The bi-annual Midwest Manure Summit was developed with the hope that bringing the best resources from around the country would fuel new conversations and innovations. This year’s conference included 180 registered producers, agribusiness professionals, government agency employees, and educators. Educators’ roles included program development and implementation; solicitation of nationally renowned speakers; sponsorship solicitation; web-site development; pre-and post-virtual conference branding and marketing; day of technological support; and evaluation.

Based on a live Zoom evaluation 100 percent of respondents indicated they were more knowledgeable about innovative manure processing technologies and manure management strategies. This included finding significant interest and value in manure processing technologies to capture and/or handle nutrients, and manure management strategies to reduce environmental concerns. After attending the Summit, 100 percent of respondents plan to seek out more information on manure management strategies and/or processing technologies while 84 percent indicated they are likely to change manure management or processing technologies on their farm or suggest changes on their clients’ farms.

Post-meeting evaluation respondents indicated knowledge increased on a six-point scale:

• 0.62 points in systems Modeling and optimization for organic waste management
• 0.10 points in antimicrobial resistance
• 0.61 points ammonia capture for the organic market and pelletizing manure solids
• 0.20 points in feeding strategies to reduce methane production
• 0.65 points in the capture of P from liquid dairy manure as struvite
• 0.64 points in biochar and manure management
• 0.48 points in role of manure management to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions
• 1.06 points in addressing manure odors at the source
• 0.42 points in wet gasification for a dairy farm

Based on information gained, 20 percent of respondents indicated they planned on learning or adopting the use of biochar and 12 percent of respondents shared they planned on learning more or adopting feeding strategies to reduce methane, struvite capture, biogas upgrade, and/or mitigating greenhouse gas on-farm.

Practices respondents indicated they will implement/adapt in their work or share with others include:

• Covering manure storage structures and alternate production systems for greenhouse gas emissions reductions
• Environmental benefits of management changes
• Feed to reduce the amount of gas production

Comments included: “Good work”, “Very nicely done”, “Was done well and programs were good topics”, “Enjoyed it.  I was interested in attending all the sessions as they were all excellent topics”, “It was a good show”, and “Thank you!  Very well organized and informative!”.