LANSING, Mich. – Registration is now open for the fourth annual Michigan Manure Management Summit, set for Jan. 31.

The one-day event will be held at the AgroLiquid Conference Center in St. Johns, Mich. It will bring together experts from across the industry to talk on a wide variety of topics. It’s being put on by the Michigan Farm Bureau and Michigan State University Extension and is considered to be part of the Michigan Manure Hauler Certification Program, a voluntary program that seeks to encourage best management practices, much like the Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program. 

One of the event’s coordinators, Tess Van Gorder of the Michigan Farm Bureau, said much of the purpose behind this event is to help anyone who hauls or applies manure on farm fields to be aware of public perceptions and ultimately to try and help improve the public’s overall perception of manure management. “This is indeed about dealing with the public and trying to create a better impression amongst the public about manure application,” she said. “Sometimes, depending on where you are, there can be complaints about manure odor. That’s why we have a right to farm law and best management practices. We try to educate farmers about not doing things like spread manure on high school homecoming day and things like that.”

Van Gorder will open the summit with a welcome and an introduction to the Michigan Manure Hauler Certification Program. Other speakers include Ernie Sundstrom of Sundstrom Pit Pumping and Injection speaking on being safe around manure. That discussion will be followed by a presentation on “preapplication work” by Megan Dresbach and Eric Dresbach of WD Farms. Afternoon sessions will include a presentation on spill prevention and response plans to keep manure out of waterways, as well as a question and answer panel discussion, and sessions on the latest tech innovations, Right to Farm considerations, employee training and more.

To find out more about the summit or to register, contact Charles Gould at Michigan State University Extension via email at gouldm@msu.edu or via telephone at 616-834-2812. Or contact Tess Van Gorder via email at tvangor@michfb.com, or via telephone at 517-323-6711.