GROVER HILL, Ohio — Use of livestock waste, tile drainage systems, livestock mortality and more will be highlighted at two same-day gatherings pertaining to these topics and many others.

The annual Manure Science Review will be at 9 a.m. Aug. 9 at McClure Farms. That same evening, the Manure & Cover Crops meeting will also be at McClure Farms, starting at 6:30 p.m.

“The morning gathering is highly popular here in west-central Ohio, but many farmers couldn’t get away from the farm during the day so we’re offering this evening gathering,” said Jim Lopshire, Paulding County extension specialist. “We’ll have most of the same topics and demonstrations in the evening as we will in the morning.”

Key topics include reducing phosphorous runoff, a concern related to protecting water quality and preventing harmful algae blooms. Also addressed will be using liquid manure in ways that increase the application window, using swine or dairy manure to sidedress corn, best practices and systems for composting livestock mortality and using settling tanks to separate swine manure.

Ohio State University extension’s Greg LeBarge will talk about the implementation of farm practices that reduce the potential for phosphorous runoff from liquid manure and poultry litter.

“We’ll illustrate to attendees the proper way of handling liquid runoff down the tile line and out where it won’t cause an environmental problem,” LeBarge said. “We’ll discuss the use of draglines to inject manure nutrients and the use of cover crops to reduce erosion and increase nutrient retention.”

Extension’s Greg Arnold will discuss plot data that shows the value of sidedressing corn with swine or dairy manure, both in terms of increased yields and stretching manure storage capacity.

“That’s something that’s come about the past few years,” LeBarge said, “and the use of this manure in the off-season is a bit new and different. We’re just trying to make that manure work in place of commercial fertilizer.”

Andy Ety and Christine Pence from the Ohio Department of Agriculture will discuss the pros and cons of mortality composition. Terry Mescher of the Ohio Department of Natural Resources will describe the use of vessel and gravity to separate manure solids.

Terry McClure will discuss draglines and talk about their use in transporting and injecting organic nutrients in to the soil. He will also illustrate how a well-designed mortality composting system is managed to protect water and minimize pests. Demonstration plots will be on display to show the impact of different cover crops and planting methods on erosion and nutrient retention.

“Water quality issues have come to the forefront the past three years,” LeBarge said. “These are gatherings that hit home with all farmers and will benefit anyone who attends.”

The event will run 9 a.m.-3 p.m. at McClure Farms, 21460 Road 48 in Grover Hill, Ohio. The cost is $35 at the door. This includes a continental breakfast, lunch and materials. The evening session begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, contact Mary Wicks at 330-202-3533.