Guideline for Dairy Manure Management from Barn to Storage is a 36-page guide to planning the development or improvement of a manure handling system, getting technical information and assistance, meeting regulations; manure characteristics and production; alternatives for manure management; options for transferring manure from barn to storage; and manure storage types and management. It is available for $7 plus shipping and handling ($3.50 for a single copy) from the Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service, 152 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca NY 14853-5701;

Guideline for Milking Center Wastewater can help producers and their advisers plan and assess wastewater reduction and treatment systems. The 34-page publication, NRAES-115, is available for $7 plus $3.50 shipping and handling from the Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service, 152 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca NY 14853-5701;

Herbaceous Perennials Production: A Guide from Propagation to Marketing, by Dr. Leonard Perry of the Univ. of Vermont Cooperative Extension System, discusses the basics, such as taxonomy and nomenclature, plant hardiness, the physical needs of crops, and types of irrigation systems, as well as cutting-edge, research-based information about propagation and production. The focus is on production of field-grown or greenhouse grown container perennials, but the greenhouse plug and bedding plant methods of production are covered as well. A chapter about forcing out-of-season bloom includes up-to-date information about this topic as well as specific requirements for over 120 perennials. Practical discussions about starting a business, marketing and customer service, setting prices and designing a production facility are included as well. The 220-page book includes a 51-page appendix that details propagation methods and requirements for hundreds of species, as well as information on pests and diseases. The book, NRAES-93, is available for $27 plus $5 shipping and handling from the Northeast Regional Agricultural Engineering Service, 152 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca NY 14853-5701;

Building Soils for Better Crops, by Univ. of Vermont Soil Science Professor Fred Magdoff, was written for farmers, gardeners, extension specialists and others who are interested in integrated approaches to enhancing soil quality. "The book’s underlying theme is that managing soils and crops from the point of view of maintaining and increasing organic matter content is the foundation for sustainable agriculture," Magdoff says. "We’re not only interested in the total amount of organic matter, but also in the various types of organic materials in the soil, including the diversity of soil organisms which provide many essential processes, such as releasing nutrients and improving soil tilth as well as helping keep potentially harmful bacteria, nematodes and other pests in check," he says. The book was published in 1993 by the Univ. of Nebraska Press but has since gone out of print. Magdoff hopes to have a second edition available within a year.

To help farmers boost their bottom line while enhancing the environment, a new book from USDA’s Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) greatly expands field-ready information on cover crop species and practices proven to build soil and provide a host of agronomic benefits. The 212-page Managing Cover Crops Profitably, 2^nd Edition features information gleaned from the latest cover crop field trials, lab tests and on-farm experiences from every region of the United States. It includes management details, such as seeding rates and best killing methods, as well as broader considerations of how to design rotations to maximize benefits.

Comprehensive chapters on the 18 most promising cover crop species, fact-filled charts and lists of seed suppliers, expert contacts and other relevant publications make the fully indexed guide invaluable for both newcomers and cover crop veterans.

Range maps for the 18 cover crops help farmers pick those that are best suited for their region. They then can turn to chapters on each species that detail the unique role each cover crop can play. Each chapter provides specific management information about soil preferences, seeding rates, field operations, managing and planting into residue, and cover crop mixtures with other species.

The book also features four comprehensive charts that make it easy to compare cover crop species. This section provides recommendations for the best cover crops in 14 bioregions and details 55 factors for each cover crop, describing its benefits, roles, traits and management.

Source: Source: ATTRAnews, Vol. 7, No. 2, Summer 1998; Quarterly Newsletter of Appropriate Technology Transfer for Rural Areas, P.O. Box 3657, Fayetteville AR 72702.