Animal Waste Multistate
Research/Extension Committees
About 25 percent of the formula grants that
go to each state from NIFA are to be used
for the purpose of multistate
research and extension committees. The
committees convene scientists from various
states and disciplines to share research
and extension activity results and procedures
to minimize the duplication of research and
extension efforts. Within this team, scientists
can more easily coordinate research and extension
activities that will have multistate or national
benefits. In some cases, committees may coordinate
the writing of summary reports or develop
common procedures and practices.
Listed below are committees that have objectives
relating to the management of animal manures
or the impact of animal manure management
on the environment. Further information about
these committees can be obtained by contacting
the NIFA representative listed below. Some
of the committees listed below may have only
a small part of their activities related
to animal waste.
Animal Manure and Waste Utilization,
Treatment, and Nuisance Avoidance for a
Sustainable Agriculture, S-1000
R. Hegg, NIFA representative
- Develop management tools, strategies,
and systems for land application of animal
manures that optimize productivity and
are compatible with sustained land and
water quality.
- Develop and evaluate constructed wetlands,
riparian zones, and other vegetative systems
for treating animal wastewater.
- Develop and refine physical, chemical,
and biological treatment processes and
engineering systems for management of manures
and other wastes.
- Develop and refine methodology, technology
and management practices to reduce odors,
gases, airborne micro flora, particulate
matter, and other airborne emissions in
animal production systems.
- Develop and evaluate feeding systems
for their potential to alter the excretion
of environmentally sensitive nutrients
by livestock.
Water Quality Issues in Poultry
Production and Processing, W-195
R. Reynnells, NIFA representative
- Develop methods for proper management
and recycling of poultry production and
processing waste to improve water quality.
- Determine water quality factors that
affect poultry performance and market product
quality.
Environmental and Economic Impacts
to Nutrient Flows in Dairy Forage Systems,
NE-132
H. Tyrrell, NIFA representative
- Develop, evaluate, and refine cropping,
grazing, and feeding strategies to optimize
the dairy farm system for nutrient utilization,
environmental impact, and profitability.
- Develop research-based information, recommendations,
and educational materials in support of
state extension, teaching, and NRCS programs,
agricultural consultants, and producers
to strengthen the U.S. dairy industry.
Air Quality Issues Associated with
Animal Facilities, NCR-189
H. Tyrrell, R. Hegg and M. Rozum,
NIFA representatives
- To facilitate interaction and exchange
of information on research related to air
quality issues associated with animal facilities.
- To identify common interests among researchers
and educators to initiate joint research
and education programs on air quality issues
associated with animal facilities.
- To develop technologies and management
practices to manage the impacts of air
quality problems associated with animal
facilities.
Crop and Ruminant Systems to Conserve
Mid-Western Unglaciated Soils and Water
Quality, NC-157
R. Knighton, NIFA representative
D. Savaiano (IN), administrative advisor
- Evaluate alternative forage production
systems in intensive cattle management.
- Evaluate cattle response to alternative
forages.
- Evaluate forage-grain-cattle management
systems that conserve soil and water quality.
Improved Crop and Livestock Management
for Protecting the Non-Glaciated Upper
Mississippi Valley, NC-10112
M. A. Rozum, NIFA representative
- Quantify the change in crop sequences
and animal production during the past 25
years within these regions to determine
the appropriate conservation strategies
for protecting soil and water quality considering
existing production systems.
- Evaluate strip till against other soil
and water conservation tillage system goals
of: erosion control, water quality, and
crop production for this karst topography.
- Develop and quantify the role of cover
crops, living mulches, and alternative
crops for mixed crop-livestock operations
in MLRA 105.
- Develop alternative forage-based livestock
management strategies for MLRA 105 and
determine impacts on profitability; soil,
water, and air quality; and nutrient balances.
- Model surface water quality impacts of
current and alternative land management
strategies in MLRA 105.
Characterizing Nitrogen Mineralization
and Availability in Crop Systems to Protect
Water Resources, NC-218
R. Knighton, NIFA representative
- Develop and evaluate rapid tests for
soil nitrogen mineralization capacity across
the various soils and climatic regimes
of the region and determine the feasibility
and most appropriate conditions for use
of these tests.
- Conduct fundamental work to enhance current
understanding of the role of active carbon
and nitrogen pools in cropping systems
and to predict net mineralization as influenced
by carbon sequestration.
- Develop a guidance document for agricultural
professionals focusing on nitrogen best
management practices and optimum rate determinations
for the region.
Interior Environment and Energy
Use in Livestock Facilities, S-291
R. Hegg, NIFA representative
J. Cherry (GA), admin advisor
- Develop methods to quantify and reduce
levels of dust, ammonia, and odors in poultry
and swine facilities.
- Quantify animal physiological and production
responses to interior thermal environments
in warm and cool weather.
- Develop and evaluate environmental control
systems for poultry and livestock facilities
that enhance indoor air quality, reduce
energy use, and benefit animal productivity.
Nutritional Systems for Swine to
Increase Reproductive Efficiency, S-288 H. Tyrrell, NIFA representative
Objectives:
- To assess the benefit of supplemental
chromium picolinate in gestation-lactation
diets for reproducing sows.
- To evaluate the effects of fiber during
gestation on reproductive performance and subsequent lactation performance of sows.
- To determine the effectiveness and long-term effects of using microbial phytase in diets for reproducing sows to reduce phosphorus excretion.
Minimizing Agricultural Phosphorus
Runoff Losses for Protection of the Water
Resources, Sera-Ieg-17
M. Rozum, NIFA representative
Objectives:
- To develop an interdisciplinary approach
to identify phosphorus-sensitive watersheds
and water bodies: expanding and improving
upon the Phosphorus Index site assessment
tool.
- To develop best management practices
(BMPs) to reduce agricultural phosphorus
losses to surface waters by erosion and
runoff.
- To develop an animal manure application
strategy based on both phosphorus and nitrogen.
- To develop upper, environmentally based,
critical limits for soil test phosphorus
and new soil testing methods that can more
accurately identify sites where its loss
will be of significant environmental concern.
Water Quality Resource Strategy
and Coordination, Ncs-5
M. ONeill, NIFA representative
Objectives:
- Identify water quality research and outreach
needs.
- Transmit information from objective 1
to the Land-Grant University System.
- Develop and recommend organization and
procedures for allocating grant funds.
Soil Microbial
Taxonomic and Functional Diversity as Affected
by Land Use and Management, S-297
R. Knighton, NIFA representative
Objectives:
- To determine the geographic and temporal
variability of E. coli ribotypes in the
United States.
- To determine relationships among microbial
taxonomic and functional diversity, contaminant
bioavailability, and remediation rates
for different organic-contaminated soils.
- To characterize taxonomic and functional
diversity of bacteria and mycorrhizae in
disturbed lands and urban landscapes.
Chemistry and Bio-Availability of
Waste Constituents in Soils, W-170 R. Knighton, NIFA representative
Objectives:
- Characterize trace element chemistry
in soil and waste to predict plant uptake
and movement of trace elements in soil.
- Determine the chemistry of nutrients
in organic wastes and the bioavailability
and mobility of soil-applied organic waste
nutrients.
- Characterize trace element chemistry
in contaminated soils and evaluate the
effects of soil remediation on trace element
chemistry, bioavailability, and mobility.
Management of Eroded Soils for Enhancement
of Productivity and Environmental Quality,
NC-174 M. A. Rozum, NIFA representative
Objectives:
- Determine erosional and landscape impacts
on soil processes and properties.
- Assess management effects on eroded
soil productivity and quality of soil,
air, and water resources.
Soil Organic Matter, NCR-59 R. Knighton, NIFA representative
Objectives:
- Promote research cooperation among its
members and NC-174 members.
- Promote the use of standard techniques
of characterizing soil organic matter and
assessing soil quality. Specifically, develop
and publish the Handbook of Methods
for Assessing Soil Quality.
- Foster interest in understanding the
basic principles of soil organic matter
dynamics and application of those principles
to soil quality problems of regional and
national scope.
- Work with national and international
societies to co-sponsor soil organic matter/soil
quality-oriented symposia.
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