Purpose
The purpose of the ManureTech Decision-Support Tools (DST) for Dairy and for Swine is to assist farmers, consultants, and others in the dairy/swine industry in optimizing the management of manure from collection to land application. By providing data-driven recommendations based upon customizable inputs and priorities, the ManureTech DST help users make informed decisions about manure management systems in consideration of the economic, environmental, and operational needs of farm management.
What Did We Do?
A multi-state team has developed Excel-based decision-support tools for selecting technology and systems for managing manure on dairy and swine operations as part of a USDA NIFA-funded project.
During this workshop, participants will be introduced to the ManureTech DST for Dairy and the ManureTech DST for Swine and will be provided with hands-on training in using the decision-support tool for dairy. Major aspects of the tools that will be addressed in the workshop include an introduction to the user interface; entering primary inputs; prioritization of economic, environmental, and operational metrics; and reporting of results, including the ranking of manure system scenarios.
What Have We Learned?
In terms of learning, this effort has provided the project team with a fuller grasp of the complex nature of manure management! In terms of accomplishments, the team has assembled a tool that considers the multi-faceted benefits and challenges of various manure management systems and presents users with a ranked list of systems for consideration, which should help expedite and enhance system selection. Users of the ManureTech DST can provide farm-specific weight to economic, environmental, and operational criteria which allows ManureTech DST to rank alternative manure management scenarios in close alignment with individual priorities.
Future Plans
Future plans include completing beta testing / pilot-testing of the ManureTech DST and conducting additional training on using the tool. Over a longer-range timeframe, the team would like to add some additional specialized capabilities and functionality, as a phase II effort.
Authors
Presenting authors
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- Erin Scott, Project/Program Manager, University of Arkansas
- Varma Vempalli, Wastewater Treatment Specialist, City of Meridian (ID)
- Jacob Hickman, Systems Analyst, University of Arkansas
- Rick Stowell, Extension Specialist in Animal Environment, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- Teng Lim, Extension Professor and Engineer, University of Missouri
Corresponding author
Rick Stowell, Extension Specialist in Animal Environment, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Richard.Stowell@unl.edu
Additional authors
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- Erin Scott, Project/Program Manager, University of Arkansas
- Jacob Hickman, Systems Analyst, University of Arkansas
- Jennie Popp, Associate Dean and Professor, University of Arkansas
- Varma Vempalli, Wastewater Treatment Specialist, City of Meridian (ID)
- Greg Thoma, Director of Agricultural Modeling and Lifecycle Assessment, Colorado State University
- Teng Lim, Extension Professor and Engineer, University of Missouri
Additional Information
The ManureTech DST and related articles can be accessed at Decision-Support Tools – Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Community.
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge funding from the USDA NIFA AFRI Water for Food Production Systems program, grant #2018-68011-28691.
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