Organic livestock farms produce manure that contains valuable nutrients essential for growing crops and maintaining healthy soils

The University of Wisconsin–Madison received a $749,992 Project Grant award from the Institute of Food Production and Sustainability under the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Integrated Programs (CFDA 10.303) on September 15, 2025, with a completion date of September 14, 2028. This award supports a three-year project addressing nutrient recovery inefficiencies in organic livestock manure separation systems. The project delivers science-based products and services including on-farm nutrient recovery measurements, controlled field trials testing separated solids and liquids as fertilizers on crops and pastures, and soil health assessments conducted across multiple organic livestock farms in Wisconsin.

The project generates practical outreach deliverables designed for farmer adoption and implementation, including fact sheets, instructional videos, field demonstration events, and technical workshops disseminated to farmers, agricultural advisors, and industry partners. Through integration of on-farm measurements with controlled research trials and targeted extension activities, the project produces actionable nutrient management recommendations to improve manure utilization efficiency, reduce off-farm fertilizer purchases, enhance soil health, and strengthen the economic resilience of organic livestock operations while supporting rural communities and protecting water resources.

However, the equipment and practices used to separate solid and liquid components of manure often fail to capture and preserve these nutrients effectively, meaning much of this potential fertilizer value is lost. This inefficiency can force farmers to purchase more off-farm fertilizer, increasing costs and reducing the benefits of recycling nutrients within the farm system. The loss of nutrients can also contribute to water quality problemsand diminished soil health, all of which have broader impacts on rural economies andcommunity well-being. Improving manure separation and the use of separated products will help farmers cut costs, protect water resources, and strengthen the resilience of organic agriculture.to address these challenges, this project will work directly with organic livestock farms to measure how well their manure separation systems recover nutrients and identify practical changes to improve performance. Researchers will conduct field trials to test separated solids and liquids as fertilizers on crops and pastures, tracking how well plants use these nutrients and how soils respond over time. The team will share results with farmers, agricultural advisors, and industry partners through fact sheets, videos, field demonstrations, and workshops, ensuring that the information is clear, practical, and easy to apply on the farm. By combining on-farm measurements, controlled research trials, and targeted outreach, the project will create science-based recommendations that help farmers get more value from their manure, reduce waste, and make informed nutrient management decisions.if successful, this work will result in more efficient nutrient recycling, healthier soils, reduced fertilizer purchases, and lower impacts from organic livestock operations. These benefits extend beyond agriculture by supporting rural economies andsafeguarding water quality. The knowledge gained will also help industry partners develop and promote better nutrient management strategies, ensuring that both individual farms and the wider community benefit from more sustainable and efficient food production systems.