Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

NCCC-09 Annual Meeting

May 18-19, 2016

Ames, IA

Minutes

Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Meeting called to order by Becky Larson at 1:05 p.m.

Introductions by attendees

Present: Becky Larson – U of WI (Chair), Amy Schmidt – UNL (Vice Chair), Morgan Hayes – U of IL, Dana Kirk – MI State, Tom Scherer – NDSU, Larry Jacobson – U of MN, Kevin Janni – U of MN (Past Chair), Paul Tanger – USDA-NIFA, Kathy Walker – IA State, Steve Thomson – USDA NPL

Joining via Distance: Ken Hellevang – SDSU, Joe Zulovich – Mizzou, Teng Lim – Mizzou

Update from Steven Thomson, NPL

• Funding increases proposed for FY 2017 for a number of programs
• NSF Initiated Collaboration – National Robotics Initiative (NRI); NSF receives proposals, then sorted into panels based on topics
• Comment made that extension ag engineers are really the ones delivering technology info to producers so programs funded at the national level need to have an engineering component to facilitate the distribution of research findings to stakeholders
• CARE program is where some of these ag engineering-related projects may need to be directed
• Funding for graduate students: National Needs Fellowship (NNF) – Research and Extension (proposal hint: indicate enough senior faculty; make sure their roles are clear and not “tacked on”; check the web for dates…last year’s deadline was August 19, 2015)
• Efforts for Outreach/Extension: Doctoral and Post Doc; AFRI-CARE; Food and Nutrition; Others

Reporting Discussion by Paul Tanger

(Paul’s position is a two-year appointment to target specific needs within the NIFA program.)

• Why report outcomes and impacts? Satisfy funding agencies, justify the investment of public and private funds, increase visibility, and build credibility and support – Clear reporting of outcomes and impacts is an essential component of effective science communication.
• How does NIFA use outcomes and impacts? Who reads them?
  • Impact documents and annual reports, impact spotlight stories (essentially a blog) – “NIFA Impact” website; graphical handouts; congressional testimony by Sonny Ramaswamy
  • Stories about our work should evoke an emotion rather than just report data and numbers! Write an interpretive summary of your work that is easily understandable by the general public.
• REEport is where we prepare reports; Data Gateway (https://nifa.usda.gov/data) is a search tool for data in CRIS where you can filter by state, project types, keyword, etc.
• Include info on:
  • How does the work I’m doing make the world a better place?
  • Why should anyone care?
  • What is the problem?
  • Why does it need to be researched?
  • Why is it important to the general public?
• Methods and approaches should explain in non-technical language what you intend to do to produce data and results.
• Anticipated or realized results? These are your intended outcomes and impacts.
• The non-technical summary is arguably the most important section of the report as it will be accessed by legislators, public, community leaders, tax payers, etc.
• In AFRI program, there are co-sponsored/funded opportunities with commodity groups like NPB. Topics for these funding opportunities for next year are due this summer. May need to look at how we can influence the topics proposed for next year that are engineering-related.
• We could identify major gaps in our field as a white paper that NIFA could use to identify FY18 funding priorities. Send to Paul Tanger.
• Foundation for Food and Ag Research – non-profit with $200M of federal funding provided – about to announce a rapid response program; should be very similar to CARE (foundationfar.org) but can cover topics outside of NIFA-AFRI

MWPS Update – Kathy Walker

• Following on Facebook is very low; how do we improve the “reach” of MWPS? Need to be sure that faculty and students outside ag engineering are aware of this source of technical resources. Include a slide in any talk, or in news articles, radio interviews, etc. that directs audience to MWPS.
• Recommending changing “Midwest Plan Service” to “MWPS – Technical Farm Publications”
• Countryside, rural, farm…key words for marketing campaign ideas; maybe approach Ag Communications as opposed to Marketing, Journalism, etc.
• Manure Safety publication needed!
• Costs for publishing new books? MWPS-7: $20 per illustration; $12 per page for editing; MWPS-28: $8 for illustration; $10 per page for editing; MWPS-13: $30 per illustration estimated; $2500 for editing budgeted
• We need to make an effort to increase publication prices, to promote the publications, etc. Maybe need to have a promo booth at ASABE to display pubs, etc.

State Updates by Minnesota, North Dakota, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, Missouri, and Wisconsin

Meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.

Thursday, May 19, 2016

Meeting called to order by Becky Larson at 8:10 a.m.

Update from John Lawrence, NCCC-09 Academic Advisor

• NIMSS website has been updated. If you haven’t been on there in some time, you will need to click on the “Forgot my password” link to set new login credentials.
• The annual report is due within 60 days of this meeting, so mid-July!
• Our committee review by NIFA will occur this fall/winter and renewal of our proposal will be due in Fall 2018. If our proposal is not submitted/renewed, it will expire in September 2019.
• Multi-state efforts are still strongly encouraged.

Ideas Moving Forward

• Becky will work on developing a Box folder for committee members to upload current outputs that can be used by others within the committee.
• Topic areas where we may have a critical mass of personnel working:
  • Animal health and welfare
    • Filtered barns – structure and ventilation
    • Biosecurity – PEDV and HPAI
      • Facility design
      • Operational/management practices
      • Site management
    • Water management at a small watershed scale/holistic management of water
      • Design of water holding structures
      • Conveyance/distribution systems
      • Distributed water storage impacts
    • Watershed-scale Manure/Nutrient Management/Distribution
      • Tools for assessing mass balance
      • Design and siting of manure distribution systems (technical, economic, and policy factors)
    • Enhancing Manure Value
      • Quantifying value of manure to improve soil quality
      • Nutrient recovery and distribution for optimal utilization
      • Identifying processing needs to develop usable products (market demand)
    • Emerging Contaminants in Manure
      • Treatment processes for antibiotic resistance
      • Endocrine disruptors
      • Fate, transport, and impacts of emerging contaminants originating from manure
    • Safety
      • Manure storage and transfer systems
      • Grain storage and transfer systems
      • Drainage tile installation and maintenance

Ag Engineering Expertise Report – Ken Hellevang

Engineering expertise is not available in industry and we need to identify industry’s role in various topics. Sharing programming for various topics at regional levels may be the model we will need to define. Understanding needs by state and sharing by state may be acceptable under the right circumstances. In some areas, training for agencies – some engineers, some not – is part of our role. Providing expertise to develop NRCS standards is another role that we fill.

How do we obtain current research on production ag engineering topics to enable extension engineers to respond to questions with current, research-based information?

AFRI-CARE projects and similar collaborative efforts are going to be needed to address development or revision of high-value regional data and/or tools.

USDA-NIFA is making an effort to incorporate engineering into the processes funded nationally, which shows that USDA recognizes the need for engineering expertise. Directors should realize that USDA-NIFA is requiring an engineering component in projects, which should support our push for greater engineering expertise in the region.

Topic Group Updates

Manure group will try to meet at ASABE.

Business Meeting

As of October 1, …

Past-Chair: Becky Larson

Chair: Amy Schmidt

Vice-Chair: Erin Cortus

Secretary: Morgan Hayes

Next quarterly call will be in September.

Future Meetings of NCCC-09

Maybe future meetings should be held at the location of the current committee chair. Or the chair can hold it somewhere else. Cycle of upcoming meetings:

            2017 – Nebraska

            2018 – South Dakota

            2019 – Kentucky

To get greater face-to-face participation, we may need to consider sending people other than the typical representatives (i.e. other extension engineers in our states who don’t currently attend the meeting).

State Reports need to be submitted to Erin by end of June!

 Meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m. by Becky Larson.

Grain Drying and Storage

A number of NC-213 engineering members from across the country at various land-grant universities are working together to update the MWPS-13 Handbook entitled “Grain Drying, Handling and Storage Handbook”, second edition, 1987. The lead author is Sam McNeill (University of Kentucky). Others engaged are Kennett Hellevang (NDSU), Dirk Maier (ISU), Carol Jones (OSU), Klein Ileleji (Purdue), Kingsly Ambrose (Purdue) and Mark Purschwitz (University of Kentucky). A grant from NC-213 was awarded to aid in this effort.

During the reporting period, five (5) workshops were conducted in Indiana by the grain post-harvest team with about 290 farmers and grain operations personnel trained. Two (2) of the 5 workshops were organized specifically at the request of popcorn processors and their growers (97 total were in attendance at both workshops). Additionally, the team drafted about 5 news releases on various stored grain issues at various times of the year and two (2) Extension publications. Additionally, IN hosted 5 delegates from the feed industry in Thailand for 2 weeks in February 2016 on a Cochran Fellowship on the production, transportation, marketing and utilization of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as part of a USDA-FAS Cochran Cooperative Agreement.

NDSU Extension Service has served as a hub of technical assistance for farmers and extension staff in other states. A grain drying and storage educational program was conducted that included seminars or webinars; news releases and articles that were used across the region by extension staff, grain equipment manufacturers and dealers across the country, grower/farmer organizations (commodity groups); and telephone and e-mail consultations. Extensive media work and distribution of articles aided the educational effort. Farm Journal, USDA Radio, Manitoba Agriculture, Successful Farming, and Grain Journal. Alternative Grain Storage Options was published in the National Corn & Soybean Digest. Articles are distributed to neighboring state Extension staff, grain commodity groups, grain equipment manufacturers and distributors, North Central Region Extension Engineering staff, national grain industry staff and grain industry media. Presentations by NDSU in other states done in cooperation with their extension service included:

• Handling High Moisture Corn – Nebraska Extension
• Grain Storage Management – MonDak Ag Days, Sidney, MT
• Post Harvest Considerations for Malt Barley – 2015 Empire State Producers Expo, Syracuse, NY
• Drying Small Grains and Storage Management – West Winfield, NY
• Drying and Storing Wheat and Malting Barley – Soybean/Small Grain Congress, Batavia, NY
• Drying and Storing Small Grains – Small Grains Congress, Waterloo, NY
• Post-harvest considerations for Small Grains – Regional Hudson Valley Value-Added Grain Systems School, Leeds, NY
• Successfully Drying and Storing Sunflowers and Grain Drying, Storage and Handling – Crop Connect Conference, Winnipeg, MA
• New Aspects of Grain Drying and Storage – Western Precision Agriculture Conference, Sioux Falls, SD

Outcomes: A broad network of Extension service personnel and Ag Program Leaders; grain drying and storage companies and dealers across the United States; grain engineers across the U.S.; national and local commodity groups and associations; and selected regional and national media such as Farm Journal, USDA Radio, Manitoba Agriculture, Successful Farming, and Grain Journal aided in the national distribution of grain drying and storage information originating from NDSU. Technical assistance was provided via 160 email consultations and about 250 telephone consultations on grain drying and storage.

Minnkota Builders Conference

Minnesota and South Dakota organized the 2016 meeting of the Minnkota Builders and Equipment Association in Morton, MN.  The 1.5 day meeting included a tour of a track wash facility for pathogen removal, presentations, and opportunities for networking. 

Outcomes: The meeting provided the 42 attending consultants, builders, and equipment suppliers with current information about  biosecurity education, biosecurity regulations, producer experiences with highly pathogenic avian influenza in 2015, pig heat stress, manure pit foaming, SDSU new swine research facilities, dairy and swine energy research, insurance loss prevention practices and new weather forecasting tools.

Ventilation of Swine Production Housing

Extension engineers and animal scientists in Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota and Nebraska 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. 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.

With recently published heat and moisture production rates for all phases of swine production, there is an opportunity to develop updated ventilation rate recommendations. State universities in Illinois, Iowa, and Missouri have created a collaborative team to address the need for updated recommendations. University of Illinois has submitted one and is in the process of submitting a second peer reviewed journal article, which should provide the basis for updating recommendations.

Outcomes: Iowa conducted eight ventilation workshops for 106 producers finishing 8.5M pigs per year and with sow herds of 500,000 sows. Data is being published to update ventilation recommendations.

Climate Change

A national project team including Nebraska, Washington, Texas, Georgia, New York, and Minnesota is collaborating on a NIFA AFRI-funded Extension project addressing Animal Agriculture in a Changing Climate (AACC). The AACC project is building extension capacity in this topic area through provision of educational resources via the eXtension Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center (LPELC) and professional development offered via regional programs. Minnesota and Texas lead efforts in the Midwest and Southwest, respectively, and have involved several NCCC-09 members from Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Missouri and Kansas in the Midwest or Southwest working groups.

A new collaborative effort between NE and SD, with support from the Northern Plains Regional Climate Hub, includes conducting focus groups and collecting case studies to assess educational needs for regional Beef Systems.

Outcomes: An additional 50 individuals have enrolled in the online course developed by this project.  The online course was awarded an ASABE Blue Ribbon Educational Aids award in the web content delivery category.  Many resources were added to the project website, http://animalagclimatechange.org/, highlighted by a series of seven new videos.  Project events include the Navigating Agriculture through the Water-Energy-Food Nexus Symposium (Austin, TX; November 2015, 115 attendees).

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 has held three conferences to date and will hold additional regional conferences and field days in each state over the next 2 years.  Tools and educational materials are being developed to promote sustainability including integrating nutrient management and emissions information for field scale practices, developing a virtual farm for the Great Lakes Region to compare sustainable management strategies and provide information necessary for adoption, economic tools, and other useful extension information.  Materials will be provided in a number of outlet mechanisms including eXtension webpages under the LPELC area of practice and www.sustainabledairy.org.

Pig Production Environmental Footprint

Faculty from Nebraska, South Dakota, and Arkansas collaborated on a pilot project to utilize the National Pork Board (NPB)-funded Pig Production Environmental Footprint Calculator on swine operations in western Corn Belt states as an extension effort of a larger integrated NIFA-AFRI project. The objectives were to identify potential revisions to make the tool more user-friendly, get baseline information on resource utilization on Midwest swine farms, assess opportunities to improve resource efficiency and swine farm profitability, and gather producer feedback on the tool. 

Eleven swine farms in Nebraska and South Dakota were identified as cooperators for this project. Undergraduate research assistants completed interviews with the cooperating producers via telephone, e-mail and face-to-face meetings to gather relevant farm data necessary to run the calculator. Data were aggregated to define regional carbon, water, and energy footprints for swine production systems.

Outcomes: The pilot project experiences provide guidance for future Extension work with the calculator, including: (1) Collecting information from producers in a hard-copy survey during the interview is helpful to refer back to when rerunning or reviewing the model output; and (2) The data entry for gestation barns, particularly herd data, was challenging, and different interpretations of the calculator input questions for all farm types likely contributed to a lot of the variability seen between sites for the initial simulations. Based on the aggregated data for the grower and gestation barns surveyed, there was a higher range and variability in footprints among gestation barns compared to grow barns on a per pig basis, largely attributed to feed consumption.

National Air Quality Site-Assessment Tool (NAQSAT)

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. In December 2015, NRCS issued national instructions on use of the NAQSAT tool for any applications that involved greater than 300 animal units. As a result, training of NRCS staff on how to properly use the tool and interpret the results was needed.

Faculty from Colorado, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, Nebraska, Minnesota and many other states contributed to the revision of NAQSAT. A series of workshop was offered to train NRCS and Extension personnel to apply the NAQSAT in 2015 and 2016. The workshops were offered in states including North Carolina, Pennsylvania, California, and Nebraska. Faculty from all the states and Florida, Michigan, Kansas, Idaho, and South Dakota helped with the workshops.

As a complimentary activity, Iowa State University revised the Air Management Practices Assessment Tool (AMPAT), which directs producers to possible practices to address the issues that NAQSAT raises as needing attention.

Outcomes: Workshops and field trips were conducted to train NAQSAT users, and collect user feedback to improve the tool.  Comparisons of the tool outputs were compared and explained in the workshop. An USDA CIG proposal was submitted to improve the NAQSAT.

As NAQSAT was approved as a ‘standard tool’ by USDA NRCS in 2015, use and awareness of the tool by NRCS staff as they work with producers on environmental assessment plans is expected to continue to increase.

Extension Drainage Design and Water Management Workshops

An annual series of two to four two-day workshops were conducted by the University of Minnesota Extension, North Dakota State University Extension, and South Dakota State University Extension on designing and installing field drainage systems and ancillary water quality practices.

An Extension bulletin on the design and operation of tile drainage lift stations was published by NDSU with technical review by drainage specialists from Iowa State University and South Dakota State University. This publication received an award from the ASABE Educational Aids Competition and is being distributed throughout the North Central region. It is also used as one of the design modules of the drainage design workshop.

A collaborative effort was also undertaken among these, and other Midweswtern land-grant universities to conduct A Drainage Water Management webinar series.

Outcomes: A total of 250 farmers, industry people and government agency personnel were trained in the basics of drainage and water quality practice design. Evaluation by the participants of the overall useful of the information presented during the workshop was rated at 5.2 with 6 being a “very useful” rating.

A multi-state effort by Extension specialists in eight states and the NRCS resulted in the Drainage Water Management Level II training program. The project included the development of eight online training modules, each about one hour in length, to present the various aspects of DWM was Phase I. These modules are online at: http://www.conservationwebinars.net/webinars/dwm-module-2-1. Phase II consisted of onsite training sessions held in locations where the NRCS employees could drive to in a few hours.

Managing Water for Increased Resiliency of Drained Agricultural Landscapes

Purdue University is leading a USDA NIFA-funded five-year, multi-state project examining the economic and environmental benefits and costs of storing water on farms in ways for crops to use water more efficiently and to reduce nutrients draining into waterways. The project, called Transforming Drainage for short, addresses the issues of excess water and nutrients draining from agricultural landscapes and causing problems downstream, and the need for water during the growing season to irrigate sometimes parched crops. Both of these problems are expected to get more pressing with projected changes in climate. The Transforming Drainage project will bring new understanding, tools and strategies to increase resiliency of drained agricultural land and help farmers make better drainage decisions in the future by bringing together partners from research, governmental and non-governmental organizations, drainage industry, and the local farming and drainage contractor communities across the Midwest to focus research, extension, and education.

Other universities in the project are Iowa State University, North Dakota State University, Ohio State University, University of Missouri, North Carolina State University, South Dakota State University and the University of Minnesota as well as the USDA's Agricultural Research Service.  

Outcomes: A regional drainage database encompassing 186 site-years of agronomic, hydrologic, and climate data from 34 experimental drainage sites in eight states has been developed.  Field measurements are continuing to be collected at 16 of these sites.  Extension and outreach efforts have led to a publicly-available website (www.transformingdrainage.org), Extension events reaching more than 1,300 farmers, drainage contractors, and conservation planners, and 48 presentations at professional meetings and academic conferences.   Education programs for grade 9-12 students and teachers have been piloted in Minnesota and college undergraduate capstone projects are currently being promoted at multiple institutions across the Midwest.

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), which holds an annual educational conference.

Iowa added a benchmarking fact sheet and are working on some solar fact sheets.

Purdue University Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Extension Outreach program addresses issues in the state related to educating Indiana’s producers and its agricultural industry on various renewable energy options and energy efficient technologies with the goal of increasing their adoption on Indiana’s farms and businesses.  During the reporting period, five (5) workshops were conducted in Indiana by the grain post-harvest team with about 290 farmers and grain operations personnel trained. Two (2) of the 5 workshops were organized specifically at the request of popcorn processors and their growers (97 total were in attendance at both workshops). Additionally, the team drafted about 5 news releases on various stored grain issues at various times of the year and two (2) Extension publications below. A presentation was given on the grain drying energy auditing program to the Mathews Grain Dryer Company national sales meeting, at the Purdue ANR Extension Annual Meeting, and the Indiana Milk Quality workshop.  On-farm energy audits completed (1) swine farrowing facility, (6) grain dryer replacement projects.  We held (3) solar energy workshops for on-farm systems as well as a webinar. There were (2) CENUSA Bioenergy Field Days were held for farmers to learn more about the production of switchgrass varieties targeting the bioenergy market sector. A session of the Indiana Biomass Energy Working Group on the topic of Anaerobic Digestion was held at Fair Oaks Dairy.  A training was also held for the incorporation of biofuels into the curriculum for High School Agriculture and Science teachers at the Indiana FFA Leadership Center where lab experiments were created and demonstrated.

Outcomes: Not available at this time.

Agricultural Safety and Health

Purdue’s Agricultural Safety and Health Program addresses three core areas – agricultural workplace safety and health, rural emergency preparedness, and rehabilitation services for farmers with disabilities. Each core area is involved in multi-disciplinary activities and multi-state collaborations.

Training on grain storage and handling safety for young and beginning workers, ages 16-21, continues to be conducted across the state. To date approximately 3,400 youth have participated. The www.agconfinedspaces.org website has been expanded and has received over 5,000 unique visits.

Purdue is host to the National AgrAbility Project currently serving 20 funded states and several unfunded affiliated projects. The AgrAbility Program is celebrating 25 years of service in 2016. The projects host a national website (www.agrability.org), a toll-free access line, 1-800-825-4264, and conducts regional and national workshops.

Outcomes: The 2016 National AgrAbility Training Workshop was conducted in Fort Collins, CO with approximately 230 participants from over 25 states. Regional workshops that address the needs of migrant and seasonal farm workers and Veterans with disabilities have been held in Pine Bluffs, AR, Petersburg, VA, Frankenmuth, MI, Tuskegee, AL, and Alcorn University in Mississippi. Nearly 200 rehabilitation professionals and rural educators attended these in-service training events.

Beef Finisher Housing and Manure Management 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. For this project, state universities and agencies will work together to collect field data and experiences to improve the beef unit planning procedures.

South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska are initiating a project to evaluate land application of bedded and non-bedded solid beef cattle manure for corn production in the three states.

South Dakota, North Dakota and Nebraska are collaborating on a related project to evaluate environmental parameters in deep pit cattle finishing barns. Measurements will be collected from producer barns from 2015 to 2018.

Outcomes: Federal funding allows for continued research into the environmental conditions in and around confined beef cattle facilities, facilities which are continuing to grow in number in the Northern Great Plains.

North American Manure EXPO [OH, PA, WI, OK, ND, MN, MO, IN, & SD]

The Manure Expo brings together Extension and research personnel from various states, including several represented by NCCC-09, and Canada to offer short classes and demonstrations relating to nutrient management and environmental protection.

Ohio State University chaired the 2016 North American Manure Expo, August 3-4, 2016. The theme of the Expo held in London, OH was “Manure: Returning nutrients to their roots”. The 2017 Manure Expo will be held at Arlington, WI. South Dakota State University, University of Nebraska – Lincoln and North Dakota State University have agreed to co-host the 2018 North American Manure Expo in South Dakota.

Outcomes: The Expo continues to bring the practical management, equipment, and new research findings regarding manure nutrient management together and present to various audiences. The technical field tours, demonstrations, and classroom sessions provide opportunities for Extension educators to present the materials to a large audience.

The 2016 two-day event brought together over 80 vendors and 1200-1400 participants. The first day of the Expo featured technical tours of various operation, and education seminars that evening. Day two of the Expo featured tradeshow, field demonstrations, and education seminars. Demonstrations on day two included solid manure spreaders, liquid manure spreaders, manure calibrations, and a tile drainage demonstration.

Livestock Mortality Composting

Illinois and Michigan delivered a large animal non-emergency carcass composting workshop in Northern IL with assistance from Michigan State, IL NRCS, and Illinois State University.  The workshop included both presentations and hands-on demonstrations with an on-farm active mortality composting site.

Nebraska Extension continues to collaborate with Nebraska NRCS, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, and the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to demonstrate and promote recommended establishment and management of large animal mortality composting systems to minimize environmental and social risks. A demonstration event was conducted in January 2016 at the UNL Agricultural Research and Development Center. Classroom discussion and an on-farm demonstration of mortality compost pile construction and management was also included in “Land Use and Management Practices to Enhance Water Quality Training” offered during summer 2016 as a collaboration among North Dakota, South Dakota, and Nebraska. A Nebraska NCCC-09 member provided three invited presentations about planning and executing emergency animal mortality disposal in 2016 at the “Livestock Emergency Training Workshop” funded by the Department of Homeland Security.

University of Missouri Extension is collaborating with Missouri Department of Agriculture, Department of Natural Resources, and NRCS to organize materials and workshop about biosecurity and mortality management information, to prevent future disease outbreak.  The workshops will be offered at 4-5 locations within the state. Attendees will be trained about major disease outbreak quarantine, mortality management, and more importantly, biosecurity.

Outcomes: Attendees of the Non-emergency Mortality Composting Workshop became more familiar with how to manage a bin style mortality composter.  Based on the more than 70 attendees to the previous workshop a second workshop will offer in the upcoming year in the Southern portion of IL.

Attendees of the Large Animal Mortality Composting Demonstration Event, the Livestock Emergency Training Workshops, and the Land Use and Management Practices to Enhance Water Quality Training learned: how to construct and manage large animal mortality composters through formal presentations, panel discussion, and demonstration of a compost pile being established, monitored, and managed; why and how to develop an emergency mortality management plan; available methods for large-scale mortality disposal; appropriate agencies to help facilitate large-scale livestock mortality disposal; and resources for assisting in the planning, development, and execution of mortality disposal through on-farm composting.

Pathways Project

The project titled “Mapping the Pathways for Effective Information Dissemination and Education between Manure Nutrient Management Agriculture Professionals” is a collaborative endeavor with both a national and North Central Region focus. The project goal is to establish documented and effective pathways for information dissemination and usage among manure nutrient management professionals. The national project team disseminated a national survey to collect data on the functions, information sources, dissemination methods and barriers for information exchange by research institutions, private industry, government, education, regulatory, technical service providers, and producers, garnering nearly 1000 responses. South Dakota, Nebraska and Missouri garnered funding through the North Central Region Water Network for initial survey analysis focused on North Central Region states, which is on-going and will be completed in 2015. Various interest groups in the regulatory, commodity/producer associations, and university sectors assisted in survey dissemination and participation.

Outcomes: The Pathways survey provided the following insights: (1) the manure nutrient management field is increasingly female; (2) most organizations focus their efforts on one or two tasks related to manure nutrient management; however, University and Extension professionals tended to select more tasks per person than other organizations; (3) the most relevant sources of information among all survey respondents were Farm or Field Setting, Science-based Sites and Consultation, and the least relevant were Research Paper or Technical Document, Classroom Setting and Social Media. This project was the cumulative work of a North Central Region team who performed data analysis and mind-mapping, as well as a national team who helped test and refine the survey, and provide feedback on project steps and results throughout. Based on the North Central Region Water Network survey, this work created new collaborations and increased Extension/outreach capacity in the North Central region and beyond. A journal article was submitted for publication and is under review.

Livestock Manager and Land Application Training Programs

Multiple NCCC-09 members coordinate or are involved with state-level livestock and manure nutrient management training. Each state-based program run on different cycles with different audiences, but reinforce similar ideals and lessons on how to better manage their livestock operations and nutrient management activities. Examples of these programs are provided by IL and NE.

• Illinois state-mandated certified livestock manager (CLM) training programming continues to serve an audience of about 1,000 producers and consultants over the three-year training cycle. The main training curriculum for the CLM program is the LPES National Curriculum, originally published by MWPS.
• In Nebraska, state-mandated training for individuals responsible for manure management activities on concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) in Nebraska provides attendees with relevant information to make decisions about management of nutrients produced by their livestock operations. The training is conducted annually during January and February at multiple locations statewide. During 2015-16, grant funding from the Nebraska Environmental Trust supported the development of an online training course to complement the face-to-face LAT program. Pilot testing of this online learning and certification module will occur during 2016-17.

Outcomes: The CLM training program serves approximately 1,000 livestock producers and consultants over a three-year cycle. The land applicators training in NE serves approximately 100 livestock producers and consultants annually who report being responsible for the management of nearly 5 million head of cattle and nearly 2 million head of swine in Nebraska. The percentage of attendees receiving initial certifications (53%) is slightly greater than those receiving re-certification hours (47%). Both programs are examples of NCCC-09 members providing information that helps the livestock industry better manage their operations and nutrient management activities.

MWPS Publications

NCCC-09 members coordinate the review and revision of existing Midwest Plan Service (MWPS) publications and the writing of new materials. The “Manure Group” within the NCCC-09 committee continues to work on a new publication about manure handling and application practices to compliment the MWPS-18 series. Existing MWPS publications warranting revisions were prioritized at the annual meeting and select new publications were identified for development.

Outcomes: Too early to report.

Receptor Modeling and Smoke Management Workshop

Kansas researchers conducted receptor modeling based on multi-year air quality data to estimate contributions of prescribed rangeland burning in Kansas to ambient PM_2.5 and ozone. An annual workshop delivered before the burning season was initiated to update regulation trends, and provide science-based information that help people developing smoke management plans.

Outcomes: Results of the receptor modeling has successfully unraveled the source profiles of Kansas pasture burning and quantified contribution of various sources to ambient PM_2.5 and ozone, as well as their seasonal patterns. The correlations between O₃ and PM_2.5 from smoke has been revealed. The results have been published in peer reviewed journal and a series of extension articles are to be generated to support the annual smoke management workshop and help smoke management.

Meta-analyses of Ammonia and Methane Emissions from Cattle Operations

Kansas researchers conducted meta-analyses of ammonia and methane emissions from dairy and beef cattle operations in order to improve the estimations of emission rates, to understand the sources of variations, and to develop statistical emission models.

Outcomes: The ammonia emission rates and ammonia loss as a percentage of nitrogen intake have been summarized for various type of operations. For each type of operation, regression models were developed to quantify the effects of air temperature and dietary crude protein on ammonia emissions. The effects of feed digestibility and intake level on methane conversion factor was summarized, while alternative expression of methane conversion factor on a digestible energy basis were recommended, and corresponding regression models were developed.

Air Emission Mitigation for Swine Buildings

Projects were conducted in Kansas to evaluate air pollutants mitigation technologies (such as vegetative environmental buffer and photocatalytic technology using UV light/TiO₂) to be used for swine buildings.

Outcomes: Effectiveness of the mitigation technologies were quantified and key parameters were identified. Guidelines for each technologies will be developed based on experimental results.

Manure and Soil Health (MaSH) Working Group

NCCC-09 members from the North Central Region formed a working group in 2016 focused on the role of manure in improving soil health. Represented in this working group are university and USDA personnel from Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Michigan, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin. This new initiative has goals of assembling the current knowledge on manure and soil health, providing this information to those influencing manure and land management decisions, and using this information to identify knowledge gaps to plan and facilitate future research and programming activities.

Outcomes: Three activities are in development by this new working group: establishment of regular manure and soil health roundtable discussions focusing on critical issues and information needs; development of a Manure & Soil Health blog to be published on a monthly basis and encourage on-going conversations about manure management and soil health among experts and those who advise farmers; and distribution of four mini-grants to support focused literature reviews or data summarizations on subjects relevant to manure and soil health.

Virtual Anaerobic Digester Operator Training & STEM Education Modules

Michigan State University is developing a set of virtual learning modules to assist operator of farm and non-farm anaerobic digesters.  The training program will contain 20 to 25 modules, each 20 to 30 minutes in length.  In addition, a series of 2 to 10 minute modules on the biology and operation of anaerobic digesters will be developed for middle and high school STEM curriculums. 

Outcomes: Users of the virtual training platform will gain a basic understanding of anaerobic digestion biology, mechanical systems associated with digesters, operational parameters and troubleshooting, and safety procedures. Several partner Universities in the NCCC-09 workgroup have expressed interest in using the virtual content for academic and extension activities. 

Youth-based Engineering Program

Purdue Agricultural and Biological Youth-based Engineering initiatives are designed “to excite youth about engineering careers through challenging and competitive hands-on design experiences.” To accomplish this mission, educational programs for youth in grades 3 to 12 are implemented on a county and statewide basis in a variety of areas (i.e., agricultural tractors and machinery, robotics, electricity/electronics, software engineering, and lawn equipment

The five-manual youth electric curriculum was adapted from its traditional paper-based format to ePubs downloadable on a variety of tables and phones (iPhones, iPads, Android tablets and phones, and Windows tablets and computers). Additionally, a highly interactive version of the curriculum and other educational materials were developed into a Flash drive version.

The 21^st edition of the “National Youth Engineering Challenge” (www.4hengineering.org) was held at Purdue University with youth from 10 Eastern/Midwestern states participating. The event involves applied competitive challenges, hands-on engineering workshops with Purdue faculty and educational tours of local engineering business such as Caterpillar’s Lafayette Engine Plant.

Outcomes: Over 1,000 copies of the ePub versions of the youth electricity curriculum were downloaded in 2016 and over 200 copies of the “Flash Drive” version were sold. One hundred and twenty individuals (120) from 10 states participated in the National Youth Engineering Challenge.

NCCC-09 members are developing two new products for publication in the coming year by MWPS.

• Manure Processing and Utilization (MWPS 18-4 1st Edition), In development, R. Larson, E. Cortus, A. Schmidt, D. Anderson, T. Lim, K. Erb, S. Rahmen, Z. Liu, and J. Ni.
• Grain Drying, Handling and Storage Handbook (MWPS-13 3^rd Edition), In development. Sam McNeill, Kenneth Hellevang, Dirk Maier, Carol Jones, Klein Ileleji, Kingsly Ambrose and Mark Purschwitz.

Additional publications from the 2015-16 reporting year include:

• Harmon, J., D. Schweitzer. 2016. Farm Energy: Case Studies. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. PM 3063E. Available at: http://farmenergy.exnet.iastate.edu/wp-content/uploads/downloads/2016/07/PM3063E.pdf
• Hellevang, K. 2015. Energy Efficient Grain Drying. Video. North Dakota State University Extension Service. Available at: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/graindrying/publications-grain-drying-and-storage.
• Hellevang, K. 2015. Grain Dryer Energy Audit. Video. North Dakota State University Extension Service. Available at: http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/graindrying/publications-grain-drying-and-storage.
• Ileleji, K.E., C. Martin and G. D. Lima Miranda. 2016. A guide to prepare for grain dryer energy audit. Renewable Energy Series, RE-11-W.
• Liu, Y., Z. Liu, P. Murphy, R. Maghirang, J. DeRouchey. 2015. Vegetative Environmental Buffers (VEBs) for Mitigating Multiple Air Pollutants Emissions from a Research Swine Barn. ASABE paper No. 2190126. New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Liu, Y., Z. Liu, X. Shi. 2015 A Meta-analysis of Ammonia Emissions from Cattle Production Facilities. ASABE paper No. 152190145. New Orleans, Louisiana.,
• Liu, Y., Z. Liu. 2016. Source apportionment of ambient PM2.5 by using Unmix and PMF reception models at Flint Hills rural site and Kansas City urban site. ASABE paper No. 162447784. Orlando, Florida.,
• Liu, Z, Y. Liu, R. Maghirang, D. Delvin, C. Blocksome. 2016. Estimate contribution of prescribed rangeland burning in Kansas to ambient PM2.5 through source apportionment with Unmix receptor model. Trans. ASABE. V(59)5.
• Liu, Z, Y. Liu, X. Shi, R. Maghirang. 2016. Enteric methane conversion factor for dairy and beef cattle: Effect of feed digestibility and intake level. Trans. ASABE. Under review.
• Liu, Z, Y. Liu, X. Shi. J. DeRouchey. 2016, Causes of variations in ammonia emissions from cattle operations. Under review.
• Liu, Z., P. Murphy, R. Maghirang, J. DeRouchey. 2015. Mitigation of Air Emissions from Swine Buildings through the Photocatalytic Technology Using UV/TiO2. ASABE paper No. 2189332. New Orleans, Louisiana.
• Liu, Z., Y. Liu. 2016. Contribution of Kansas pasture burning to ambient ozone: a combination of receptor modeling, time series and regression analysis. ASABE paper No. 162460949. Orlando, Florida.,
• Martin, C. and Ileleji, K.E. 2016. Considerations for solar photovoltaic (PV) installations. Renewable Energy Series, RE-10.
• Schmidt, A.M., J.D. Loy, S. Vitosh-Sillman, B. Brodersen, and D. Bright. 2016. Composting of PEDv-Positive Swine Mortalities. Nebraska Extension NebGuide. In review.
• Schmidt, A.M., N.R. Schuster, J.R. Peterson, L.R. Schott, and J.E. Gilley. 2016. Soil Invertebrates as Bioindicators of Agricultural Soil Quality Under Swine Slurry Treatments. Annual International Meeting of the ASABE. Orlando, FL. July 17-21, 2016.
• Schott, L.R., A.M. Schmidt, and H. Blanco. 2016. Soil Health Impacts of Land Applying Woody Biomass and Livestock Manure on Agricultural Fields. Annual International Meeting of the ASABE. Orlando, FL. July 17-21, 2016.
• Schuster, N.R., L.M. Durso, J.E. Gilley, S.L. Bartelt-Hunt, X. Li, D.B. Marx, A.M. Schmidt, D.D. Snow. 2015. Runoff nutrient and microbial transport following swine slurry application. Trans of ASABE. Under revision.
• Speicher, S., A.M. Schmidt, B. Woodbury, and L. Durso. 2016. Spatial Variability of Antimicrobial Resistant Bacteria and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Under Grazed and Manure-Amended Pastures. Annual International Meeting of the ASABE. Orlando, FL. July 17-21, 2016.
• Woloshuk, C.P. and K.E. Ileleji. 2016. S.L.A.M.: Maximize Grain Quality & Profits. Purdue Extension rack card developed as part of Grain Post-Harvest Extension Education tools.