An educational curricula was pilot tested in 2020 by Extension professionals in Nebraska and Minnesota. It utilizes a table-top sized map game board, six pre-planned scenarios, and interactive planning by small groups to select preferred manure application sites. The curricula addresses:
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- How far will I need to travel to manage manure nitrogen? Phosphorus?
- Which fields benefit the most agronomically from manure?
- How far can I afford to travel?
- Which fields benefit most from manure’s soil health benefits?
- What water quality risks are connected with individual fields?
- How can I use a weather forecast to minimize neighbor’s odor risks?
These activities often lead to lots of peer-to-peer teaching. For example, we have witnessed discussions about minimizing compactions and planning to minimize impacts on community infrastructure and neighbors. As participants work through these discussions, they add their happy and sad face emojis to the map to weigh the benefits and concerns connected to individual fields.
Resources Available for Adapting to Your State
The curricula includes:
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- a 25-square mile map,
- scenarios set up for six alternative animal feeding operations (you pick one for your group),
- four alternative fields for land application with simplified information cards (soil tests, soil health tests, nutrient requirements, water quality risk indicators), and
- worksheets and one-page information sheets for each of the six scenarios.
You may download electronic copies of all resources, adapt to your state, and begin sharing a highly interactive and peer-to-peer educational experience.
Downloadable Resources
Thank you for your interest in the curricula. Please fill out the following form to access the files: