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Manure Management Issues

The NWMC has expertise in agricultural waste management have provided support for a number issues. Some examples:

  • Developed national manure characteristics
  • Co-authored NRCS Tech note: "Nutrients available from manure relative to crop growth requirements"
  • Assisted in the preparation of new and revised material for NRCS's Animal Waste Management Field Handbook
  • Provided guidance to NEDS in preparation of waste management training materials
  • Led the agency in preparation of conservation practice standards for manure management issues
  • Serves as technical resource for NRCS in manure management issues - responds to phone and email requests for advice and information
  • Interfaces with research and extension communities, helping to keep the agency up-to-date in manure management issues

New Initiatives in Manure Management

National Pork Producers Coordination

NWMC staff worked with the NPPC contractor and NRCS environmental engineers to evaluate several software packages available. Selected the best program and developed a list of changes to make the software compatible with NRCS activities. Formulated plan to integrate NPPC software into the NRCS system.

Agricultural Waste Management Technology for Prairie View A&M

Assisted Texas NRCS with formalizing a proposal for working with Prairie View A&M as they develop new technology for managing agricultural wastes.

Watershed Sustainability/Nutrient Cycling

Engineers and agronomists from the NWMC and WSSI are assisting Oklahoma NRCS in applying the Watershed Ecosystem Nutrient Dynamics (WEND) tool in Eucha-Spavinaw Watershed. The staff completed a strategy for developing the application, including personnel needs and timelines with the involvement of local governments, USDA and state personnel, as well as representatives from the poultry and swine industries.

Use of WQ Models and Nutrient Trading

Staff members have discussed with several NRCS state staffs the applicability of utilizing water quality models to identify resource options associated with nutrient trading. When TMDLs are put in place, such as in several Wisconsin watersheds, reliable tools are needed to accurately determine loading rates for each nutrient under differing management systems.

Contact:
Theodis Bunch      501-210-8904      theodis.bunch@ar.usda.gov
Tony Stevenson    501-210-8918      tony.stevenson@ar.usda.gov

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