Manure Management Summit scheduled for Jan. 31

Registration is now open for the Michigan Manure Management Summit to be held Jan. 31, 2023. The event will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the AgroLiquid Conference Center in St. Johns. A detailed agenda is available on the event webpage.

“Anyone who hauls or applies manure should attend the summit,” said Tess Van Gorder, Michigan Farm Bureau’s conservation and regulatory relations specialist. “Our speakers will cover a variety of topics from safety and manure technology to emergency response and daily management practices.”

The event is part of the Michigan Manure Hauler Certification Program and presented in partnership by the MFB Family of Companies and MSU Extension.

“The goal of the voluntary program is to help you reduce the risk of spill on the road and in the field,” Van Gorder explained. “And if you register and attend the summit, you can start the certification program for free.

“Existing Level 2 certified haulers will earn continuing education credits for Level 2 of the program.”

The $50 registration fee includes access to a robust lineup of experts and presentations from the Michigan Department of Agriculture & Rural Development, MSU Extension, MFB and more. A discounted group registration is available; registration is $25 per person for farms or firms bringing three or more employees.

Lunch is provided courtesy of Farm Bureau Insurance.

Registration for the Michigan Manure Management Summit closes Jan. 23.

Launched in 2020, the Michigan Manure Hauler Certification Program creates a pathway for farms and manure applicators to move from training, to certification, to third party audit — incentivized by insurance premium reductions— without implementing a mandatory program.

There are three levels to the certification program that aims to prevent manure application problems before they occur, increase nutrient management plan implementation, demonstrate responsible manure application, increase the base level of manure management knowledge of employees, and improve professionalism among manure applicators.