Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

NCCC-9 2014 Annual Meeting Notes Thursday May 15, 2014 Attendees (20) – K. Janni, J. Ni, S. Rahmen, E. Cortus, K. Hellevang, P. Murphy, A. Schmidt, K. Walker, B. Larson, R. Stowell, L. Jacobsen, Z. Liu, R. Cooke, D. Anderson, C. Hay, M. Hanna, Morgan, T. Scherer, J. Zulovich. K. Heleji, J. Lawrence, D. Huyser Bill Koening visitor Welcome and Introductions Objectives and Expected Outcomes • Focus of the group is to establish collaborations and try to coordinate projects, materials etc. • New objective No. 5 – explores engineering expertise to make recommendations for needed expertise in the region Update from Brad Rein – USDA NIFA • Difficult year due to funding reductions, 10% reduction from farm bill, 7% through rescission, 2% other • B. Rein was acting director for bioenergy environment and climate institute June 2013-Feb 2014 • 2014 budget back to or above 2012 levels, $1.43 billion in 2014 and $1.5 billion in 2015 • Funding opportunities, challenge areas some adjustments in 2014, continuations grants, sustainable bioenergy production no additional funds this year due to budget mortgages but may have some availability in 2015 • NEW Water for agriculture grants opportunity • How to balance portfolio – reduce CAP project funding and increase funding to foundational funding • 60% of AFRI funding go to basic funding • New program, critical agriculture research and extension, No. 7 in the foundational program, critical problems that affect agricultural production, focus on industry/producer issues, LOI due June 4, 2014 • Exploratory program – small funding line, high risk/high reward projects • Farm bill – crop research initiative jumped up to $80 million per year, $25 million focused on citrus • Decrease in biomass research and development initiative funding $30 million to $3 million per year • 2015 proposal is online • Feedback – he reads reports we put out, helpful to identify impacts and outcomes used to develop formula base, most important is what we want to work on collectively and outcomes Kathy Walker MWPS Report • Self-supporting, Iowa State holding debt • Focus on peer-reviewed publications • Established in 1929, first plans 1933, first book of plans published 1959 • Available online, phone, or in person • FY 2013 – gained $8k, reduced by same amount in 2014 • Funding flatline, created by semester schedules and small runs sent to bookstores • Creative promotional rescue – conventions and shows were not effective advertising, by joining PRAM was able to increase search engine optimization (SEO) • Any ideas of redefining keywords please • Use incognito window to look for sites (does not use previous knowledge/cookies) • Google analytics – 80% new visitors, majority of users are young, do have international orders due to new shipping practices • Facebook page – increase traffic, send information you would like K. Walker to post • Additional revenue from grant money for fact sheets (11 of 25 completed) • Grain drying, handling, and storage in production by December 2014, editor and illustrator appointed using grant money • June 23, 2014 moving to new building • Most are still using their universities system for fact sheet production • R. Stowell – clear trend that we need to design information to be accessed on a personal device • Reflective design – assure that the entire set of data can be visible on a small screen, sometimes can be difficult with various drawings etc. • Still a need for printed publication and other modes of communication • Our primary audience is not necessarily producers, Balancing Expectations • NCCC-09 and regional collaboration allow us to produce better products together • Purdue developed document on scholarship of extension, includes definition of how impacts should be defined, provided to all faculty in the college (with and without extension appointments), will provide to others • Impact reporting – materials would be useful on the metrics people use for reporting particularly assigning economic value to impacts, need to assess how we report including what is important and accuracy vs time spent to develop information • Quarterly call material focus on professional development – e.g. impact reporting, communication techniques Facilitating Collaboration • Multi-state collaboration and completion of projects • What doesn’t – lack of communication, common goals but unclear individual contributions, no clear goals • Collaboration typically takes longer than you are going to do it yourself • Keys for collaboration – (1) need a champion, (2) everybody on the team has to put the team goal first, (3) resources to get the job done (this includes the available time to complete the tasks), (4) metrics for success and outlining roles, (5) frequent communication, (6) need face-to-face contact, (7) objectives and goals are specific and feasible, (8) project needs to align with personal/individual goals • Values of collaboration – • Projects work with align with research you are already conducting • Increasing breadth with people • When to dissolve a collaboration – sometimes issues/goals are resolved and the collaboration Water project – T. Scherer • North central region water center developed (northcentralwater.org) • RFA out for extension programs, 7 areas – due June 13, 2014 • Planning projects • Program delivery projects • Professional development for extension professionals Topic group meetings • manure group – manure utilization, anaerobic digestion • grain drying efficiency & energy efficiency • water – sub irrigation, infiltration grassed filters • livestock – and energy use in livestock facilities Friday, May 16 John Lawrence • 5 year project approved with minor revisions • USDA budget fairly well intact, not a lot of new money but not a lot of cuts • Correct integrated report form which shows collaboration and impacts • Federal numbers for extension restored most of the hits that occurred during the sequester, state level has been area which has received most of the cuts • Formula funds remain the same, capacity building is in competitive grants, research to integrated • Make recommendations about what expertise is needed on a regional basis, including which states have a leadership in one area and need to continue that position or if a group of states need to have at least one position filled in a specific topic area • Iowa state and Wisconsin shared a faculty position, took two years to get approved and another year to get it hired (housed in one and funded by both) • Any information which can aid in hiring is useful • What about the pool of candidates? States pulling back funds for graduate students which are working for the system, now all students are tied to a grant, there are no flexible people in the system so no one is trained on the issues, this is a reality, end up stealing people from each other • Potential to take post doctoral students with grant funding to educate on extension materials • Projects with research/teaching/extension should have parallel extension programming occurring not just on the research, do not wait for the completion of the research • Large grants can be run by extension people, interesting to see what the extension outcomes of those grants are Topic Group Reports • manure group – manure utilization, anaerobic digestion – • long term goal to develop research based manure management materials, possibly MWPS18-4 • short terms goals to develop public manure materials • apply documents to many places, never can have to many abstracts house full information in one spot • clients do not care about where the information comes from, it is the University that requires the branding • grain drying efficiency & energy efficiency – Midwest plan service 13, revising handbook by end of the year, Ken was the champion NC 213 had funding, had old materials to revise, challenge is to be on target and communicate frequently, meeting in Quebec to update the status of the project, Kathy has helped to keep project moving and by the end of the year hopefully we can get a document finalized, how do we put together a group to measure the energy efficiency of various grain dryers, helps inform farmers of what the efficiencies are – many farmers receiving reap funding for grain dryer replacements, need a standard methodology for comparing systems • soil and water – drainage and irrigation (Scherer) – big issue is the basics of dual purpose/sub surface drainage – questions on how to design these systems – biofilters for reducing nitrogen are becoming increasingly – publication needed for these designs, primarily target audience is tile installers and NRCS agents, not a large publication, still need to determine the method of delivery, start with chapters from Michigan State book designed a few decades ago – contact many who have worked in the area to see if they want to participate in writing, Sherer is the champion, industry collaborators may be available for money (Princeco, ADS, Agridrain) • estimates for publication costs through MWPS? • Animal agriculture & facilities – energy use and animal ag buildings – ASHRAE wanted information for Ag buildings for LEED materials, LCA work has been done at Arkansas to look at carbon footprints of production and energy assessments – Minnesota conducting comprehensive energy use for dairy and swine – monthly conference call generate some content, develop a news release, each develop a monthly piece, include water & energy • Are renewable energy systems driven by tax credits or do they make sense otherwise – is their information out there available for others to see how these are impacted? Utilities drive a lot of these distributed energy projects, what are the options for users? List Collaborating Organizations (commodity groups, etc.) • Groups where we are meeting o 4-state dairy o Minnkota Argi-building o NCR 217 – drainage water management, taskforce coordinate with industry and those implementing drainage systems o Tri-state dairy o I29 – south Dakota and Minnesota dairy group o Midwest rural energy council – Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, ND? o NC 213 – grain, predominately university but have some industry people o S 1032 – multistate sustainability for animal agriculture o SE-412 – manure management o LPELC – meet by phone monthly, face-to-face one year o North American Manure EXPO planning committee o Heartland water quality committees o North central water education network o National pork board and environment and community o Dairy management Inc. o Pork board extension educators committee o Irrigation association o Certified crop consultants o Custom manure applicators o State livestock associations o Aerial applicators o State Agribusiness cooperative groups o State feed and grain associations, Indiana corn council • Groups we meet with Status of Agricultural Engineering Leads for Ohio (Linng), SD (add one more person), Missouri (Joe), Illinois (Molly), and Indiana (Jinqin Ni and Klien) identified, divide into categories – air quality, complete density maps and outline deficits Communicating with Administrators Engineering needs • Research information not available for many things • Water quantity issues • What is private industry providing and are they doing a good job? • Need to keep in mind a broad focus when thinking of engineering needs and then set priorities • Energy systems • Urban agricultural design • Traditional production agriculture versus emerging engineering issues • We are hiring emerging issues engineers but do notnecessarily have an extension appointment • Ecological engineering for urban areas • Aquaponics • Push at Illinois for ALL colleges/departments to have extension Unmet Clientele needs • Post-harvest • Farm safety • Precision ag and machinery systems • Human or residential housing, particularly in the emergency situations (e.g. flooding) • Field storage • General support of GPS, GIS • Structures – specifically livestock facilities • No FTE capacity for fires, not as much topic capacity but FTE capacity • Impacts (livestock, human health, environment) from oil and gas Benefits received from engineering extension and research • Systems evaluation – combine multiple disciplines • Unbiased research and science based information, may be losing some research capacity for applied research or no available documented research • Decision making tools - with good engineering information they can also make better economic decisions • Troubleshooting information • Environmental and personal safety that industry may not provide • Provide certification programs and professional development • Information on current regulations • Information on current technology development and performance • Research – gives you new technology, extension relays the information Effects of Clientele on not having specific extension expertise • Go to private industry for information • They do not know what they do not know – if information is not out there people make assumptions and they do things incorrectly or it may have negative impacts • Things are not properly adapted to the local conditions, designs from other areas may not be suitable for all areas • Is there public good in people making informed decisions? Some people believe the market should just be set free • People go straight to the internet • Credibility is important – must be engaged, just putting some on the internet will not give you credibility Effects on specialists • Spend a lot of time answering questions that are not in area of expertise, if you do not answer the question then you are labeled as uncooperative or not knowledgeable • As it is easier to find people with expertise, we become inundated with requests from a wide area base, reaching out to other specialists for help is not realistic if they are not located in a nearby state Current publications • Issues with outdated materials, impact on creditability • If you don’t have a comprehensive design piece you have to collect a large number of documents or you need to take the time to walk through the design with someone • Spend time in teaching when you are trying to fill a hole in which publications do not cover • Revisions versus new publications are not viewed equally, need to identify what amount of detail you contributed, we are receiving mixed messages about this Extension or Other Administration • Constantly needing to prioritize where the need is the greatest, rely on input from an organized process, so without a commodity group pressuring that the expertise is needed then it does not become a high priority • Emerging issues are ranked higher than more classic production ag positions, production ag does not necessarily have the availability of research dollars that are needed to hire the position • Balance for extension with teaching/research can be difficult in some places as reports or pressures on policy makers is typically on teaching • We are no longer training people in many areas of production agriculture • We have to look at what administrator you are talking about as they have different messages and priorities How are we letting administrators know the importance of our programs? • Giving stakeholders the information of who to contact in administration to let them know the importance of some positions, you need to ask for a specific message to be relayed • Build a position with other departments, joint-appointments can be ranked higher than positions from one department • Within the department need to hold seminars on extension related information (not just teaching or research), let administration know when an activity or presentation is occurring so at least they are aware of the programs/activities you are conducting • Make sure administrators are aware of positive ongoing work, make appointments, send reports, cc them on emails of events Business Meeting • Update on committee renewal – 5 year renewal, North central coordinating committee, suggestions and comments on review were mostly editorial, will be addressed within the appropriate timeframe • State Reports - Annual report will be sent out, each state will need to provide information on their activities, particularly for multi-state, request to have completed by the end of May • Secretary election – official term starts October 1, Amy Schmidt nominated and has accepted for incoming secretary, motion (Joe/shafi), all in favor, congratulations Amy! • Next year’s meeting face-to-face – in May 2014 next year after finals, coordinate with a tour, Syngenta next here near, finished Iowa state facilities, in Des Moines again next year • Quarterly calls 12:15 Adjourn (box lunch)

SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS AND OUTCOMES NCCC-9 Collaborations NCCC-9 members participated in and continue to participate in numerous collaborative efforts within the region. These include projects targeted by NCCC-9 active work teams covering the topic areas of manure, grain drying and energy efficiency, soil and water, and animal agriculture and facilities. These groups meet monthly by phone call and work on developing extension materials that are useable by the region increasing collaboration and productivity, strengthening unified messages, and reducing the resource demand on extension personnel. The collaborations of the NCCC-9 include more specifically: 1. NCCC-9 Quarterly Conference Calls NCCC-9 successfully continued to hold quarterly teleconferences. During each teleconference people were invited to present on an extension program that was recently completed, produced significant outcomes, or was timely to recent events. Each presentation provided opportunity for discussion and was recorded for later viewing. Quarterly conference calls were also used to provide update on Midwest Plan Service materials and ideas for collaboration. Outcomes: Presentations made during the year addressed: • Flooding and grain storage (Ken Hellevang, North Dakota State University) • Animal Agriculture and Climate Change (David Schmidt, University of Minnesota) 2. Grain Drying and Storage In addition to many farmers in central North Dakota not having experience in drying corn, farmers and extension staff in Wisconsin, Michigan, Montana, Wyoming and other states also sought technical assistance from the NDSU Extension Service. Outcomes: A grain drying and storage educational program was conducted that included 18 seminars or webinars; 25 media interviews; news releases that were used across the region; articles distributed to ND, SD and MN Extension agents, grain equipment manufacturers and dealers across the country, grower/farmer organizations (commodity groups); and some 260 telephone and e-mail consultations. Presentations in other states in cooperation with their extension service. • Billings, MT - Barley Storage, • Rutgers, N.J. - Soybean Drying and Storage, • Crookston, MN - Corn Drying and Storage • Thief River Falls, MN - Corn Drying and Storage • NCR SARE Webinar - Energy Efficient Grain Drying, Participants in several states • Willmar, MN - Grain Dryer Operation and Grain Storage, • Huntley, MT – Drying and Storing Malting Barley • Powell, WY - Drying and Storing Malting Barley 3. Minnkota Builders Conference Minnesota and South Dakota organized the 2014 meeting of the Minnkota Builders and Equipment Association in Granite Falls, MN. Outcomes: The meeting provided consultants, builders, and equipment suppliers with current information about calf housing issues, an update on manure pit foaming research and outreach efforts, beef confinement housing systems, a preview of new swine and beef cow/calf research facilities being planned at South Dakota State University, summary of livestock (dairy/swine) and whole farm energy projects that are starting at the U of MN West Central Research and Outreach Center (WCROC), and updates on animal (swine) barn energy audits. Finally, an update on the severe problem with the Porcine Epidemic Diarrhea virus (PEDV) for Midwest and the U.S. pork industry by a local veterinarian. 4. Ventilation Workshops Extension engineers and animal scientists in MN, IA, SD and NE continue to deliver workshops for barn managers and pig caretakers to address the need for improved understanding and management of mechanical ventilation systems in swine buildings. This year engineers from MO helped present a workshop in MO. A mobile ventilation laboratory was used to demonstrate mechanical ventilation principles, fan interactions, inlet behaviors and controller performance. Funds for the mobile lab were provided by the pork producer organizations in the four states. Outcomes: Twelve workshops were held in the four-state region this year with more than 240 participants. 5. Biofilter Research and Conference IL, MO, and SD collaborations on biofilter research includes long-term bench-scale experiments which showed the effects of cycling media moisture content on ammonia mitigation and nitrous oxide production, indicating time-varying changes in the microbial populations that exist in media biofilms. The moisture sensing and control device was modeled, a new prototype rebuilt, and extensive testing was performed in various biofilter media under a variety of moisture conditions. Two novel biofilter containers were constructed at the University of Illinois Ag Engineering Farm. Construction time-and-materials studies were conducted to estimate economic viability of each type of biofilter container and subsystem. Iowa organized a Biofilter Conference in 2014 with speakers from Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Minnesota and South Dakota. Outcomes: South Dakota State University and University of Missouri have further experience with the large-scale vertical biofilter container installed at a commercial farm with the cooperation of the farm staff. Biofilter fact sheets were posted at the eXtension Livestock/Air Quality community of practice website. The Biofilter Conference was held at Iowa State University for animal feeding operation owners and managers, Extension field specialists, staff with commodity organizations, NRCS and state regulatory agencies. The conference introduced people to biofilters and their use to mitigate emissions from animal feeding operations, factors to consider when designing systems and whether to use them, and provide additional sources of biofilter information. 6. Air Emissions Rates for Swine Finishing Researchers from Missouri and Indiana analyzed and reported emission rates from various livestock facilities, and developed emission models based on latest data set. Emission rates of ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and dust, from Indiana and North Carolina, were analyzed and applied to develop emission models. The models estimate daily and annual emission rates for commercial facilities with similar production characteristics, and based on local weather station data. Outcomes: Emission models based on the Indiana and North Carolina database were developed. New swine finishing emission model website was setup and being improved. The website is user friendly and shows daily and annual emission rates, and figures that illustrate the emission rate variations at different growth stage and time of the year. 7. AFO Air Emissions Monitoring and Outreach Minnesota is collaborating with research and extension faculty at Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota on a USDA NIFA-funded integrated project on airborne emissions from animal feeding operations. Outcomes: Six videos for public policy makers, regulators, producers, owners, managers and interested citizens were produced. The videos were posted on the on the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center website. Online surveys indicate that people watching the videos increase their knowledge by watching the videos. 8. Climate Change A national project team including Nebraska, Washington, Texas, Georgia, New York, and Minnesota is collaborating on a funded (NIFA) Extension project addressing Animal Agriculture and Climate Change. The project aims to build up extension capacity in this topic area through provision of educational resources via the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center [eXtension] and professional development offered via regional programs. Outcomes: Working groups assessed needs and are planning programming within each of five regions in the U.S. Minnesota leads efforts in the Midwest and is involving several NCCC-9 members (ex. Indiana, Iowa, Ohio and Missouri) in the Midwest working group. An online course was developed and has been used by 150 individuals nationwide to provide baseline continuing education for extension educators and other producer advisers. A second Waste-to-Worth Conference is being planned for the spring of 2015 in Seattle, WA to bring together leading experts in the field and disseminate current information to a national extension audience. 9. Sustainable Dairy A national project team including Wisconsin, New York and Pennsylvania among other states is collaborating on a funded (CAP) project addressing dairy sustainability. This project team is also coordinating with others from the climate change team described above. The objective of the extension component of this project is to increase available educational materials and provide useful producer tools to increase sustainable practices within the dairy industry. Outcomes: The extension team is helping to develop a number of conferences over the next 3 years concerning sustainable dairy practices throughout the Midwest and Great Lakes region. Tools and other educational materials on management practices, technology, and economic impacts of sustainable dairying are to be available on the eXtension LPELC site. 10.National Air Quality Site-Assessment Tool (NAQSAT) Faculty from Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota contributed to the revision and updating of NAQSAT. Outcomes: NAQSAT is a free and confidential online tool that animal feeding operators and managers can use to assess the impact of common animal feeding operation practices and alternatives on emissions from their operation. ? 11. Flood Preparation and Recovery North Dakota and Missouri are collaborating on a NIFA Special Needs grant that is providing funding for a National Extension Disaster Education Network project that has compiled technical resources for both EDEN and eXtension related to preparation and recovery from flooding. Having peer reviewed science and research based resources compiled in subject matter groups will save Extension educators a great deal of time as they prepare for flood response. The project also clarified roles for extension staff during the phases of a flood and recovery. Outcomes: Information and resources were provided at EDEN and eXtension in a timely manner for use throughout affected areas in the Midwest. 12. Drainage Research Forum (Annual) University of Minnesota and Iowa State University Extension have collaborated for 15 years in conducting the Drainage Research Forum. South Dakota State Extension joined the collaboration in 2011. Host institution rotates annually. Outcomes: The annual event is typically attended by 100 state agency and university affiliates, conservation staff, and agricultural professionals. The event is a forum where current work is presented and ideas for new projects are cultivated. 13. Extension Drainage Design and Water Management Workshops An annual series of four 2-day workshops were conducted by the University of Minnesota Extension (lead institution), North Dakota State University Extension and South Dakota State University Extension on designing and installing field tile. Outcomes: A total of 180 farmers, industry people and government agency personnel were trained in the basics of tile drainage design. Two to Three hundred drainage contractors and farmer-installers attend these events annually. The consistently say that they are more prepared to consider water management alternatives and conservation practices aimed at reducing the unwanted effects of artificial drainage systems. 14. NCERA-217 - Drainage Design and Management Practices to Improve Water Quality In existence since 2004, this committee includes about 20 official members who represent 12 states and two government agencies. Annual meetings focus on presentation and discussion of current research and Extension work, and additionally feature a mini-symposium to highlight an area of work. Outcomes: The Committee has helped to lead a regional NRCS CIG grant that led a special issue publication in the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation on the yield and water quality benefits of drainage water management in the Midwest. Collaborative relationships of Committee members were instrumental in development of a successful Coordinated Agriculture Project funded by USDA titled “Climate Change, Mitigation, and Adaptation In Corn-Based Cropping Systems” through USDA-NIFA A3101 Regional Approaches to Climate Change Cropping systems: cereal production systems (corn). This project involves Committee members from four states across the Midwest. The Committee has been instrumental in the development of NRCS Interim Conservation Standards #739 “Vegetated Subsurface Drain Outlet” and #747 “Denitrifying Bioreactor” and Conservation Practice Standard #554 “Drainage Water Management”. 15. Irrigation Workshop A 2-day irrigation pumping plant efficiency workshop was conducted as a joint effort between North Dakota, Arkansas, Louisiana and Arizona. Outcome: Trained about 90 NRCS personnel from 12 states. 16. Energy Education and Outreach Iowa, North Dakota, Wisconsin, South Dakota and Minnesota have contributed to various renewable energy and farm energy conservation extension programs underway in the Midwest. Members from WI, IA and MN participate as ex-offico members on the board of directors of the Midwest Rural Energy Council (MREC). MREC holds an annual educational conference Outcomes: Contributing NCCC-9 members have produced fact sheets, webinars, You Tube videos, and other web content related to grain drying and storage for corn, barley, and sunflowers; swine housing and manure digestion. One of the upcoming quarterly NCCC-9 conference calls (Sept 2014) will focus on energy Extension programming. 17. National AgrAbility Indiana is host to the National AgrAbility Project which serves 24 state and regional projects and provides limited assistance in all states through the www.agrability.org website, toll free assistance line and regional workshops. Participating states included Indiana, Minnesota, Vermont, North Carolina, New York, Missouri, Maine, Kentucky, Utah, Delaware, Ohio, Oklahoma and Wisconsin. Outcomes: AgrAbility National Training Workshop was held to address issues of disability in agriculture. It improved client enrollment, assistive technology resources, and individuals learned about research and extension materials and programs of interest to others attending the workshop. 18. Robotic Milking Surveys Wisconsin, Iowa and Minnesota have collaborated on robotic milking surveys. Outcomes: Survey results will provide date for Extension and outreach programming activities to provide robotic milking system users with science-based information. Iowa State Extension had developed an online spreadsheet to help interested producers analyze the economics of robotic milking as they investigate the new technology. 19. Manure Pit Foaming Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska are continuing to collaborate on research to combat excessive foaming in swine deep manure pits. A reduced frequency of excessive foaming in manure pits has been observed in all these states. The reasons for this reduction are not completely understood but may be due to management changes such as the addition of RumensinTM to the pits after pumping in the fall and/or spring or to changes in the pig's diets, or other unknown reasons. Studies are still being conducted to determine foaming causes, come up with safe management strategies, and find possible long-term solutions. Outcomes: A team of university and industry personnel representing a broad spectrum of experience and capabilities were addressing the problem. Extension articles and safety information were conveyed across the region to help address short-term concerns. 20. Beef Finishers Bedded-Pack Planning Specifications Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota are continuing collaborative work to develop planning specifications for bedded-pack beef barns. Bedded-pack barns (solid manure) are presently sized based upon manure production and storage figures for liquid manure systems. As a result, many regulation-driven designs are oversized and inefficient. Outcomes: State universities and agencies will work together to collect field data and experiences to improve the beef unit planning procedures. MWPS material is newly implemented into undergraduate coursework: TSM 371 Residential Housing course. Required textbook: The House Handbook. MidWest Plan Service (MWPS) – 16. 21. North American Manure EXPO [MO, OK, WI, PA, AR, and OH] Missouri and Oklahoma co-chaired the 2014 North American Manure Expo, July 8-9, 2014. The theme of the Expo was “Valuing Manure and the Environment”, and the Expo was held at the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds in Springfield, MO. Outcomes: The two day event brought together over 70 vendors, and Extension and research personnel from various states, including Missouri, Oklahoma, Wisconsin, Arkansas, Pennsylvania, and Canada to offer short classes and demonstrations relating to nutrient management and environmental protection. The Expo participant came from various states of U.S., and the countries of Canada, Argentina, Germany, and China. The first Expo day featured new and improved manure storage agitation demonstration, wastewater treatment process and biosolids as valuable fertilizer with precision field mapping. The Expo also offered side by side demonstrations of liquid and solid manure injectors and spreaders, manure equipment and management displays, and presentations of experts on manure management in educational seminars. There were presentation and demonstration on manure gas safety and manure spill management at the end of the Expo. 22. Horse Manure Composting Illinois and Wisconsin are collaborating on a project to improve utilization of horse manure in the Chicago and Milwaukee multi-county areas by composting, thus diverting manure from landfills. A composting demonstration site was set up in Wisconsin, and workshops have been held for composting cooperators. Outcomes: One waste hauler who has a horse farm manure disposal route is collaborating so far, diverting manure to a composting site. 23. Vegetative Treatment Systems for Feedlot Runoff Research results at sites across four states served as the basis to inform producers, designers and consultants about the merits and needs of vegetative treatment systems for managing runoff from open feedlots. Outcomes: Materials are in development to equip engineers and industry consultants with information to design and manage vegetative treatment systems for managing runoff from open lots. 24. Technical Service Provider (TSP) Training Illinois is coordinating the second year of TSP training for developing comprehensive nutrient management plans (CNMP) for livestock producers. TSPs work with livestock producers and typically write several nutrient management plans each year. Outcomes: In addition to Illinois TSPs, this course was recently approved by the National Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide training to all TSP who need certification. 25. Erosion Control Research and Training Center The Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE) at the University of Illinois has teamed with state and federal organizations to develop a facility that will provide research and training opportunities in erosion and sediment control and storm-water management. The Erosion Control Research and Training Center was originally created under a research project administered by the Illinois Center for Transportation (ICT), with in-kind contributions from the Illinois Land Improvement Contractor’s Association (ILICA). ICT is an innovative partnership between the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the University of Illinois. ICT administers IDOT’s contract research program, which is funded using IDOT’s federal State Planning and Research funds. Prasanta Kalita, an agricultural engineer with ABE, was a co-investigator for the project, along with Niels Svendsen and Heidi Howard of the Construction Engineering Research Laboratory (CERL) of the Army Corps of Engineers. The team has received continued funding from IDOT for additional studies. Outcomes: Trainees have learned improved techniques and materials for erosion control on and around highway construction projects. 26. MWPS Publications NCCC-009 members coordinate the review and revision of existing Midwest Plan Service (MWPS) publications and the writing of new materials. Outcomes: Two new publications were published this year. A few MWPS publications were prioritized as warranting revision and select new publications were identified for development at the annual meeting.

NCCC-9 member led efforts to produce two new publications published by MWPS. They include: • Wiring Handbook for Rural Facilities (MWPS-28 4th edition), 92 pages, Technical Editor L. Stetson 2013. • Dairy Freestall Housing and Equipment (MWPS-7 8th edition), 226 pages, B. Holmes, N. Cook, T. Funk, R. Graves, D. Kammel, D. Reinemann and J. Zulovich. 2013. Other Publications representing the work conducted by those from NCCC-9 include: • Successful Soybean Storage, New Jersey Soybean Board Newsletter. Drying and Storing Wet Soybeans co-authored with Mike Staton, Senior Soybean Educator, Michigan State University Extension • Frequently Asked Questions about Subsurface (Tile) Drainage. Jointly authored by representatives from North Dakota, South Dakota and Minnesota. • Hellevang, Kenneth and Pedersen, Carl. Home Envelope: an energy guide to help you keep the outside out and the inside in - AE1616. NDSU Extension Service, 44 pages. http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/landing-pages/home-farm/home-envelope-ae-1616. • Hellevang, Kenneth. Keep Your Home Healthy - AE1204 8 pgs. NDSU Extension Service, http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/landing-pages/home-farm/keep-your-home-healthy-ae1204. • Hellevang, Kenneth. Heating Farm Shops, AE 1620. NDSU Extension Service. http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/publications/landing-pages/home-farm/heating-farm-shops-ae-1620. • Regional Cooperative Education. Structures Impacted by Drought - Market Journal. University of Nebraska – Lincoln. http://extensiontv.unl.edu/v/2407, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9gqk2ORhYY. • Mold a Problem for Flood-Damaged Homes, Colorado Matters, Colorado Public Radio. http://www.cpr.org/news/story/mold-problem-flood-damaged-homes. • USDA Radio: Preparing the Farmstead for Flooding. http://audioarchives.oc.usda.gov/radnewsfeaturedetail.asp?ID=3521.