Abby Bauer, Editor

Abby Bauer serves as the managing editor for the Journal of Nutrient Management.

Abby grew up on a dairy farm near Plymouth, Wis. She received a master’s degree from North Carolina State University and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

She previously served as a University of Wisconsin agricultural extension agent. She co-chaired the first three Midwest Manure Summits held in Green Bay, Wis.

Focused on family and the future

Beef

Nestled in a valley in south central Wisconsin is the aptly named Ripp’s Dairy Valley

First Thoughts: The Name Game

First Thoughts

Most people put a lot of thought into choosing a name, whether it is for a child, a business, or even a pet. A name is a long-term commitment, one that is not easily changed. We want to be sure we get

Making manure shine

Dairy

Louisiana dairyman Brent Duncan considers manure to be “a diamond in the rough.”

Why these farms chose digesters

Dairy

Anaerobic digesters are one way to capture more value from manure, but they come with a substantial price tag. Farm owners must consider the pros and cons before committing to this long-term investment

Opportunity awaits

First Thoughts

If you live in an area where livestock outnumber people, manure being used as a fertilizer source is simply common practice

Policy Watch: United States

Policy Watch

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for grants that will help agricultural producers and rural small businesses make energy efficiency improvements and invest in renewable...

Policy Watch: California

Policy Watch

A man in California plead guilty to wire fraud, money laundering, and identity theft after convincing investors he was building anaerobic digesters on dairies in California and Idaho

Policy Watch: Missouri

Policy Watch

The Missouri Supreme Court ruled in April that a state law prohibiting counties from imposing regulations on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) does not violate the state’s constitution

Policy Watch: Wisconsin

Policy Watch

Farmers in Laketown, Wis., scored a victory when a newly elected town board voted unanimously to abandon a recently passed ordinance that would have greatly impacted growing farms in their area

A foundation built on diversity

News

The old saying, “Don’t put your all your eggs in one basket,” is a mantra for the Johnson family of Peterson, Minn

A sustainable wish

First Thoughts

A few days ago, an interesting segment on the late night news caught my attention. The reporter was stationed at John’s Disposal Facility, a Milwaukee-area recycling center that takes in about 500...

Country roads

First Thoughts

Lately, I often find the song “Take me home, country roads” stuck in my head. I taught my children the chorus, and now the John Denver classic has become one of the songs my son asks me to...

Inspired to farm closer to nature

Beef

Farming is nothing new for the Roche family, who has been raising livestock and growing crops at their farm in southeastern Wisconsin for 170 years. What has changed in recent years

Small but mighty

First Thoughts

There are certain jobs young children tend to gravitate toward when asked the question, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Doctor, teacher, and fireman are common responses. Some aim...

Moving down the manure pipeline

Storage

When a window of opportunity opens to empty out a farm’s manure storage, the yard is suddenly filled with a buzz of activity. Soon, filled tankers will head down the country roads to move manure...

A story about sludge

On The Move

It lurks beneath the surface of every manure lagoon or anaerobic digester. Sludge, an unavoidable part of manure storage and treatment, is a manure by-product that is lower in organic matter

Working in harmony

Dairy

Manure handling starts with the animal, but the end user is an essential part of the equation

Words of wisdom

First Thoughts

Advice can be a tricky thing. Opinions and recommendations may be offered with the best of intentions, but the person on the receiving end could interpret the sentiments differently. The best advice o

Committed to memory

First Thoughts

When I was in middle school, the barn on my family’s dairy burned down. Most of the cows escaped, but the entire wooden part of the hip roof barn was gone, leaving just the brick walls standing

Low disturbance application opens doors

Application

Aaron Augustian said he and his brother, Todd, were looking to try something different with manure application when they were asked to join the Great Lakes Demonstration Farms Network a few years ago

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