Duration: 10/01/2009 to 09/30/2014

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

Abstract:
The project proposed here will incorporate the best regionally available data about animal use, feed, manure storage and disposal, pasture/cropping management, soil and environmental quality, erosion control, and site characteristics to meet the goal of minimizing negative environmental impacts of equine operations on soil, water, and air quality. This project will assess existing data, investigate and conduct research when data is lacking or non-existent, and incorporate all data into a systematic model of nutrient flow in soil, water, and air occurring on horse farms. Estimates will be made of N, P, pathogens, and energy (carbon) loss potentials throughout the system. In addition to identifying system-wide losses on equine farms, this project will assist farmers and those who work with them in determining the value of equine management practices and other accepted Best Management Practices (BMP's). According to the 2002 USDA Agricultural Census (USDA-NASS, 2002), there are 428,000 horses ponies and mules dwelling on 65,000 farms in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic States (Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia). These number have either increased or remained the same since the 1997 census. This is an average of less than 7 animals per farm. There is no good estimate of the amount of acreage dedicated to equine production and use. In New Jersey, a State Equine Survey (2007) indicates that there are 176,000 total acres devoted to equine production and use. Assuming that each horse produces approximately 50 lb of manure per animal per day (USDA-NRCS, 1992), that results in over 3.9 million tons of horse manure produced in the Northeast on an annual basis. In addition using USDA-NRCS (1992) numbers, 20,000 tons of nitrogen, 4,000 tons of phosphorus, and 15,000 tons of potassium are produced. In addition to animal waste disposal issues, horse farms are facing serious regulatory issues related to stormwater management. Stormwater runoff includes the water and everything it picks up along the way, including manure. State regulations in many Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic States require small farms to implement environmental management practices to protect the state's waterways. In some locales, limits are being placed on the the amount of impervious cover on agricultural lands, which could severely impact the equine industry and its ability to expand.

Equine operations can have multiple environmental effects that go beyond a specific farm. For instance, soil erosion is a major contributor to non-point source pollutants potentially originating from equine pastures, stables and trails. Soil displaced by horse hoof traffic associated with poor pasture grass management or trail maintenance often leads to problematic sedimentation offsite with the downstream transport of nitrogen, phosphorus and bacteria. Another consideration is the proper disposal of manure produced in a farm. Since manure may contain parasites, many equine producers are hesitant to apply stall waste to their pastures. Most stall waste also includes a high percentage of bedding material such as wood shavings. This added material can significantly increase the volume of waste being spread and can impact the growth and development of pasture grasses. A majority of the horse stall waste generated in small farms is applied to surrounding hay and pasture land. Observations from equine operations requiring nutrient management plans have demonstrated that many farms over apply manure in order to adequately dispose of stall waste. The inclusion of high carbon products such as wood shavings can reduce the availability of nutrients in manure while dramatically increasing the volume of stall waste generated on-farm. Since hay and pasture production is an important component in a horse's diet, producers must maintain high quality pasture and forage to ensure adequate nutrition. Any practice that may minimize the productivity of grass hay fields, such as over application of stall waste, can impact the economic viability of the operation. Composting of horse stall waste has proven to be a viable alternative to spreading raw horse waste. This practice reduces the volume of material to be spread and may improve the efficiency of the manure as a soil amendment. Further, the utilization of composted manure as a soil amendment would benefit the equine industry by producing a "by-product" that can increase soil productivity while reducing the cost of waste disposal. Composting horse stall waste is increasing in popularity. Composting has several advantages over stockpiling of stall waste including volume reduction, parasite and pathogen reduction and increased storage potential. Another benefit of composting is the potential reduction of both point and non-point source pollution. This project takes a long range view of equine environmental research. The table below describes a research portfolio supporting a program for conducting agricultural research related to equine operations.

Horse Manure Management Research Areas

	On Going Research	Proposed	Future	General Area
Feed	/	/	-	Biology
Animals	/	/	-	Biology
Bedding	/	/	-	Biology
Manure	/	/	-	Biology
Pasture	/	/	-	Biology
Crops	/	/	-	Biology
Fertilizer	/	/	-	Chemistry
Water	/	/	-	Environmental
Soil	/	/	-	Environmental
Air	-	-	/	Environmental
Energy	-	-	/	Model
Beneficial Use	-	-	/	Application

Research will be conducted at Rutgers University and other partnering institutions facilities research facilities and on farms when appropriate. Key results will culminate as active demonstrations or educational exhibits at the participating institutions. The modeling of energy and nutrient flows in agriculture will help to understand the origins and ultimate destination of these flows. This systems approach is used elsewhere in agriculture to determine the influence of nutrients in water quality and the environment, and the potential systematic energy losses that may contribute to global warming. In developing a model we will incorporate diet, animal use and performance, bedding additions, storage method, disposal method, cropping and management, pasture management, erosion control, and presence or distance to water and wetlands. Potential beneficial uses will be evaluated. Estimates will be made of losses of N, P, and carbon (energy) throughout the system as well as the empirical effects of erosion and transport of indicator bacteria. This project focuses on environmental concerns for horse owners. We propose research to determine the potential environmental impacts of equine operations on soil, water and air quality. This data will be incorporated into a model that will identify losses in the system in order to devise educational and management strategies for horse producers to improve soil, air, and water quality.

Related, Current and Previous Work

A thorough literature review of the subject of Equine Management and Environmental Impacts can be found in attachments in the file Equine Environmental Impacts.

Objectives

1. Better quantify feeding, management, and stored manure characteristics on horse farms in order to determine effects on soil, water, and air.
   
2. Evaluate existing data and conduct research to better quantify environmental impacts on soil related to equine operations.
   
3. Evaluate existing data and conduct research to better quantify environmental impacts on water quality measures related to equine operations.
   
4. Evaluate existing data and conduct research to better quantify environmental impacts on air quality related to equine operations.
   
5. Integrate knowledge gained from the data into a system model to help improve best management practices on equine operations.
   

Methods

Objective 1:

Task 1.1 - Evaluate different nitrogen and phosphorus feeding programs in equine diets to determine effects on manure nutrient content and stall air quality. Task 1.2 - Evaluate different bedding materials including Streufex, wood shavings, and wood composites such as Woody Pet, for suitability as a bedding, cost, storage and composting characteristics, stall and storage air quality, and suitability as a soil amendment for crop production. Task 1.3 - Evaluate manure storage management and processes to determine the characteristics of manure that will be spread on available land or otherwise disposed. A. Continue previous work with manure analysis (Rutgers University) in order to produce Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) calculations for conducting rapid manure analysis. This manure analysis database will provide information about the nutrient content of manure currently produced on farms. The NIR calibrations may provide a rapid means of determining manure nutrient content on horse farms. This rapid information can be used in manure spreading and nutrient management programs.

B. Determine a baseline of phosphorous excretion in horses fed low and and high phosphorous diets. This will provide a follow-up with high phosphorus diets conduct in A above and can be used as a know reference when manure is analyzed by NIR and also by wet chemistry. This will set upper and lower reference limits in calibrating the NIR machine for horse manure analysis.

Study:
1. Eight horses divided to low and high phosphorous diets. The low group will receive a low phosphorous grass hay with a grain supplement. The high group will also receive the same low phosphorous hay plus a grain supplement containing NaH2PO4. This will be added to triple the dietary phosphorous. 2. Four horses per treatment will be adapted for two weeks to each diet. All feces will be collected. This will be repeated for five days. 3. At each collection all feces will be weighed and a 1% aliquot taken. At the end of the five days of collection all manure will be composited into low and high phosphorous manure. This manure will be mixed 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 with shavings mixed and sampled. 4. Aliquots will be stored. Composites and mixes will be sent to DairyOne in Ithaca, NY for manure analysis. Composted manure study. This will allow us to determine how well these different products will compost, what are the potential effects on horse and human air quality, and how well the end-products can be used in manure spreading and nutrient management programs. Bedding materials will be evaluated at the Rutgers University Equine facility, as well as at various cooperating farms throughout the state. Bedding materials will be evaluated for general use, such as ease of cleaning, dust issues and cost and frequency of replacement. A survey will be developed and benefits and concerns of the bedding material will be quantified. This information will provide good information to many equine operations who may be interested in trying new bedding materials without impacting their operation directly. A. Keep the horses stalled for long enough to produce about 30 cubic yards of horse manure. This should take about 30 days. Horses should remain in stalls most of the day. Some exercise is suggested. They should be bedded with pine chips or pine shavings, woody pet, straw, and with struefex (an extruded straw byproduct). Daily bedding additions will be estimated. (All bags used will be counted to determine average per day). B. Stall waste experiments will be conducted at the Rutgers University Equine facility. Stall waste from each of the bedding materials will be collected and stored separately. Three manure storage methods will be evaluated including, traditional stockpiled manure "static pile", uncovered composted pile, and a covered composted system. Composted manure will be turned weekly and evaluated daily for dissolved oxygen and temperature. Experiments will be conducted outside with three rainfall events occurring early, mid, and late in the composting process being sampled. Leachate and runoff will be collected and evaluated for various bacteriological parameters, total phosphates, ammonia nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen and total suspended solids. Individual piles will be evaluated for total volume reduction, fertility value of finished product, net weight reduction, moisture and others to be determined. Piles will be replicated and stored in water proof containers. Piles will be fitted with temperature sensors and evaluated for temperature hourly. The appropriate statistical analysis will be conducted and environmental effects extrapolated to quantify the effects that a typical small or large horse farm at various slopes may have on water quality if best management practices for manure disposal are not followed. This information will be used in any future modeling exercise. C. Evaluate air quality in individual stalls and around the compost piles. D. Manure should be stockpiled until the needed amount is collected, then mixed and divided between 3 compost bins. E. The manure should be weighed prior to filling each bin. F. Appropriate samples will be taken on day 1. G. Two bins will be turned weekly and 2 will remain unturned. Water will be added if required. H. The experiment will last at least 3 months, at which time all 4 piles will be measured, sampled and weighed again; then left static for 3 more months and then measured, sampled and weighed again. I. Temperature and moisture content will be monitored regularly. J. Stall waste treatments will be analyzed (nutrient content, bulk density etc.) and the effectiveness of the compost treatments assessed. Composted materials will be spread on both corn and hay crops and evaluated as a soil amendment. Objective 2: Task 2.1 - Evaluate the effect of manure and composted manure amendment on soil quality, assessed by changes in soil physical and chemical properties. Task 2.2 - Assess the environmental impact of manure and composted manure amendments on the movement of water and the transport of chemicals and energy through soil at the plot and watershed scales. Task 2.3 - Quantify and qualify sediment erosion rates, nutrient run-off and bacterial sources of horse farms, crop farms, forests, open space, residential communities and industrial areas in a confined geographical and hydrological area. Data collected as part of this task will be used to calibrate a hydrological model (Task 5.1). Methods Task 2.1 The effect of manure and composted manure on soil quality will be evaluated by setting up experimental plots as complete randomized blocks with three replicates of each treatment. The plots will be replicated in several environments to cover soil types and situations common in the state of New Jersey. Changes in the soil system will be monitored by sampling soils every year in the fall. Properties analyzed will include soil organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, and infiltration rates. Chemical analyses will be done in Rutgers Soil Testing Laboratory while infiltration rates will be measured in the field with tension infiltrometers (Soil Measurement Systems, www.soilmeasurement.com).

Task 2.2 The environmental and agricultural impact of land application of horse manure on water movement and transport of chemicals and energy in soil will be evaluated by continuously measuring changes in soil water content, soil temperature, and pressure potential at several depths into the soil. This information, together with the data collected under Task 2.1, will be used to calibrate a crop production model (Task 5.1). Water content will be measured with ECH2O probes installed in vertical profiles at 5 cm, 15 cm, 30 cm, 60 cm and 100 cm. Tensiometers and thermocouples will be installed at the same depths. The ECH2O probes will be connected to Decagon EM50 data loggers for recording and storage of the information. Leachate sampling plates (SPG120, UMS) will be installed at depths of 30 cm and 60 cm and connected to a vacuum system (VS-pro, UMS) with a tensiometer (T8 200) for automatic samplings of soil water (subsurface water). In 2007, experimental plots at the Ryders Lane Equine Science Center farm were instrumented with ECH2O probes and leachate sampling plates. We are proposing to add thermocouples and tensiometers to the existing plots and to extend the number of instrumented plots to: 1. Nine plots with similar treatments in an existing experiment at the Snyder Research and Extension farm. 2. Nine new sites representative of three prevailing land uses in the Colts Neck watershed (see Task 2.3). Task 2.3 A detailed understanding of the hydrology of a watershed is a key in developing a water quality watershed model because if the flow is not properly calibrated, the fate and transport component of the water quality model will not make accurate predictions. The Colts Neck watershed will be characterized with the Arc View land use program with GPS-GIS, 2005 aerial photography of Monmouth County and verified software for computer modeling of system functions. Pressure transducers and temperature sensors will be deployed at five or six locations (selected based on land use ) in the Colts Neck watershed. This equipment will continuously record water depth and temperature to a data logger. The depth data will be used to determine flow at each location based upon a rating curve to be developed. The temperature will be needed to model the fate and transport of fecal coliform and E. coli in the system. The growth of these bacteria is highly dependent on temperature. The Rutgers Cooperative Extension (RCE) Water Resources Program already has an adequate supply of temperature sensors for this project and has several data loggers. Additional data loggers and pressures transducers will need to be purchased for this project. At the selected locations where water depth is being monitored by pressure transducers, the RCE Water Resources Program will measure flow ten times over various conditions to develop a rating curve that relates water depth to flow at each of the locations. These data will be needed to calibrate and validate a computer model of the watershed (Task 5.1). The RCE Water Resources Program already has the flow meters required to complete this task so there would be no cost for equipment in this task. Objective 3 Task 3.1 - Evaluate the impact of each of three manure storage methods ('static pile', uncovered composted pile, and a covered composted system) on the composition of leachate and runoff water generated by rainfall water percolating through piles of composted manure. Task 3.2 - Measure the transport of nutrients and other potential contaminants (including pathogens) moving below the root zone of land amended with horse manure. Task 3.3 - Assess the transport of nutrients and other potential contaminants (including pathogens) moving over the surface of the land amended with horse manure at the field and watershed scales. At the watershed scale, the source of pathogens will be identified. Methods Task 3.1 This task will be carried out on as part of the evaluation of the storage method of composted manure (see Task 1.2). Experiments will be conducted outside with three rainfall events occurring early, mid, and late in the composting process being sampled. Leachate and runoff will be collected and evaluated for various bacteriological parameters, total phosphates, ammonium-nitrogen, nitrate-nitrogen and total suspended solids. The appropriate statistical analysis will be conducted and environmental effects extrapolated to quantify the effects that a typical small or large horse farm at various slopes may have on water quality if best management practices for manure disposal are not followed. This information will be used in any future modeling exercise. Task 3.2 Subsurface water will be sampled using instrumentation and sites set up in relation to Task 2.2. Leachate sampling plates (SPG120, UMS) connected to a vacuum system (VS-pro, UMS) with a tensiometer (T8 200) will be used for continuous sampling of water moving towards the collection plates. Currently, two sets of vacuum pumps and leachate plates are available for this project, but at least three more sets are needed to monitor all the proposed sites. Each site will be continuously sampled for periods ranging from weeks to months (depending on the amount of water present in the soil). The collected water will be analyzed for nutrients and pathogens. Task 3.3 Surface (runoff) water from individual rainfalls will be collected from the sites established in relation to Tasks 2.2 and 2.3 using ISCO samplers (Model 6712). This task is designed to cover two scales (experimental plots and watershed) and to provide data to calibrate two system models (Task 5.1). Six ISCO samplers are available for this project and they will be rotated to cover all existing fields. There is no need to purchase more ISCO samplers. Experimental plots (Task 2.2): Over the year, six ISCO Automatic Samplers will be rotated to each of the replicates in this study so that six storms will be sampled, two for each set of replicates. In Years 2 and 3, nine storms would be sampled, three for each set of replicates. The samples will be analyzed for the nitrogen series, phosphorus, and total suspended solids. Additionally, during each sampling event, one grab sample will be collected for fecal coliform, E. coli, and bacteroides at each location. NJDEP sampling protocol requires bacteria samples to be collected as grab sample so the ISCO Automatic Sampler cannot be used to collect these samples. Colts Neck Watershed (Task 2.3): A minimum of three storms per year will be sampled. The samples will be analyzed for the same chemical described above. Two grab samples will be collected for fecal coliform, E. coli, and bacteroides at each location. The bacteroides samples will be analyzed by the Rutgers Biotech Center using quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to identify and quantify the different sources of bacteria in the stream. Methods of bacterial source identification in water and soil such as optical brightener detectors, Board of Health standards with membrane filtration, MAR and q-PCR will be compared as part of this task. Objective 4: Task 4.1 - Evaluate and measure the size distribution and mass concentration of airborne particles released from different bedding types used in equine operations. Task 4.2 - Measure and quantify the release of airborne particles during composting operations, especially during turning operations. Task 4.3 - Evaluate and measure the ammonia released and distributed from horse stalls and in and around storage facilities.
The existing literature will be reviewed and summarized to overview the current body of knowledge to identify the existing gaps in our understanding of environmental impacts on air quality related to equine operations. This information will be used to modify the experiments in Tasks 1 and 2. For the Task 1, the real-time instruments will be used monitor the particles released from different bedding types used in equine operations. Prior to the introduction of each bedding type, the background measurements will be taken for at least a few hours. To account for the variability of individual horses, the monitoring will be performed in stalls of different horses. The particle size distribution and particle mass concentration (total, PM 2.5, and PM10 fractions) will be analyzed as a function of different bedding type. During the Task 2, the particle monitors will be used to determine the release of particles during composting operations, especially during turning operations. The release will be evaluated at several different distances (5, 10, and 15m) and downwind at a prevailing wind direction (based on meteorological data). Prior to each measurement the background data will be collected. The particle size distribution and particle mass concentration (total, PM 2.5, and PM10 fractions) will be analyzed as a function of distance.

For Tasks 1 and 2, the size distribution and the count of released airborne particles will be measured by using an Optical Particle Counter Grimm 1.108 (Grimm Technologies Inc., Douglasville, GA). This high-quality instrument is available in Dr. Mainelis' lab and is capable of measuring airborne particles ranging from 0.3 to 20 ¼m in size in fifteen size channels. The measurements will be performed every minute and 15 min averages will be stored in the instruments' memory. Use of 15-min averages will allow operating the instrument continuously and without maxing out its memory capacity. The mass of released airborne particles as well as PM2.5 and PM10 mass size fractions will be determined by using DustTrak DRX Aerosol Monitor (TSI Inc., Shoreview, MN). This light-scattering instrument is capable of measuring the mass concentration of 0.1-15¼m particles ranging from 0.001-150 mg/m3.This is the only instrument in the market currently capable of measuring not only t he total particles mass, but also PM2.5 and PM10 mass fractions simultaneously. The device also allows for the gravimetric analysis of the data. This unique ability will provide comprehensive information about the particle mass during each measurement. This high-quality instrument is currently not available at Rutgers and will be acquired for this project. Objective 5: Task 5.1 - Using data collected during this project, develop a system-wide horse manure management model that estimates inputs and losses throughout the system. The model will help to determine where the system-wide inefficiencies are and where losses of nutrients to water, air, and soil occur.

Task 5.2 - A hydrological and a crop production model will be calibrated using the data collected throughout the duration of this project. Crop/biomass information, land surface, weather and soil data will be integrated with the numerical model EPIC (Erosion Productivity Impact Calculator), or similar, to investigate different management and environmental scenarios on crop production and soil erosion. Similarly the hydrological model (www.dhigroup.com/Software.aspx) will be calibrated for the Colts Neck watershed and used to investigate scenarios of land use change on the hydrology of the watershed, including the impact of equine operations at the watershed level. Task 5.3: Determine capital value of natural resources, water, soil and air, derived from equine acreage. The following information will be secured and used for developing a model. The model will be similar to the one show in Figure 1. 1. Determine average inputs from all sources. 2. Evaluate different equine systems. This will include housing, pasturing, exercising, training, etc. 3. Evaluate manure storage and disposal systems. This will include predictions of nutrient losses in different systems. 4. Evaluate cropping, pasturing, and erosion management in order to determine nutrient losses to water, soil, and air depending on the system. For example, winter cover crops are a great management tool because they will sequester both nitrogen and organic matter in the soil and provide soil cover in order to reduce runoff losses. 5. Model the topography including presence of water, wetlands, farm slopes, and other distinguishing features (eg. sinkholes) that may influence losses. 6. Using the best available data we will make a model that estimates inputs and losses throughout the system.

7. The Near Infrared Reflectance (NIR) database will provide estimates of N, P, and energy present in horse manure.

The goal will be to use this model to determine the areas of risk on horse farms and to monitor the effectiveness of Best Management Practices and other interventions.

Measurement of Progress and Results

Outputs

• Quantification of feeding, management, and stored manure characteristics on horse farms in order to determine effects on soil, water, and air
• Determinine the environmental impacts on soil quality related to equine operations
• Determinine the environmental impacts on water quality related to equine operations
• Determinine the environmental impacts on air quality related to equine operations
• Integrate data into a workable model about the environmental impacts of equine operations

Outcomes or Projected Impacts

• Improve adoption of strategies to reduce nitrogen and phosphorus in the diet of horses
• Optimize the huse of horse manure to improve soil quality
• Increase the implementation of Best Management Practices for manure management in order in improve water quality
• Increase the implementation of best stall management practices or storage managment practices in order to improve air quality in and around equine barnyards
• Use the integrated model to determine the effects of management practices on equine farms

Milestones

(2010): <ol><li>Complete phosphorus feeding studies <li>Complete bedding and stall air quality study <li>Initiate composting study using different types of bedding <li>Initiate soil quality studies with plot preparation - manure application</ol>

(2011): <ol><li>Complete nitrogen feeding studies <li>Complete composting study - monitor air quality <li>Continue soil quality studies - manure application as needed <li>Soil, plant and water sampling in watersheds</ol>

(2012): <ol><li>Continue watershed sampling <li>Continue soil quality studies <li>Continue air quality monitoring studies</ol>

(2013): <ol><li>Complete watershed sampling <li>Complete soil quality studies <li>Complete air quality monitoring studies <li>Begin model development</ol>

(2014): <ol><li>Continue model development <li>Plan for followup</ol>

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Outreach Plan

Develop strategies to promote proper management on equine farms to improve soil, air, and water quality.

A. Literature: interim reports, final reports, case studies, model studies, technical publications, equine magazine articles, state and local newspapers deliver information.

B. Farm tours for equine owners, farm managers, trail riders, horse enthusiasts and interested stakeholders provides visualization and hands-on demonstrations.

C. Informational meetings to brief County personnel, municipal officials, environmental commissions, environmental organizations and stakeholders citizens via executive summaries and recommendations.

D. Seminars for educational outreach to the American Horse Council, and individual state Horse Councils, state Farm Bureaus, state Departments of Agriculture and Environmental protection, miscellaneous state equine organizations.

E. Website development to educate producers through eXtension and other web venues using PowerPoints with detailed notes, voice-overs and etc. Several members of this regional project are also participants (and in leadership positions) in the eXtension COPs Horse Quest and the Livestock Poultry Environmental Learning Center. We will use WIKI pages, chats, webcasts, online courses, and other available modes of instruction. The Livestock Poultry Environmental Learning Center currently has a section for research reports from other regional projects to be submitted; we will submit our research results to this section.

F. Construct field demonstrations of best management practices at participating institutions including manure storage and composting areas, pasture management, water quality BMP's, etc.

G. Create educational exhibits (models, posters, etc.) indoors related to applied research results throughout participating institutions.

Organization/Governance

This regional project is initiated by Rutgers University and the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station.

The following individuals at Rutgers University are involved in Equine Environmental and Management Research. Michael Westendorf, Ph.D., Department of Animal Science Carey A. Williams, Ph.D., Department of Animal Science Karyn Malinowski, Ph.D., Department of Animal Science Daniel Gimenez, Ph.D., Department of Environmental Science Christopher C. Obropta, Ph.D, P.E., Department of Environmental Science Gedi Maenelis, Ph.D., Department of Environmental Science Stephanie Murphy, Ph.D., Soil Testing Laboratory, New Brunswick, NJ. Bill Sciarappa, Ph.D., County Agricultural and Resource Management Agents Steve Komar, County Agricultural and Resource Management Agents Bill Bamka, County Agricultural and Resource Management Agents

In addition, we have agreed to cooperate with the individuals at the following institutions:

Betsy Greene Ph.D. University of Vermont, Department of Animal Science Amy Burke Ph.D.. University of Maryland, Department of Animal and Avian Sciences Ann M. Swinker Ph.D.. Pennsylvania State University, Department of Dairy and Animal Science The recommended Standard Governance for multistate research activities including the election of a Chair, a Chair-elect, and a Secretary. All officers will be elected for at least two-year terms to provide continuity. Administrative guidance will be provided by an assigned Administrative Advisor and a CSREES Representative. The following subcommittee/research teams will be chosen:

1. Dietary management
2. Manure effects on soil quality
3. Water Quality
4. Air Quality
5. Modelling

Literature Cited

Literature Airaksinen, S., Heiskanen, M., and Heinonen-Tanski, H., (2007) Contamination of surface run-off water and soil in two horse paddocks Bioresource Technology 98 (9), pp. 1762-1766. Angel, R. C., W. J. Powers, T. J. Applegate, N. T. M. Tamim, and M. C. Christman. 2005. Influence of Phytase on Water-Soluble Phosphorus in Poultry and Swine Manure. J. Environ. Qual. 34:563-571. Atwill E.R., L. Hou, B.M. Karle, T. Harter, K.W. Tate, and R.A. Dahlgren. 2002. Transport of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts through vegetated buffer strips and estimated filtration efficiency. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. Nov;68(11):5517-27. Azevedo, J. and P. R. Stout. (1974) Farm animal manures: An overview of their role in the agricultural environment. California Agr. Exp. Station Extension Service, Manual 44, pp. 109. Baxter-Potter, W. R. and M. W. Gilliland, (1988) Bacterial Pollution in Runoff From Agricultural Lands. Journal of Environmental Quality 17(1) pp. 27-34. Bellows B. 2001. Nutrient Cycling in Pastures. National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. ATTRA Publication #IP136/49. Carpenter, S. R., N. F. Caraco, D. L. Correll, R. W. Howarth, A. N. Sharpley, and V. H. Smith. (1998) Nonpoint pollution of surface waters with phosphorus and nitrogen. Ecological Applications 8 pp.559-568. Crane, S. R., J. A. Moore, M. E. Grismer, J. R. Miner, (1983) Bacterial Pollution From Agricultural Sources: A review. Transactions of the ASAE 26(3) pp. 858-866. Crowther, J., Kay, D., Wyer, M.D., (2002) Faecal-indicator concentrations in waters draining lowland pastoral catchments in the UK: relationships with land use and farming practices. Water Research 36, pp. 17251734. Edwards, D. R., P. A. Moore, S. R. Workman, and E. L. Bushee. 1999. Runoff of metals from alum-treated horse manure and municipal sludge. Journal of the American Water Resources Association 35:155-165. Ferreras, L., E. Gomez, S. Toresani, I. Firpo, and R. Rotondo. 2006. 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