4Rs of Dairy Manure
Successful and informative webinar by Mid-Atlantic 4R
Chester, Maryland – June 17, 2025 – The Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association held an hour-long webinar covering the 4Rs – Right Source, Right Rate, Right Time, and Right Place – of dairy manure. Robb and Sailesh’s presentations complimented each other and are available to watch on our YouTube page here.
Dairy 4R Nutrient Management
Dr. Robert Meinen, Director of the Pennsylvania Nutrient Management Education Program, shared how dairy manure systems are complex and different for every farm. No matter the manure system, each dairy farm can share the same three nutrient management goals – simultaneously minimize environmental loss of nutrients and utilize the agronomic and economic value of manure. After reviewing the Nitrogen and Phosphorus Cycle with Robb, information on placement and crop uptake were shared.
Nutrient Management in No-Till Dairy Cropping System
Dr. Sailesh Sigdel explained that to maximize crop uptake of Nitrogen, one must manage Nitrogen carefully. Dairy manure is valuable source of Nitrogen. To begin, be sure to know your Source by understanding the nutrient values through testing. Next, apply the manure at the Right Rate by understanding the crop needs and accounting for what’s already in the soil. To stay involved throughout the cropping cycle, utilize in-season management tool and adjust the side dress as appropriate. To ensure Right Placement, practice the appropriate setbacks and inject into standing cover crop. An application at the Right Time might look like, injecting liquid manure on a cooler spring day, which results in lower ammonium loss to the environment. Nitrogen consumed by the cover crop will be available when the crop needs it later, when the cover crop is breaking down. To hear more about Sailesh’s research on broadcasting and injection and Robb’s presentation, be sure to tune into the recorded webinar.
Mid-Atlantic 4R
Thank you to the 84 attendees who took the time to participate in our webinar. The 4Rs of Dairy Manure webinar was organized by Amanda Bunn with The Nature Conservancy, an active partner with the Pennsylvania 4R Alliance. The webinar was funded by the Keith Campbell Foundation. Two pamphlets on Manure Management and 4Rs visit our website here.
The Mid-Atlantic 4R Nutrient Stewardship Association is a non-profit organization whose members include the Delaware Maryland 4R Alliance and the Pennsylvania 4R Alliance. We strive to fulfill our mission to empower trusted advisors to ensure that every nutrient application in the Mid-Atlantic region is applied with the right source, right place, right rate, and right time to benefit farmers, the environment, and society. To learn more about our work visit our website at www.4RMidAtlantic.com or email us at midatlantic4r@gmail.com.