WAYNE, Neb. — Amy Millmier Schmidt, professor and extension specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, presented how manure management affects agricultural trust at the North American Manure Expo July 29 in Wayne.
Schmidt challenged attendees to think beyond compliance and focus on the relationships manure management can strengthen or damage.
“When we talk about manners, it’s not about rules,” Schmidt said. “It’s about generating respect for your business and for yourself and generating trust for agriculture.”
Public trust has become one of agriculture’s most valuable assets Schmidt said as livestock operations face increasing scrutiny from neighbors and communities.
“When people want to build a new operation, there’s just no (consumer) trust in them doing things correctly (with their manure),” Schmidt said. “This isn’t just about permitted operations. It’s about everybody who has anything to do with handling manure.”
Schmidt related manure management to everyday etiquette, creating what she calls “manure manners,” which are practical steps producers can take to improve stewardship while maintaining positive relationships with neighbors.
Among the important acts, Schmidt said, are to communicate with neighbors before manure application whenever possible and change the date if an event is happening for a neighbor.
“We can’t talk to every person around us,” Schmidt said. “But letting neighbors know you’re going to spread manure tomorrow and that it will only take a day goes a long way.”
That small courtesy demonstrates respect and can reduce frustration when odors are unavoidable. While acknowledging that narrow weather windows make manure application challenging, Schmidt encouraged producers to remain flexible when circumstances warrant.
“If somebody’s having a party at their house and they really don’t want you applying manure around them, it’s probably not the end of the world,” Schmidt said.
The community often discusses manure in terms of odor or pollution. However, producers have the opportunity to change the conversation Schmidt said by emphasizing the agronomic and environmental benefits when it is managed properly.
“We’re building soil quality when we put organic fertilizer on,” Schmidt said. “We’re feeding crops just like inorganic fertilizer (does), but we’re doing so much more than inorganic fertilizer does.”
Manure contributes organic matter, which improves soil structure, increases water-holding capacity and supports biological activity in the soil. It also reduces erosion by improving soil aggregate stability.
Good stewardship includes paying attention to little details, Schmidt said. Producers can improve relations with neighbors by cleaning up manure spills on the roads from transport. If a large spill occurs, Schmidt said, farmers should report it promptly rather than hoping no one notices.
“They’re probably going to find out about it anyway,” Schmidt said. “Get the reporting done and get some help from your regulatory agency.”
Respecting setback boundaries during nutrient application is another important factor for manure application. Setback distances vary depending on operation size and state regulations. Protecting streams, waterways and drinking water will gain agricultural trust from neighbors.
Schmidt also challenged producers not to follow poor management practices simply because others do. Instead of focusing solely on maximizing yield, she said, agriculture should place greater emphasis on return on investment.
“Efficient nutrient management often produces stronger financial returns than chasing a few extra bushels through unnecessary fertilizer applications,” Schmidt said.
Manure management, Schmidt said, is ultimately about earning public confidence. Good stewardship protects water quality and soil health, but it also demonstrates professionalism to neighbors and consumers.
“Trust is probably the biggest reason there’s pushback on livestock operations,” Schmidt said. “Building that trust is really important.”
Schmidt highlighted a pair of Nebraska Extension publications — “Manure Manners” and “Make the Most of Manure” — as guidance on nutrient management, setbacks, neighbor relations and maximizing manure’s agronomic value.
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