Liquid manures that have not had the solids separated contain water as the highest percentage of their composition. When these are applied the soils have to be able to absorb the liquid fraction to prevent runoff. These liquids contain only a very small percentage of materials that are not actual fecal material. Manures that are accumulated in bedding locations are often high in organic matter such as wood shavings, straw from small grains, corn stalks, rice hulls, or other organic material. When these high organic matter materials are mixed with some liquid and carbon-nitrogen ratios are close to 6:1 then they may be composted to form a more highly desirable product than raw manure. The raw form may need additional nitrogen added to help serve bacteria that break down cellulose in animal bedding materials.Manures are great sources of many plant nutrients and encourage healthy soils if applied properly. They should not be allowed to run off targeted application areas, and a nutrient management plan should be followed closely to insure rates of application do not exceed plant usage . Incorporation of the manures with soil immediately after application is also imperative.

New and developing technology continues to change the economic landscape of nearly every industry around the world, and agriculture is no exception. Here are five ways I see technology shaping the future of farming:1. DronesUnmanned aerial vehicles to be at the forefront of agricultural technology. While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is supposed to be approving expanded use no later than September 30.There are many benefits that drone could provide farmers. For example, those who use drones would be able to decrease costs associated with pest control as drones enable farmers to treat a specific area affected by pests instead of spraying the entire field.2. Wearable TechnologyGoogle Glass was presented at the 2014 AgInfo Conference and forward-looking farmers discussed potential uses, including documenting machinery maintenance, hands-free communication, and crop scouting.2. Sensors and precision agricultureAnother technology that is already impacting the agricultural industry is the use of precision agriculture. These sensors can already measure and record data based on reflected light, but will continue to work with drones, software and mobile apps to provide farmers tons of information.4. Driverless TractorsDue to cost, the adoption of current driverless tractor technology has been slow, but the benefits of investing may outweigh the costs moving forward. As technology improves and becomes more easily accessible, more farmers will be able to implement driverless tractors, giving them access to efficient, 24-hour production without having to rely on skilled labor.5. Online Software and Mobile Agriculture AppsMobile agriculture apps cloud technology and online software continue to be developed that can assist farmers with everything, crop monitoring to pest control to irrigation. For example, a system called WaterBee assists with irrigation and water management by collecting data on soil content and other environmental factors using wireless sensors.The MMP360™ application is also working on streamlining processes for farmers as it enables users to complete state-required Manure Management Plan forms in less than 30 minutes.Have you implemented any of these on your farm? What new technology do you think will shape the future of farming?Ben

I am an agricultural engineer, specializing in environmental systems analysis. I got my M.Sc. in ag engineering with a minor in agronomy. I worked as a water resources engineer and was a member of the British Columbia Association of Agrologists. I was also the manager of geographic information systems in the geomatics branch of government. I was the director of resource planning and policy for the Ministry of Agriculture.I would imagine that every one of those titles/subject areas would cause confusion to the person outside of that area, or to anyone involved with agriculture more than 50 years ago.Information technology, engineering, biology, anthropology, cartography, mathematics - they all intersect to form new ways of addressing the problems of cultivating the land, eating food, and disposing of the wastes. An agricultural engineer applies techniques of mathematics and design to agricultural systems while an agronomist applies greater knowledge of biology, soil science, plant science, meteorology and genetics to those same systems. Having said that, it is also true that all of the techniques and knowledge of engineering is available to agronomists, and all of the techniques and knowledge of agronomy is available to agricultural engineers! The lines are very blurry. Both disciplines utilize extensive mathematical modelling, and both interface directly with farmers and consumers.There are some activities that one would be comfortable putting in one discipline and not the other: power and machinery (eg tractors, combines) - ag eng; irrigation works and dam construction - ag eng; plant breeding and health - agronomist; soil fertility - (probably) agronomist. However, when we get to things like fertilizer application, manure management, water quality - the difference is not so clear.