A “manure link” website, set to go live in March, will list manure and compost availability by geographic location within New Jersey.
It will also will enable those seeking manure or compost to sign up for notification when the resource they are looking for becomes available. The project will give smaller farms with limited land capacity a way to distribute their manure to composters and farmers who can use it to benefit their operations.
The state Department of Agriculture is partnering with Rutgers University, the Office of Research Analytics and the New Jersey Compost Council to develop the New Jersey Manure Link website. The intent is to connect livestock farms (manure generators) and composters with farmers seeking these resources to provide an alternative option from purchasing fertilizer.
The NJDA’s Division of Agricultural and Natural Resources received a Conservation Innovation Grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service to fund creation of the New Jersey Manure Link project. The concept is designed to be “where to find what feeds your field” for Garden State farmers. The website is designed and hosted by Rutgers University’s Office of Research Analytics.
“We believe this website will be a valuable resource for farmers and composters,” state Assistant Secretary of Agriculture Joe Atchison said.
“The ability to provide a clearer pathway to make connections between these operations will benefit all involved.”
The Compost Council will provide outreach and educational components, including two hands-on composting field days and resources for the website. The field days will be scheduled for livestock farmers and composters, as well as producers across all agricultural sectors, including urban farming, to demonstrate the importance of composting, nutrient management and how to effectively incorporate organic materials into farming practices.
The goals of New Jersey Manure Link include recycling valuable nutrients, generating accessibility to organic materials, reducing animal waste excess and protecting waterways adjacent to livestock farmland.
The project will allow urban farmers to gain access to raw feedstocks, as well as finished compost. The project falls within the state Department of Environmental Protection’s Global Warming Response Act 80 x 50 Report from 2020. It identifies the need for the reduction, recycling and reuse of agricultural organic waste materials, as well as increased education and adoption of composting practices.