Session Description

Join Perennia’s OFCAF and Agri-Environment teams for Manure Mondays, a five-part webinar series exploring practical science-based approaches to managing livestock manure and crop production, and environmental protection. Each session will feature leading experts sharing insights on nitrogen management, greenhouse gas reduction and emerging manure management strategies.

Event Details

December 1, 2025
12:00PM – 1:00PM

Guest Speaker

Chryseis Modderman, University of Minnesota
Chryseis has been with University of Minnesota Extension since 2018 as an Extension Educator. Her office is in Morris, MN and she is part of the crops team, focusing on manure nutrient management. She is originally from a farm family in west-central Minnesota, and prior to working at UMN, she was a research technician at North Dakota State University. Chryseis is excited to teach people all about manure management and the power of poo! When she’s not elbow-deep in her work, she enjoys time at the lake, knitting, and reading. 

TOPIC: Applying manure in challenging environmental conditions 

In an ideal world, we’d only apply manure under perfect conditions at the best time for the crop. But unfortunately, manure comes with a few more logistical challenges than commercial synthetic fertilizer. When storage is full, that manure has to go somewhere, even if the soil is saturated or frozen. We’ll discuss best management practices for what to do in those scenarios and how to best mitigate runoff and pollution risk.

Event Details

January 5, 2026
12:00PM – 1:00PM 

Guest Speaker

Melissa Wilson, University of Minnesota
Melissa Wilson is an associate professor and the manure nutrient management specialist at the University of Minnesota with appointments in both research and extension. Her research focuses on filling knowledge gaps about manure nutrient cycling as farming practices, weather and technologies change. She is also currently evaluating techniques for opening up the window of opportunity for manure application. 

TOPIC: Capturing the value of nutrients from manure  

Livestock manure is a valuable source of nutrients for crops but how can you get the best bang for your buck? Test it, cool it and cover it up! This talk will cover some basic best management practices for manure application to get the nutrients into your crops while protecting the environment.

Event Details

February 2, 2026
12:00PM – 1:00PM 

Guest Speaker

Jason Paul Oliver, Cornell University
Jason Oliver, PhD, is the Dairy Environmental Systems Engineer with the Cornell University PRO-DAIRY applied research and extension program and a Faculty Fellow at both the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability and Cornell Dairy Center for Excellence. Jason’s applied research and extension interest focuses on the development of innovative methods for the treatment of manure, emissions and effluents from livestock facilities. He has extensive on-farm research experience and works collaboratively with farmers and key stakeholders to address manure management, air and water quality, climate change resiliency, farm safety, livestock mortality and other environmental stewardship topics.  

 TOPIC: Management/treatment implications on nutrients and GHG emissions 

Manure management has significant implications for nutrient and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as management decisions interact with environmental controls of key microbial processes responsible for the production of GHG emissions. This talk will cover different manure management treatment options which can help reduce the production of GHG emissions, including the pros and cons of each to provide knowledge for farmers to best decide which practices may be suitable for their operation.  

Event Details

March 2, 2026
12:00PM – 1:00PM 

Guest Speaker

Kirsten Workman, Cornell University
Kirsten is passionate about the connection between agriculture and the environment. With more than 20 years of experience working with farmers in Washington state, Vermont and New York, she leads extension programming and applied research focused on nutrient management and environmental sustainability for Cornell University’s PRO-DAIRY program and is a member of the Cornell Nutrient Management Spear Program team. She enjoys working with all facets of the dairy industry to demonstrate and evaluate conservation cropping systems that benefit farms and the environment. As a Certified Crop Adviser, she aims to identify practical and effective strategies that can be adopted by northeast producers that both increase environmental sustainability and improve farm profitability and management. She believes in the importance of sharing sustainable farming practices with the public and enjoys helping farmers spread the word about what they are doing right for the land, the water, the air and their communities. 

TOPIC: Manure application to forages and the economics/benefits of manure injection 

Environmental sustainability and improvement of farm profitability and management can often be contrasting goals to achieve at once; however, there are existing best management practices that can do it. Applying manure to forages can offer flexibility for manure applications throughout the growing season, along with providing a source of nutrients, improvement to soil properties and a lower potential for nutrient losses, to name a few benefits. Manure injection can also reduce GHGs and increase nutrient efficiency. This talk will cover the benefits and drawbacks of manure application onto forages and manure injection to equip farmers with knowledge to best decide if these practices could fit their individual operations.

Event Details

April 13, 2026
12:00PM – 1:00PM 

Guest Speaker

Chryseis Modderman, University of Minnesota
Chryseis has been with University of Minnesota Extension since 2018 as an Extension Educator. Her office is in Morris, MN and she is part of the crops team, focusing on manure nutrient management. She is originally from a farm family in west-central Minnesota, and prior to working at UMN, she was a research technician at North Dakota State University. Chryseis is excited to teach people all about manure management and the power of poo! When she’s not elbow-deep in her work, she enjoys time at the lake, knitting, and reading. 

TOPIC: Manure calibration basics 

Applying manure at an accurate rate is one of the best ways to ensure your crop gets the nutrients you expect while preventing overapplication and pollution issues. Many farmers do a great job with soil and manure testing and calculating rates, but they often overlook a key element of accurate applications: calibrating their spreader. We’ll discuss the importance and methods of spreader calibration.

QUESTIONS?

Georgia Lewis 
glewis@perennia.ca