Providing manure nutrient management education to over 3,000 local residents in one day!

2007 Impact statement
  • Czymmek, Karl J

abstract

Ontario County Farm Bureau runs a biannual program where the general public is invited to visit a local dairy farm to learn about agriculture. In October of 2008, this event attracted over 3,000 visitors to the Minns Family Dairy Farm. Karl Czymmek was invited to set up a station to provide manure nutrient management education to attendees. Over the course of five hours, approximately 3,000 visitors on farm wagons learned about the dariy farm nutrient cycle: how the cow uses water and feed to make milk and manure, and how the manure nutrients are recycled to produce crops to feed the cows.

submitted by

issue being addressed

Project organizers are local dairy and crop producers who recognize that their neighbors and many members of the general public lack basic knowledge about farm practices. By showcasing well-run farms and inviting key experts to discuss various aspects of farming, it is beleived that the public will be better informed and, at once, more knowledgeable and more receptive to dairy operations. Manure management has received increasing attention over time, and is an important area of education.

response

PD staff set up a simple station near the manure storage structure on the farm. Water, feed, milk and manure were collected and displayed in the approximate amounts produced by a typical cow in a day. These props were used in a highly interactive fashion to explain the dairy farm nutreint cycle in basic terms so the school children and other non-farm family members could understand.

impact assessment

Attendees understand that manure is a unavoidable by-product of milk production, so if they want to enjoy milk, ice crean and cheese, then somebody also has to deal with manure. They understand that many dairy producers are highly regulated and must use manure in such a way that nutrients are substantially recycled to crops when possible.

academic priority area

topic description

helping the public to understand mnaure nutrient recycling on dairy farms

has geographic focus

collaborators

Ont Co Farm Bureau

department, unit, division

mission focus

From CALS annual faculty reporting. Imported on August 5, 2008