Description: Through a Natural Resources Conservation Service Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG), Newtrient evaluated 15 manure management technologies used in dairy systems. The project applied a modified version of an NRCS evaluation approach aligned with Conservation Practice Standard 629, Waste Treatment. Evaluation periods ranged from 15 to 52 weeks, depending on the technology. Newtrient collaborated with colleges and universities across the country to collect samples and develop detailed evaluation reports. These assessments focused on how each technology influenced nutrient levels—specifically nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—across different waste streams. In addition to environmental performance, the project also examined economic factors, including implementation costs and potential returns. Each technology was documented in a comprehensive evaluation report using the established Newtrient protocol based on the modified NRCS framework. Because several of the technologies involved manure separation, the project also produced a supplemental white paper comparing three separation technologies and exploring their potential applications. All reports and project materials are publicly available on the Newtrient website at https://www.newtrient.com/about/our-work/grant-funded-projects/2020-nrcs-conservation-innovation-grant/
This webinar provides an overview of a range of dairy manure management technologies, with a focus on their environmental performance, water quality impacts, and economic considerations.