Did you know that all operations generating or using manure must now have a manure management plan? This includes all agricultural livestock operations, even if you own just a single horse or a couple of sheep.

An informational session to learn more about PA Manure Management requirements and how they apply to your operation will be held Feb. 10 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Deerfield Farms, 193 Black Road, Volant.

A second, full-day PA Manure Management Workshop is planned for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Lawrence County Conservation District office in the Lawrence County Government Center, 430 New Castle Street, New Castle.

This full-day session is designed for operations that have started a plan and need help to complete it or for those that need to get started and would like to complete the plan in one day. Nutrient Management specialists will be available to help you complete a plan.

All attendees will receive a copy of the Manure Management Manual and a free soil sample test kit. Attendees will need to bring a recent soil sample analysis for all crop fields, manure spreader calibration information, crop yield information, a farm operation map, and knowledge of any well, stream, lake, and/or pond locations on the property.

The Feb. 11 session will qualify for 3 Nutrient Management Credits, 3 Manure Hauler/Broker Credits and 6 Pesticide Update Credits.

Both Manure Management programs are free but registration is required by Feb. 2. Seating is limited so be sure to register early.

Copies of the brochure are available by contacting the Butler County Extension Office at 724-287-4761 or the Lawrence County Conservation District at 724-656-2474.

Farm bill information session

Penn State Extension and the Farm Service Agency invite producers to learn more about the features of the Crops Programs in the Farm Bill.

This session will help to provide the information for decisions that producers will need to make and what the decisions could mean for your farm operation.

Topics of discussion will include, but are not limited to, base acre reallocation, program crops yield updating, exploring a sample county farm scenario, accessing and using online decision tools, and the process for program sign-up.

The informational session will be Feb. 3 at the USDA Service Center at 625 Evans City Road. The program will be offered twice during the day, from 9 to 11 a.m. and again from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

There is no registration or registration fee. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Mineral management: understanding your royalty check

If you missed the opportunity to attend in December, another “Shale Mineral Management: Understanding Your Royalty Check” workshop will be offered by Penn State Extension from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 16 at the Butler Township Park Building, 468 S. Duffy Road.

Are you as a landowner receiving royalty checks and not fully understanding how the current trends and production figures mesh with your royalty payments? Do you have questions on how to interpret the information provided on your royalty stubs?

Expert speakers Dan Brockett, a Marcellus education team educator with Penn State Extension, and Bud Shuffstall, senior vice president, senior oil, gas and mineral officer at Northwest Savings Bank, will provide a comprehensive program to help royalty owners understand how current drilling production and utilization trends can affect their royalties. 

The team also will provide insight for landowners on the process of relating operations to royalties.

Important mineral management resources available to the landowner to assist in reviewing their lease and royalty payments will be discussed.

Experts will help participants to unravel the mystery of royalty pay stubs, a high interest topic for many landowners. The program sponsor, Northwest Savings Bank, also will have representatives on hand to help answer questions.

This workshop is recommended for landowners who are receiving royalty payments or are involved in an active unit of the shale play and seek a better understanding of how their royalty payments are calculated and other factors considered in the determination of payment. 

This program is for educational purposes only and is not intended as an offer of legal advice. Consult an attorney for other information.

Thanks to the sponsor, Northwest Savings Bank, the program is offered free.

Seating, however, is limited and registration is required.

Register online at http://extension.psu.edu/naturalgas/events or by calling 570-320-4429.

Questions regarding the content of the program may be addressed to Dan Brockett at dlb14@psu.edu or to Carol Loveland at cal24@psu.edu or at 570-320-4429.

This material is submitted by Donna Zang, extension director, and the staff of the Penn State Extension office at the Sunnyview Nursing and Rehabilitation Center complex.