ManureDB was created to collect and aggregate U.S. manure analysis data results to update manure book values over time.
Most manure book values used today from the MidWest Plan Service (MWPS) and American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers (ASABE) were derived from samples prior to 2003.
The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Department of Soil, Water, and Climate received a National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grant in 2020 to pursue this project under the direction and leadership of Drs. Melissa Wilson and Erin Cortus. The University of Minnesota in partnership with the Minnesota Supercomputing Institute built a dynamic manure test database where the data can be manipulated multiple ways, including by year, by animal type, manure storage type, and by state or region. The database meets FAIR principles (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable).
A Stakeholder group from across the USA meets periodically and serves as a resource to guide project development and maintenance. Having current manure test values will assist in more accurate nutrient management planning, manure storage design, manure land application, and agricultural manure modeling.