A new Iowa State University podcast tries to answer some of the questions about a subject that is vital to some, and stinks for others. Dan Andersen
the creator of the “Talk’in Crap” podcast, says it is an interesting time in the world of manure.

Anderson is an associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at I-S-U. He chose the “Talk’in Crap” title intentionally and says you have to have a sense of humor about the subject, while also talking about the serious side.

Andersen says manure is more than a byproduct of animal production.

Andersen says the water quality perspective is also important and manure’s role in that needs to be discussed as well.

Anderson says the use of new technology has help improved the use of the world’s oldest fertilizer.

He says they don’t want to see any spills that impact water quality, but there are still spills and fish killed every year from manure. Andersen says at least there are signs of progress in the right direction. The smell of manure is probably the thing that most non-farmers. Andersen says work continues to find ways to deal with that too.

Andersen says those covers often don’t fit with the deep pit production model that we tend to have fore manure here in Iowa. You can listen to the “Talk’in Crap” podcast on the Iowa State University Extension website at www.extension.iastate.edu.