https://extension.umn.edu/event/nitrogen-smart-2024-oronoco

Focus on the fundamentals of nitrogen management then take it to the next level with an advanced course on manure management.

Nitrogen Smart Fundamentals

This course focuses on management strategies that maximize economic return on N investments while minimizing losses.

Topics for the morning session include:

• Sources of nitrogen (N) for crops.
• How nitrogen is lost from soil and how you can reduce losses.
• How to manage nitrogen in drainage systems.
• What the Nutrient Reduction Strategy and Nitrogen Fertilizer Management Plan mean for Minnesota producers.
• Practices to refine nitrogen management, including split applications, alternative N fertilizers, soil and tissue testing and N models.

Manure management

Livestock manures have been used as a crop fertilizer source for thousands of years. It continues to be a valuable source of crop nutrients, even with the advent of synthetic fertilizers. Because its nutrient content and availability can vary widely, it’s important to develop a management plan that will optimize crop productivity while protecting water quality.

Topics for the afternoon session include:

• Benefits and challenges of using manure in crop production
• What determines nutrient content in manure
• How manure storage and handling affect nutrient availability
• Importance of manure sampling and testing
• How application methods and timing affect nitrogen loss
• Practices to optimize manure use and minimize nitrogen losses