Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

Business Meeting

The accomplishments of NCCC9 committee this year:

• MWPS, with the collaborative efforts of authors from Iowa State University, University of Kentucky, North Dakota State University, Purdue University, and Oklahoma State University, has released the new edition of Grain Drying, Handling, and Storage Handbook: MWPS-13, 2017. This book was professionally edited, illustrated, designed, and distributed through MWPS. The publication was recognized as an outstanding educational aid by the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers with an ASABE Educational Aids Blue Ribbon Award. Sales have been strong with an additional 1,000 copies ordered in 2019.
• The 5^th edition of Wiring Handbook under review, with specific revisions related to code updates.
• MWPS has been working to market on Facebook, advertised in ASABE Resources, and improving the MWPS.org website.
• A MWPS committee has put together a draft for the new publication, “Manure Processing and Utilization” (MWPS 18-4 1st Edition), which is a collaboration among extension engineers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, North Dakota, Indiana, Texas, and Kansas.
• The University of Minnesota produced a two-page factsheet on practices to identify biosecurity hazards that could lead to potential disease transmission between poultry facilities. A biosecurity trailer is being used to demonstrate concepts and is very active with 4-H groups.
• Manure and Soil Health Program (MaSH) Working Group focused on understanding and promoting the role of manure in improving soil health. The team includes University and USDA personnel from Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Michigan, Indiana, Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Farmers are increasingly aware of the importance of soil quality.

• The new project proposal was developed and emphasize the importance of “collaboration”, and includes feed, fiber, and energy. Objectives from the proposal were discussed.
• Neslihan Akdeniz was elected to be the next secretary, which starts October 1.
• Members discussed options for a face-to-face meeting in 2020. ASABE (Omaha, July) was selected to encourage higher participation.
• Members discussed that there are many webinars nowadays, and there have been low attendance issue. A resolution was suggested that three webinars on topics of interest will be held quarterly throughout the year
• Ongoing projects from the various states were discussed with areas of emphasis including biosecurity (African Swine Fever) and disease transmission. The concept of a demonstration trailer which is being used in Minnesota to demonstrate Danish entries was discussed as a potential model to follow.
• Grain bin storage and in particular failure was discussed. What can states do to work together on this issue. How can we provide expertise on evaluating the bins after material is removed, safety hazards related to removing the grain, and what to do with the composted grain? A discussion on failure of livestock buildings due to heavy winter snow loads was also held.
• Ohio and Iowa have ongoing projects on gas and dust removal from air streams coming from livestock facilities.
• Potential collaboration on ASF and biosecurity and preparedness was discussed as an area of need.

New Facilities and Equipment

Iowa State University is planning construction of a new feed mill and grain center, a new poultry teaching and research farm, and a new swine teaching farm.

South Dakota confirmed approval of state appropriation (funds) for a new Precision Ag building. The building project also received private donations from the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council, Raven Industries and others. Construction is expected to commence in Fall of 2019.

Unique Project-Related Findings

The recently distributed white paper demonstrated some agricultural engineering extension topics with critically low personnel. There is also a shortage of faculty providing education and technical assistance on the high-demand engineering topic of machinery and precision agriculture. Some additional unmet needs across the region include engineering related to livestock facilities, irrigation, structures both agricultural and residential, disaster preparation and response, and agricultural safety. Many topic areas are covered by engineers with only a small fraction (less than 30%) of their time allocated to the topic. It is unlikely that an extension engineer can conduct an appropriate extension program with such a small percentage of time allocated to the topic. Exacerbating these concerns is the fact that about 20% of the tenured extension engineering FTEs in the North Central Region will be retiring in less than five years.

A Missouri team correlation soil health variables and land application of manure and found no significant difference between the fields with and without manure application for carbons, bulk density, and water stable aggregates; while a significant difference was found only for phosphorus. However, the manure applications increased active carbon contents, phosphorus, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, and water stable aggregate values of certain counties. When comparing data of controlled experimental field plots, the effects of the manure land application clearly resulted in higher soil organic carbon, active carbon, phosphorus, and water stable aggregates, and lower bulk density. These findings confirm that the benefits of manure application in increasing soil organic materials and improving soil aggregate ability.

Accomplishment Summaries

Members of NCCC-09 continue to participate in numerous collaborative efforts within the region. Current projects by NCCC-09 active work teams cover the topic areas of manure management, grain drying and energy efficiency, soil and water, and animal agriculture and facilities. Teams of NCCC-09 participants contributing to each of the projects in these topic areas met regularly over the past year and continue to meet monthly by conference call to work on developing extension materials that are applicable throughout the region, increasing collaboration and productivity, strengthening unified messages, and reducing the resource demand on extension personnel. Specific collaborations within the NCCC-09 group include the endeavors described in the following pages.

The efforts of all involved with MWPS-13 (Grain Drying, Handling, and Storage Handbook: MWPS-13, 2017) were awarded the ASABE Educational Aids Blue Ribbon Award for Excellence, 2018.

A MWPS committee has put together a draft for the new publication, “Manure Processing and Utilization” (MWPS 18-4 1st Edition), which is a collaboration among extension engineers from Wisconsin, Minnesota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Missouri, North Dakota, Indiana, Texas, and Kansas.

NCCC-09 Conference Calls

NCCC-09 plans to host conference calls on September 5^th, December 5^th, and May 14^th. In 2019 and 2020. Prior to the group teleconference, the officers and invited members participated in an executive conference to plan for a survey to determine potential meeting date and location, and prepare for the group teleconference. Teleconferences will opportunities for members to provide project updates, discuss MWPS ideas, announce new RFPs, and initiate potential collaborations for extension activities, publications, and proposals, and encourage more collaboration and foster communication.

MWPS Publications

The MWPS-13 Handbook entitled “Grain Drying, Handling and Storage Handbook”, was published in July 2017. A grant from NC-213 was awarded to aid in this effort. The publication received an American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Educational Aids Blue Ribbon. The book has been a success and an additional 1000 copies have been ordered. The leadership author group included Dirk Maier (ISU), Sam McNeill (University of Kentucky), and Kenneth Hellevang (NDSU). Others engaged were Carol Jones (OSU), Klein Ileleji (Purdue), Kingsly Ambrose (Purdue) and Mark Purschwitz (University of Kentucky). A broad network of Extension service personnel and Ag Program Leaders; grain drying and storage companies and dealers; grain engineers across the U.S.; national and local commodity groups and associations; and selected regional and national media aided in the national distribution of grain drying and storage information originating from NDSU.

MWPS publications are used extensively in extension programs and college courses including, but not limited to:

• Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan materials are used for technical service provider training in Illinois.
• MWPS-1 and MWPS-13 are both used as textbooks for a course at the University of Nebraska.
• MWPS-18 is used as a text at the University of Minnesota and South Dakota State University
• MWPS-18-S1, S2, S3 used at South Dakota State University
• MWPS-16 is the textbook for a course at the University of Illinois.
• MWPS-66: Cow-Calf Production is used as a textbook at Iowa State University and Purdue University
• MWPS-13: Grain Drying is used at North Dakota State University
• MWPS-6: Beef Housing is used at North Dakota State University
• MWPS-7: Dairy Freestall is used at University of Wisconsin

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.

Ventilation of Swine Production Housing

Extension engineers and animal scientists in Iowa and Ohio 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. The team conducted seven ventilation workshops in Iowa and Ohio.

Ongoing research in each state is looking at ways to mitigate air emissions of dust, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, and odor from these facilities with farmers looking for new technologies for mitigation of these air emissions, including wet scrubbers, electrostatic precipitation, and ammonia emission modeling.

Minnkota Builders Conference

The Minnkota Agri-Builders and Suppliers Association brings together regional university and Extension personnel, builders and suppliers in the livestock and grain processing industries, and government personnel who want to network and learn about advancements in the agricultural building and related fields. The Association allows the sharing of ideas and concerns in a non-competitive environment that helps the industry learn from one another, and informs Extension and research needs moving forward. This collaborative effort among University of Minnesota, South Dakota State University and University of Nebraska-Lincoln includes annual one to two-day meetings for the association members to come together, take tours and share technical content. Annual meeting attendance for 2019 was 19 participants. A post-event survey showed that the majority to all participants found the various technical presentations and tour stops useful to very useful in the work they do. Many participants use this meeting for professional engineering professional development hours (PDHs).

Waste to Worth

Waste to Worth is a biennial conference that brings together the nation's best science with innovative outreach on animal agriculture and the environment. The 2019 conference took place in Minneapolis, MN April 22 to 26, 2019. The conference is associated with the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center, and University of Minnesota was the local host. There were 140 registrations and 10 invited guests from all over the United States and a few Canadian provinces. Participants represented University and/or Extension (40%), USDA agency staff (24%), Regulatory agency staff (9%), Farmers/Ranchers (6%), Agribusiness (6%) and others. Three tours showcased Minnesota agriculture and there were over 60 technical oral and poster presentations.

Biosecurity Education

The University of Minnesota Biosecure Entry Education Trailer (BEET) was at the Minnesota Pork Congress, Midwest Poultry Federation Convention, Minnesota FarmFest and the Minnesota State Fair where people had opportunities to learn about biosecurity. BEET was also used with veterinary students, swine system employees, horse enthusiasts and Minnesota 4-H Livestock Project participants. Although its primary function is demonstrating Danish Entry protocols used in swine and poultry production, people with other animal species such as beef cattle, goats and rabbits learned about appropriate biosecurity practices, too. Members of the Biosecurity Team made a presentation, Understanding Biosecurity When Working on Livestock Farms, at the 56th Annual Rural Energy Conference in La Crosse, WI.

Missouri faculty collaborated with multiple agency and commodity groups, to apply and receive extension grants to offer five workshops covering topics in detection, quarantine, mass mortality management, regulations, biosecurity, and economics. The workshops averaged 40+ attendees and received very good review and feedback.

Moo University Winter Workshops

Barn Benchmarks for Success were held in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska and South Dakota. The multidisciplinary program covered ventilation, bedding, stall design for animal comfort and health and pen layouts. Attendees included dairy producers, calf growers, consultants and industry representatives. Dairy producers that attended handled herds ranging in size from 120 to 4,560 cows.

Pig Production Environmental Footprint

Faculty from University of Minnesota and University of Nebraska-Lincoln are collaborating on a project to encourage the use of the National Pork Board Pig Production Environmental Footprint Calculator on swine operations in Minnesota and Nebraska, and promoting Extension faculty and staff resources to help with these calculations. This project helps build 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.  The goal is to engage 65 farms in the two states, and the work is funded by the National Pork Board. The project experiences provide guidance for future Extension work with the calculator. Initial discussions with producers indicate a strong desire to continue to improve environmental protection.

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-officio members on the board of directors of the Midwest Rural Energy Council (MREC), which holds an annual educational conference.

CERCLA and EPCRA Reporting Requirements for Air Releases from Animal Waste at Farms

In April 2017, an appeals court ruling reversed a stay requiring livestock and poultry farms that emit more than 100 pounds of either ammonia or hydrogen sulfide in a 24-hour period to report air emissions as part of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act. EPA considers animal production facilities as continuous emitters, which means they do not require a separate report for each day but instead a single report covering the whole year. The act was to be enforced immediately, but was then delayed multiple times as reporting deadlines approached. This development led to much confusion for farmers, which required outreach efforts. On March 23, 2018, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2018 (Omnibus Bill), was signed into law. When the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issues its mandate vacating the 2008 final rule (expected as soon as May 1, 2018), farms will remain exempt from the CERCLA reporting requirements as a result of the FARM Act.

Many states were involved in conference calls and discussions to clarify internal understanding and to assist with how to extend this information to farmers. Nebraska’s worksheet for calculating emissions was in fact published by EPA as a method for determining and calculating reportable emissions.  Illinois also provided interactive online worksheets using EPA published values. As well, Illinois and Kentucky created websites to summarize information and materials. 

Marketing and Delivery of Quality Grains and Bioprocess Products

Purdue University is leading a project (Klein E. Ileleji and Rose Prabin Kingsly Ambrose) to assess factors, which affect the quality and safety attributes of grain, improve stored grain management and systems efficiency, especially for large facilities, and implement increased Extension programming to cover these areas. This effort will be conducted through collaboration with other land-grant university Extension Specialists and Educators under the multistate project, NC-213.

Livestock Mortality Management

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 focus efforts on promoting composting as a biosecure and environmentally responsible carcass disposal method and encouraging development of Emergency Livestock Mortality Management Plans. Research led by a Nebraska NCCC-09 member generated recommendations for biosecure disposal of swine carcasses infected with the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) that have been distributed throughout the U.S. and Canada via National Pork Board publications, journal articles, media outputs, and webinars. Three Livestock Emergency Mortality Management Training events were delivered in Nebraska through funding provided by the Department of Homeland Security to improve the capabilities of regional emergency management associations and law enforcement officers to respond to non-routine livestock mortality events.

Review of Life Cycle Assessment on Carbon Footprint of Beef Production in the U.S. 

Kansas researchers conducted a systematic and comprehensive review of life cycle assessment on carbon footprint of beef and pork productions in the US.  The study offered (1) an initial critical review on types of LCA methodology and allocation method used, the scope, scale and system boundary defined in the LCA applications in beef production; (2) an LCA comparison of different beef systems; (3) a ranging of results on carbon footprint of beef production based on conditions of the US beef production, trends in various indicators and the current data gap. Results provided a better understanding of the whole-farm greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the productions.

Manure and Soil Health Program

NCCC-09 members from the North Central Region formed a working group in 2016 focused on understanding and promoting 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. Farmers are increasingly aware of the importance of soil quality. Research has demonstrated that carefully managed manure applications can contribute to improved soil quality. However, a comprehensive assemblage of current knowledge has not occurred. The Manure & Soil Health (MaSH) initiative assembled current knowledge on this topic, improved its accessibility to those influencing manure management decisions, and used it to facilitate future research and educational activities. Specific accomplishments include:

• Development of three MaSH related white papers on the topics of 1) Analysis of Missouri Soil Health Data; 2) Winter Manure Application: Management Practices and Environmental Impact; and 3) Synthesis of studies reporting soil quality metrics.
• A monthly blog was published to encourage on-going conversations about MaSH. A blog platform based upon WordPress for author development and the Soil Health Nexus web resource (http://soilhealthnexus.org/category/manure) was developed in collaboration with the North Central Regional Water Network, and blog articles are published monthly since February 2017. A total of 15 published blog articles is available at the web resource.
• Articles were distributed to an email listserv maintained for the MaSH blog. 216 individuals received these newsletters as of March 2018. The March 2018 blog article was opened by 57 individuals within the first 4 days following its release.  Articles are also distributed to 10 individuals who serve as editors for regional, state and national Extension and agency newsletters such as Nebraska Extension CropWatch, Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center (LPELC) newsletter, South Dakota State’s iGrow e-news, Michigan State University Extension’s News, NRCS Twitter Feeds and Soil Health Web resources, Purdue Extension’s Conservation Cropping Systems initiative news releases, etc. Re-purposing our articles through other Extension media appears to greatly increase exposure of Extension clientele to our blog content.  Three of the 10 editor shared that their media product reached 3,900 additional email addresses.
• The project delivered three Mash related white papers. The final products were published and distributed through two sources: 1) Soil Health Nexus web site, http://soilhealthnexus.org/resources/ and 2) Soil Health Institute has published these into their library of soil health research https://www.soilhealthinstituteresearch.org/Home/Search )

NCCC-09 Publications

NCCC-09 members are developing a new product for publication in the coming year(s) by MWPS.

• Manure Processing and Utilization (MWPS 18-4 1^st Edition), In development, R. Larson, E. Cortus, A. Schmidt, D. Andersen, T. Lim, K. Erb, S. Rahmen, Z. Liu, and J. Ni.

Additional publications from the 2018-19 reporting year include:

• Janni, K., & Cortus, E. Common livestock production systems and manure storage methods. Animal Manure: Production, Characteristics, Environmental Concerns and Management. Madison, WI: ASA-SSSA-CSSA.
• Wilson, M. L., Niraula, S., & Cortus, E. L. Characteristics of swine manure and wastewater. Animal Manure: Production, Characteristics, Environmental Concerns and Management. Madison, WI: ASA-SSSA-CSSA.
• Janni, K.A., Salfer, J.A., Cortus, E.L. and Knorr, J. (2018). Thermal environmental performance of a dairy barn cross-ventilated in warm weather and naturally ventilated in cool weather. In: 10th International Livestock Environment Sym Conf Proc, Paper No. ILES18-057 ASABE, St. Joseph, MI
• Janni, K. 2018. Remodel or retire? Hoard’s Dairyman. 25 May 2018. 163(10):337.
• Janni, K. and E. Cortus. 2018. Manure talk at upcoming expo. 14 July 2018. Dairy Star 20(10):28.
• Janni, K & E. Cortus. 2019. Are your sand lanes freezing? 26 January 2019. Dairy Star 20(23):28.
• Jaynes, D., B. Reinhart, C. Hay, T. Isenhart, S. Jacquemin, J. Kjaersgaard, K. Nelson, N. Utt. 2018. Questions and Answers about Saturated Buffers for the Midwest. Purdue Extension ABE-160.
• Cortus, E. L., B. Kasu, J. Jacquet, N. Embertson, A. M. Schmidt, T. T. Lim, and J. Heemstra. 2018. Relevant information sources in the vast and complex manure nutrient management network. Journal of Extension. 56(3):Feature 3FEA6
• Nogueira, R. G. S., Lim, T. T., Perna Junior, F., & Rodrigues, P. H. M. (In-press). Performance, microbial community analysis and fertilizer value of anaerobic co-digestion of cattle manure with waste kitchen oil. Transactions of ASABE.
• Brown, J. T., T.-T. Lim, J. M. Zulovich, and C. Costello. 2018. Evaluation of Mechanical Scraper System Finishing Barn for Solid-Liquid Separation. In ASABE Annual International Meeting. ASABE Paper No. 1801273. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.201801273.
• Duong, C. M., T.-T. Lim, and A. H. Wang. 2018. Evaluation of Biological-Based Additive for Pollution Abatement. In ASABE Annual International Meeting. ASABE Paper No. 1801615. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.201801615.
• Hosseini Taleghani, A., T.-T. Lim, and C.-H. Lin. 2018. Degradation of Veterinary Antibiotics in Swine Manure via Anaerobic Digestion. In ASABE Annual International Meeting. ASABE Paper No. 1801460. St. Joseph, Mich.: ASABE. DOI: https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.201801460.
• Wang, H. A., T. Lim, D. Brandt, S. Norkaew, R. Miles. 2017. Manure Land Application and Soil Health Indicators. Manure and Soil Health Working Group Data Brief. http://soilhealthnexus.org/files/2018/02/ncrwn-manure-land-application-and-soil-health-indicators-data-brief-FINAL.pdf 8 pages.
• Manure and Soil Health Blog. 2017. 15 articles summarizing science related to manure impact on soil health. http://soilhealthnexus.org/category/manure/.

Scientific and Outreach Oral Presentations

Cortus, E. L., Hetchler, B., Spiehs, M., Rusche, W. "Seasonal and spatial variations in aerial ammonia concentrations in deep pit beef cattle barns", Waste to Worth 2019, Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Community, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. (April 25, 2019).

Felton, R., Cortus, E. L. "Quantitative analysis of words in popular press articles about livestock and environment", Waste to Worth 2019, Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Community, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. (April 24, 2019).

Cortus, E. L. "Lessons learned from environmental footprints of Midwest farms", 2018 Allen D. Leman Swine Conference, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States. (September 18, 2018).

Cortus, E. L., Watkins, M. "Freezing point depression of sand-laden manure", North American Manure Expo, Brookings, South Dakota, United States. (August 15, 2018).

Janni, K.A., M. M. Torremorell, L.D. Jacobson, C. Alonso, B.P. Hetchler. 2018. Modeling airborne virus concentrations in filtered swine barns with negative-pressure ventilating systems. Trans of ASABE 61(3):1089-1099 doi.org/10.13031/trans.12561.

Sharpe, K.T., M.H. Reese, E.S. Buchanaan, J.E. Tallaksen, K.A. Janni, L.J. Johnston. 2018. Electrical and thermal energy consumption in Midwest commercial swine facilities. Applied Eng. Agriculture. 34(5): 857-864. (doi: 10.13031/aea.12771)

Janni, K.A. and Neu, A. Biosecurity: Understanding its importance when working on livestock farms. Feb 15, 2018. Midwest Rural Energy Council 56th Annual Rural Energy Conference, La Crosse, WI.

Janni, K.A. and M. Torremorell. Model to Assess Risk of Virus Introduction in Filtered Farms. Sep 9, 2018. Allen D. Leman Swine Conference, RiverCentre, St. Paul, MN.

Steinweg, E., Sands, G., Wilson, B. and Dalzell, B. (2019). Watershed Responses to Climate Change Conditions. Paper presented at the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers International Meeting, Boston, MA.

Utt, N., G. Sands, D. Jaynes, and D. Canelon. Aug-2018. A review of saturated buffer performance across the upper midwest.  Presented at the 2018 ASABE Annual International Meeting, Detroit, MI.

Utt, N. 2019. The Science Behind Saturated Buffers for Nutrient Removal. N Champaign, IL.

Utt, N. 2018. Frequently Asked Questions about Saturated Buffer Design. MN Drainage Management Team Meeting, St Paul, MN.

Utt, N. 2018. Saturated Buffer Performance. 2018 Center for Excellence Field Day, Clayton, MI.

Teng-Teeh Lim, Allen Haipeng Wang, Donna Brandt, Saranya Norkaew, and Randy Miles. Can Manure Affect Soil Health? Part of Manure, Water, and Soil Health Webinar. 02/14/2018. North Central Region Water Network Webcast, for Soil Health Nexus.

Blog article: T.-T. Lim, Wang, A. H., D. Brandt, S. Norkaew, and R. Miles. 2018. Manure land application and soil health indicators. In Soil Health Nexus Web Resources, in collaboration with the North Central Region Water Network. https://soilhealthnexus.org/can-manure-improve-soil-health/

Special Video: “An Animal Feeding Operation. What should I know?” 2018. Featured on Youtube “CAFO Central” channel. This video introduces the topic of what people need to know about animal feeding operations and points the viewers to other short videos to answer specific questions. Collaboration with three other faculty, a total of 5 videos produced. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asU7_JdLF8E

Fund Leveraging, Specifically, Collaborative Grants Between Stations and Members

1. Facilitating “Win-Win” Manure Utilization for Sustained Soil Health, Economic and Environmental Benefits. North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education – Professional Development Grant Program. 10/01/18 – 09/30/21. PI: M. Schmidt; Co-PI: R. Koelsch (University of Nebraska); Sub-awards: D. Andersen (Iowa State) and E. Cortus (University of Minnesota). $74,905

This project will support SARE’s sustainability goals of long term profitability (better utilization of manure’s nutrient value), stewardship of natural resources (improved water and soil quality), and quality of life for rural communities (limit risk of manure’s negative qualities, such as odor). An existing multi-state working group will deliver a professional development program for those advising crop farmers intended to: build awareness of manure’s value; demonstrate benefits locally via on-farm research; and teach crop farmers to confidently identify "win-win" opportunities for manure use on cropland.

2. Environmental Footprints for Regional Swine Production Systems Now and in the Future – A Demonstration Pilot Project. National Pork Board. 06/01/18 – 05/31/19. PI: E. Cortus; Co-PI: R. Stowell and A.M. Schmidt. $55,126.

The specific objectives are to (1) engage 65 producers in Environmental Footprint calculations of current production practices; (2) measure the change in knowledge, interest and trust in environmental sustainability and related metrics following engagement with local educators; and (3) identify and evaluate strategies that have potential to help local producers reach sustainability metric goals using Life Cycle Analysis.

3. Water and Nutrient Recycling: A decision tool and synergistic innovative technology. USDA-NIFA. 10/01/18 – 9/30/23. L. Greenlee, R. Stowell; A.M. Schmidt, T. Lim, J. Zulovich, etc. $4,342,280.

A collaborative effort between Nebraska, Missouri, Ohio, Arkansas, and Montana.  Development of a decision tool allowing scientific assessment of individual farm manure management and energy needs, and subsequent recommendation for technologies to implement, is proposed. Collection of on-farm data, integration of data into the decision-making tool, economic analysis of the proposed technology, and outreach programming to influence utilization of the tool are primary roles of the UNL faculty on this project.

Other relevant accomplishments and activities

• MWPS is in the process of revising Wiring Handbook for Rural Facilities, with a projected release date of Spring 2019. Greg Stark, Texas A&M will update the NEC codes, and Scott Sanford, University of Wisconsin-Madison, will update the lighting portion through the addition of a new chapter. Illustrations and editing have been arranged.