National Center for Manure and Animal Waste Management

- Success Story -

This program is just one example of Extension programming and research through CSREES and the Land Grant System that has positively impacted animal waste management. Please check back periodically for other highlighted programs.

National Center for Manure and Animal Waste Management: Assessing the State of Knowledge

As a result of efforts from the National Center for Manure and Animal Waste Management, there is a greater understanding of the state of knowledge on manure and animal waste management. Timely research is being conducted that will reduce the water quality impacts from all livestock and poultry feeding operations.

Situation

Animal waste from farms and livestock/poultry and dairy production operations can severely threaten water quality if not managed properly. Animal waste from the 1.3 million farms with livestock and poultry across the nation has the potential to contribute excess nutrients, pathogens, organic matter, solids, and odorous compounds to the environment. This pollution can cause eutrophication of surface waters, degradation of ground water quality, and threats to human health.

Actions

The National Center for Manure and Animal Waste Management, supported by the USDA CSREES Fund for Rural America, consists of 16 universities and a Policy Advisory Committee. Center efforts emphasize the development and dissemination of knowledge and technology that support sustainable, profitable, and internationally competitive animal production and also protect community interests and environmental quality. Working with producers, agribusiness and policy makers, the Center fuses interdisciplinary research, extension, and education activities to produce a holistic understanding of animal waste and manure production and management.

Impacts

The National Center for Manure and Animal Waste Management members developed white papers that describe the state of knowledge about and list research and knowledge needs related to a range of animal waste management topics. Summaries of these white papers can be viewed through the Center’s web site . Topics of particular interest to water quality include:

Land application of manure for beneficial reuse
Manure management strategies/technologies
The Phosphorus Index
Pathogens in animal wastes
Manure marketing

Based on the research needs identified in the Center’s white papers, nine research projects were chosen to augment the data relating to animal production and waste management. These projects, listed on the Center’s web site , will improve animal waste management thereby improving and protecting water quality.

Please refer to the National Center for Manure and Animal Waste Management web site for more information .