By Blake Jackson
UW-Madison Extension will host a free Manure Composting Management Field Day on Wednesday, August 5, at the Lancaster Agricultural Research Station in Lancaster, Wisconsin.
The event will run from 11:15 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with an optional educational plot tour beginning at 10:30 a.m. Participants will receive lunch at no cost, and continuing education units (CEUs) will be available.
The field day is designed for livestock producers and agricultural professionals interested in learning practical manure composting strategies that can improve soil health, reduce environmental impacts, and enhance farm profitability.
The optional morning tour will examine how cereal rye cover crops and different tillage practices influence waterhemp management.
The main program will begin with lunch, followed by a welcome from Lancaster Agricultural Research Station staff and an overview of the 2026 manure composting study presented by Landon Baumgartner, Crops and Soils Outreach Specialist with UW–Madison Extension.
Additional sessions will cover key topics such as selecting appropriate composting sites, understanding regulations, and exploring available cost-share opportunities.
Live demonstrations and expert presentations will also address weed seed destruction, herbicide carryover in composted manure, and forage hygiene when using compost during the growing season.
The event will conclude with a discussion on the effects of manure integration on soil health and insights from farmers with composting experience.
Attendance is free, but advance registration is required to help organizers plan for lunch and transportation.
For registration, click here.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-magicxeon
Categories: Wisconsin, Livestock, Beef Cattle, Dairy Cattle