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NCCC009: MWPS: Research and Extension Educational Materials

Annual/Termination Reports (SAES-422): [03/29/2010] [01/11/2011] [06/27/2011] [04/11/2013]

Date of Annual Report: 03/29/2010

Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 05/12/09 to 05/13/09
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2008 to 09/2009

    • Participants:

    URL: Copy of participant list
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    See attached minutes.


    URL: Copy of minutes

    Accomplishments:
    Outcomes:

    EPCRA reporting. In response to EPAs recent final rule on CERCLA/EPCRA for livestock systems, IA, IL, NE, MN, SD, and WI worked together to develop forms and present calculations needed for 'Large CAFO' producers to use in reporting continuous emissions of ammonia and hydrogen sulfide to emergency management agencies.

    Ventilation workshops. A team from IA, NE, MN, and SD, educated over 100 swine vets on ventilation, energy and emergency procedure issues. These vets will multiply that initial effort and translate it to a large segment of the Iowa swine industry.

    Outputs:

    Three new publications were released during the year: " Private Water Systems (MWPS-14) " Farm Machinery & Labor Sharing (NCFMEC-21) " CIDWT, 2nd Edition

    Milestones:

    Develop an educational resource or training opportunity for facilitating LGU researchers to collaborate effectively with MWPS in developing and implementing NIFA integrated proposals (by June 2010).

    Obtain financial support for and begin writing a handbook for Ag builders that addresses problematic code and insurance issues (by May 2010).

    Pursue collaborative publication and educational opportunities with energy-related groups (by September 2010).

    Impact Statements:
    1. Impacts from recent publications include: o The House Handbook, MWPS-16, is used as a text in the Technical Systems Management class on residential housing, which enrolls about 25-30 students per year. o Illinois primary livestock manure management plans, IMMP (www.immp.uiuc.edu), includes references to MWPS publications in its Resources section, and incorporates tables from MWPS-18 section 1, Manure Characteristics.
    2. Impacts of coordinated odor modeling and site planning efforts include: i. Using the Community Assessment Model (CAM) for siting swine facilities, site locations for 27 producers with an approximate value of $24M were examined and feedback given to the producer to reduce the possibility of nuisance odor lawsuits. Proper siting by far has the largest impact on reducing community air quality concerns and keeping livestock production viable. ii. Odor and air quality impacts on agricultural communities have been reduced by working with swine producers before facilities are constructed. Location of the proper site, and the inclusion of mitigating technologies improves the economic viability of farms by reducing the potential of lawsuits, improves neighbor relations, and reduces emissions from livestock operations.
    Last Modified: 15-Apr-2010

    Date of Annual Report: 01/11/2011

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 05/10/10 to 05/11/10
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2009 to 09/2010

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    See attached file for FY2010 Minutes.


    URL: Copy of minutes

    Accomplishments:

    Impact Statements:
    Last Modified: 14-Jan-2011

    Date of Annual Report: 06/27/2011

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 05/12/11 to 05/12/11
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2010 to 09/2011

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    NCCC9 Research and Extension Educational Materials Minutes of Annual meeting 5/12/11

    The 2011 Annual Meeting of NCCC9 was held via teleconference due to logistical and budget constraints. Steve Pohl, SDSU, presiding.

    Attending: IL Ted Funk (secretary FY11); IA Jay Harmon, Kathy Walker (MWPS), John Lawrence (Academic Advisor); IN Al Heber; KS Joe Harner; MI (none); MN Kevin Janni; MO Joe Zulovich; ND Ken Hellevang, Tom Scherer; NE Rick Stowell; OH Lingying Zhao (Vice-Chair FY11); SD Steve Pohl (Chair FY11); WI Brian Holmes; USDABrad Rein

    The email list NCCC-9 as of 5/11 is as follows:

    funkt@illinois.edu; jharmon@iastate.edu; heber@purdue.edu; jharner@ksu.edu; Kenneth.Hellevang@ndsu.edu; bjholmes@wisc.edu; Thomas.Scherer@ndsu.edu; rstowell2@unl.edu; kjanni@umn.edu; yzhang1@uiuc.edu; zhao.119@osu.edu; zulovichj@missouri.edu; Stephen.Pohl@sdstate.edu;

    MWPS HQ: Kathy Walker kjwalker@iastate.edu; Academic advisor: John Lawrence jdlaw@iastate.edu; USDA advisor: Bradley Rein brein@nifa.usda.gov

    ********************************************************* Kathy Walker: MWPS report highlights Kathy Walker and Jay Harmon prepared and presented a summary report on MWPS projects, top selling products, inventories, and marketing plans for various products.

    Of particular interest:

    Cow-Calf Production in the Corn Belt (Don Jones, Purdue retired, lead subject matter expert). This has been peer-reviewed, and estimated publishing date is Fall 2011.

    Dairy Freestall Handbook. All content is in hand at HQ, Walker will work toward finishing the product as soon as the Cow-Calf project is essentially completed.

    Wiring Handbook. Inventory of the current edition is getting short. Laverne Stetson (USDA-ret.) plans to begin the update late spring 2011; the update will reflect changes in the NEC.

    NCFMEC series. William Edwards (IA State) has a grant to support updating the series, which has been a good seller for MWPS.

    Discussion:

    Marketing plan for the Cow-Calf book. What are the outlets for the book, and how can we get advertising coverage?

    Summary of Top 5, top 10 selling products in FY10 and first 3 quarters of FY11. Top sellers are pretty consistent year-to-year, with some large sales due to books being used in college classes or for training/certification program texts. Kathy Walker reported her experiences with sale packaging of multiple books (did not increase revenue), price increases for books based on fair market value, and opportunities for listing MWPS publications on Facebook, OpenLibrary.com, etc.

    Pre-publication sales seem to be helping with operating revenue. Kathy is doing Print-on-demand, 5 units each, for publications that have no inventory remaining on the shelf. Pricing reflects the POD costs.

    Selling NRAES products is a money-maker for MWPS, because of the considerable mark-up on the per-unit cost.

    Jay Harmon: financial report on MWPS

    Yearly trends: FY06 and FY10 were in the red, other years including the first 3 quarters of FY11 were positive. The debt to IA State is being paid off. Members were reminded of the relationship between the NCCC-9 committee structure and MWPS, that NCCC-9 does not have administrative authority over MWPS.

    John Lawrence--academic advisor to NCCC-9: update

    No specific comments about MWPS, i.e. no concerns heard this year. MWPS is seen as a community clearinghouse for publishing relevant books. A question was raised about the need for major revisions of product, such as the grain handling and storage materials, as farms get larger and equipment and management practices change.

    The mid-term review of NCCC-9 is due December 15th, 2011.

    Brad ReinUSDA advisor: USDA partner update This has been a very unusual year at USDA, with delays in budget, lots of uncertainty. USDA has had reductions in travel and other restrictions. The federal partner is prioritizing, the organization is restructuring, and advisors are re-assigned under new divisions.

    Steve Pohl: General Discussion

    Evidences of collaboration in keeping with a viable NCCC committee: Informal vs. formal.

    Informal: linkages (co-authored publications), common set of logic models for projects and programs. Formal: conferences, sponsored publications, eXtension communities of practice.

    Questions: is NCCC-9 typical in how it does business? Is the NAEMS project an example of collaboration that NCCC-9 can take credit for? (Depends on stakeholder outreach, etc.)

    Concerns about keeping NCCC-9 viable centered around the Agricultural Engineering expertise left in the NC region; members noted that the people who address MWPS traditional content areas are getting very sparse. Example: grain handling and storage experts.

    Other concerns: lack of advertising of the educational resources that are available; competition with eXtension, or collaboration; lack of critical mass to author new in-depth publications; reduced frequency of non-administrative meetings among and outside of NCCC-9 committee;

    Important benefits of NCCC-9: value of the committee is finding out what other groups are accomplishing, whats available, whats being done across the region, in order to collaborate and avoid duplication of effort.

    Suggested new structure: Regular conference calls among Extension Ag Engineers, other specialists, county agents, etc. Need to meet fairly frequentlyquarterly, maybe every other month. Report on what we are doing, (not on what didnt get done). This would require that a few people become points of contact on major program areas, and solicit input from people across the region for selected, pre-arranged and advertised reporting during the conference calls. The conference calls would not need to be formal webinar presentations, which entail a lot of work and preparation, but rather to provide updates and stimulate conversation on ways to work together.

    ******************************************************************************

    Other business:

    Secretary elected: Rick Stowell, UNL. Offices change October 1. Other officers move up: Funk becomes vice-chair, Zhao becomes chair, Pohl past-chair.

    Accomplishments:
    STATE REPORTS Illinois Reporting Scientist: Ted Funk

    Outcomes and impacts of multi-state extension engineering programs that were recently completed or are ongoing.

    Biofilter project, including IL, SDSU, and UKY. The goal of this project is to improve biofiltration to treat emissions from mechanically ventilated swine buildings. We characterized organic and inorganic media in order to provide designers a database for biofilter medium selection, by testing the pressure drop of different types of medium taking the particle size distribution, moisture, and compaction of materials into consideration. We are developing a novel moisture sensor concept, expecting to improve accuracy in in-situ moisture measurement of coarse materials; we are testing our design strategy, combining the knowledge we learned from these projects so far and carrying out more tests on bench and pilot scale biofilters. A comprehensive test of eleven biofilter media was carried out and an improved pressure drop prediction method was developed. These results offer biofilter designers handy information to select media and predict pressure drop in complicated designs. A five-month test of bench scale biofilters fed with ammonia demonstrated the necessity for moisture addition in excess of pre-humidification to treat high-concentration ammonia emission. We also found that nitrate/nitric acid buildup inhibits nitrifying microbial communities and reduces nitrification rate; ammonium accumulated in the media could have a negative impact on ammonia diffusion from the gaseous phase into the biofilm. This work indicates that in this design, nitrite does not affect nitrification very much, but nitrate/nitric acid and ammonium are strong indicators of biofilter failure. These observations could help with biofilter design and management. A continuous monitoring plan is tracking the long term performance of pilot scale biofilters. More practical experiences could be derived from this work, and will improve the implementation of biofilters and air quality in the future.

    Composting project, including Illinois and Wisconsin. States 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.

    Certified Livestock Manager Training. Our state-mandated 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.

    Extension engineers who have been hired [or retired, fired, re-wired, etc.] in the past year.

    Matt Robert, a PE who has worked as a Visiting Research Engineer in our department for nearly 10 years, recently took a position with the NRCS IL State Office as an agricultural engineer. Ms. Laura Pepple, MS-Agricultural Engineering, IA State, started in our department in June, 2011.

    Opportunities for planned or potential collaboration in multi-state programming as identified by extension engineers in your organization.

    Illinois is implementing a new Technical Service Provider training program to keep TSP certifications current. This will enable producers in Illinois to continue to access NRCS EQIP cost share funds for projects, including livestock manure management. The first round of training will begin in August, 2011, and will be open to TSP individuals practicing in Illinois and surrounding states. Collaboration with Wisconsin Extension and other states, in the form of curriculum development and reciprocal training across state lines, is anticipated.

    Newly implemented or significant uses of MWPS materials.

    The Midwest Compost Training Workshop, held in Lexington, IL, made use of the On-Farm Composting Handbook, NRAES-54; and Field Guide to On-Farm Composting, NRAES-114. The Horse Facilities Handbook, MWPS-60, continues to be used in a variety of horse owner workshops.

    The House Handbook, MWPS-16, is used as the text for an undergraduate class, TSM-371, Residential Housing, in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering.

    www.mwps.org is linked on all our manure-management websites, including: Manure Central, Small Farms Manure Management, IL Livestock Trail, Livestock Training, Manure Share, and Compost Central (all accessible via www.manurecentral.illinois.edu).

    IOWA Reporting Scientist: Jay Harmon

    State report by Dr. Harmon is included in the text of the minutes.

    NEBRASKA Reporting Scientist: Rick Stowell

    The Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project [leadership provided through NE, LA, PA, and MN; numerous other states involved in developing educational content, including AR, CA, IA, IN, MI, NC, SD and TX that produced final products this year] Outputs: Five air quality webcasts (web-based seminars) and a video were produced and are viewable on-demand at the Animal Manure Management eXtension website website http://www.extension.org/pages/Air_Quality_in_Animal_Agriculture. AQEAA supported the development and delivery of professional development workshops on: - Evaluating opportunities to reduce air emissions on a livestock or poultry operation (using the National Air Quality Site Assessment Tool, NAQSAT); - Using tools for assessing the carbon footprint of a livestock operation; - Measuring particulate matter from animal production sources; and - Measuring bioaerosols in animal environments. These workshops were first conducted at the International Air Quality and Manure Management in Agriculture Symposium, which was held in Dallas, TX, September 13-16, 2010. As a co-sponsor of this symposium, the AQEAA project also brought in keynote speakers on air quality and facilitated a panel discussion of animal industry stakeholders on Perspectives on Implementing Control Technologies and BMPs. Outcomes / Impacts: The Air Quality web section of the Animal Manure Management eXtension website continues to grow as a source of science-based information and educational resources on air quality matters for animal agriculture. The main Air Quality web page had over 1300 page views during the current year. The AQEAA webcasts averaged 129 viewers per live broadcast and each viewer influences an average of 136 producers. Webcast viewers report that their main reasons for participating are for professional development, for providing recommendations to producers, and for influencing regulatory or policy development. The five professional development workshops averaged over 25 attendees. Four integrated air quality projects are collaborating with AQEAA to disseminate air quality information and conduct related educational programs; - Odor, Dust and Gaseous Emissions from Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) in the Southern Great Plains, USDA NIFA funding; - Air Emissions from Deep-Bedded Mono-Slope Beef Barns, USDA AFRI project; - Mitigation Monitoring and Microbial Assessment of Gas-Phase Biofilters and Extension Outreach, USDA AFRI project; and - Biofilters for Gas and Odor Control, USDA NRI project. Through the collaborative efforts of AQEAA and the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center, grant funds were obtained to provide leadership and coordination for climate change-related Extension efforts for animal agriculture in the U.S. beginning in 2011.

    Ventilation Workshops [SD, NE, IA and MN] Incorporate with info reported by other states& The four-state team used $25.5k in funding from pork producer associations (IA, MN, and NE) to construct and equip a new mobile ventilation laboratory. The facility is being used to more effectively deliver workshops that demonstrate management of environmental control systems for energy conservation, reduced air emissions, and enhanced animal health.

    Manure Pit Foaming [MN, IL, IA, NE] Incorporate with info reported by other states& NE participates in collaborative efforts of the Manure Pit Foaming group, primarily by collecting manure samples from Nebraska facilities and obtaining state producer association funds to cover manure analysis costs of the project. The group is studying the cause of foaming and explosions in deep-pit livestock buildings as well as preventive/counter measures.

    North Dakota Reporting scientists: Tom Scherer, Ken Hellevang

    Outcomes: 1. Education on grain drying, storage and handling 2. Disinfection of private water systems after flooding

    Outputs: 1. MWPS-28 Wiring Handbook for Rural Facilities is a required text in ASM class on electricity and electronics. 2. MWPS-13 and MWPS-29 are used in an ASM class on postharvest technology.

    Impact Statements:

    1. MWPS-14 (Private Water Systems Handbook) has been the source material for several presentations and is recommended as a reference resource during flood control efforts across North and South Dakota. 2. Not many questions on grain drying this past year, however, MWPS-13 is still recommended as a resource to clients and the public. 3. Many organizations and individuals have been referred to MWPS-22 Low Temperature & Solar Grain Drying Handbook. The last two sections usually contain the information many people desire.

    Recent change of status of positions

    A nationwide search for a new department head was conducted. We interviewed one candidate and an offer was made but refused. The position is open and applications are being accepted. The job is posted on the Internet at: https://jobs.ndsu.edu/postings/180

    Wisconsin Reporting scientist: Brian Holmes

    Supported by a SARE grant, a series of energy related webinars were planned in 2010 and delivered in 2011. Presenters were from universities in Michigan, Wisconsin, North Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Nebraska. The primary audience for the series was county extension educators, state extension specialists and NRCS staff. In 2010, a SARE supported program developed presentation materials, articles and factsheets on greenhouse energy conservation and alternative fuels for heating greenhouses. A workshop for high school Ag instructors and two webinars was attended by 42 participants from 6 different states (Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota, Missouri, Kansas, and Maine). Subsequent programs offered by those trained in the webinars have reached 64 additional people. The first presentations covered all aspects of greenhouse energy efficiency, the second presentation looked at thermal/shade curtain systems, the third presentation looks at energy efficient plant production methods and the fourth presentation covered heating greenhouses with biomass fuel sources The presentation materials, presentation narrative, webinar recording and publications are available on-line. Publications deriving from the project include: Four new publications and a revision of an existing UW-Extension publication were published under this grant. They are all available at no-cost to download at http://learningstore.uwex.edu/Energy-Conservation-C29.aspx University of Wisconsin Extension bulletins - Greenhouse Energy Efficiency, Scott Sanford, A3907-01 - Using Curtains to Reduce Heating and Cooling Costs in Greenhouses", Scott Sanford, A3907-02 - Greenhouse Unit Heaters: Types, Placement, and Efficiency, Scott Sanford, A3907-03 (revision of previously published bulletin) - Biomass Energy for Heating Greenhouses, Scott Sanford, A3907-04 - Biomass Heating in Greenhouses: Case Studies, Scott Sanford, A3907-05

    Magazine Articles - Energy Efficient Annuals Series, Erik Runkle, Greenhouse Grower Accessible at: http://www.uwex.edu/energy/gh_PRES.html

    3) Greenhouse Energy model  Excel spreadsheet - UW Greenhouse Energy Analyzer Link to tool at http://www.uwex.edu/energy/greenhouses.html

    4) All curriculum materials are available on the WI EERE web site under Greenhouses / Presentations (http://www.uwex.edu/energy/AgEnergy.html ). - All materials used in presentations, speaker notes, webinar recordings and links to extension publications are available at http://www.uwex.edu/energy/gh_PRES.html .

    5) Resource list of additional information. - A list of articles, bulletins and web sites is available at http://www.uwex.edu/energy/gh_PRES.html

    An anaerobic digester operator training course was planned in early 2011 and delivered in April 2011 in Fond du Lac, WI. The program provided design, process, and safety information for digester operation. The training program was planned to highlight design options and optimization of system operation with a focus on safety, including an on-farm safety assessment and walk through. Detailed operational and trouble-shooting information was presented for system start-up, process control, and monitoring to provide a framework to maintain operator safety while achieving consistent biogas production. An operator panel composed of industry, municipal, and on-farm digester operators also provided real-world experience and expertise for digester operation and management. This program was a collaborative effort from UW-CALS, UW-Extension, MSU Extension, UW Extension Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture.

    The 48th Annual Rural Energy Conference and Agricultural Wiring Code Workshop was held on March 11-12, 2010 at Radisson Hotel, La Crosse, WI. Conference program information can be seen at: http://fyi.uwex.edu/mrec/mrec-programs-and-conferences/mrec-conference-archives/2010-2/

    Midwest Plan Service Activity 1. The following MWPS publications were used as textbooks in University of Wisconsin-Madison classes: Dairy Freestall Housing and Equipment (MWPS-7) Manure Characteristics (MWPS-18-S1) Manure Storages (MWPS-18-S2)

    2. Dairy Freestall Housing and Equipment (MWPS-7) is being revised. In 2010, edited chapters (3,5,6,8,9) were shared with MWPS staff. Reminders to chapter authors and potential authors were made. A decision was made in spring 2011 to shift authorship of chapters 2 and 7 to Brian Holmes.

    Impact Statements:
    1. The main Air Quality web page had over 1300 page views during the current year. The AQEAA webcasts averaged 129 viewers per live broadcast and each viewer influences an average of 136 producers. Webcast viewers report that their main reasons for participating are for professional development, for providing recommendations to producers, and for influencing regulatory or policy development.
    Last Modified: 11-Jul-2011

    Date of Annual Report: 04/11/2013

    Report Information:
  • Annual Meeting Dates: 06/01/12 to 06/01/12
  • Period the Report Covers: 10/2011 to 09/2012

    • Participants:
    Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting:
    See Attachment


    URL: Copy of minutes

    Accomplishments:
    SIGNIFICANT EFFORTS, OUTCOMES AND IMPACTS NCCC-9 Quarterly Conference Calls NCCC-9 successfully transitioned to convening the committee on a quarterly basis via conference calls. During each of these calls, an extension specialist was invited to present on an extension program that was recently completed or has produced significant outcomes. Each presentation provided opportunity for discussion and was recorded for later viewing. Outcomes: Presentations made during the year addressed: " Anaerobic digestion (Becky Larson, University of Wisconsin-Madison) " Manure and environmental management for horses (Shea Porr, Virginia Tech University) " Air quality education in animal agriculture (Rick Stowell, University of Nebraska) " Monoslope bedded-pack beef barns (Beth Doran, Iowa State University) Impacts: The quarterly conference calls provided more continuity to committee activity and facilitated more timely communication about extension publications and programs.

    NCCC-9 Collaborations NCCC-9 members worked together on the following collaborations: 1) Minnkota Builders Conference: Minnesota and South Dakota organized the 2012 meeting of the Minnkota Builders and Equipment Association in Morton, MN. Outcomes: The meeting provided consultants, builders, and equipment suppliers with current information about biosecurity, the National Electrical Code, agricultural safety, variable-speed fan controllers, PRRS filtering, swine manure pit foaming, and monoslope beef barn emissions. Impacts: Participants state that this professional development opportunity provides them with useful information that can be directly used in their facility-planning activities. 2) Beef finisher planning: Illinois, Iowa and South Dakota are collaboratively developing 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. Future outcomes: For this project, state universities and agencies will work together to collect field data and experiences to improve beef unit planning procedures. Expected impact: Beef finishers with bedded pack manure systems will be designed to more accurately reflect the appropriate manure storage sizes needed to protect the environment, fertilize cropland, and efficiently house animals.

    3) Ventilation workshops: Extension engineers and animal scientists in MN, IA, SD, & NE continue to deliver workshops for barn managers and pig caretakers that address the need for improved understanding and management of mechanical ventilation systems in swine buildings. A new mobile ventilation laboratory was used to demonstrate mechanical ventilation principles and controller performance. Funds for the mobile lab were provided by the pork producer organizations in the four states. Outcomes: More than 20 workshops were held in the four-state region this year with more than 400 participants. Expected impact: Pork producers will maintain a healthier and more productive environment for their pigs and will do so using less energy (feed, fuel and electricity).

    4) Manure pit foaming: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska are collaborating on combating manure pit foaming. These states have seen an increase in foaming on manure pits, with foam sometimes causing flash fires in buildings. Studies are 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 has been assembled that will represent a broad spectrum of experience and capability to tackle the problem. Extension articles and safety information were conveyed across the region and in manure pit safety training sessions, including the 2011 North American Manure Expo, to help address short-term concerns. Expected impacts: Various solutions are expected to be developed within 2-3 years and reduced incidence of fires and explosions is anticipated.

    5) Digester operator training: Wisconsin and Michigan (UW-CALS, UW-Extension, MSU Extension, UW Extension Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center, and the Michigan Department of Agriculture) collaborated on developing resources and delivering training for digester operators. The program provided design, process, and safety information for digester operation. The training program highlighted design options and optimization of system operation with a focus on safety, including an on-farm safety assessment and walk-through. Detailed operational and trouble-shooting information was presented for system start-up, process control, and monitoring. An operator panel composed of industry, municipal, and on-farm digester operators also provided real-world experience and expertise for digester operation and management. Outcomes: Anaerobic digester operator training was delivered in April 2011 in Fond du Lac, WI, and at Michigan locations. Expected impacts: The training provides a framework to maintain operator safety while achieving consistent biogas production from anaerobic digesters.

    6) TSP training: Illinois is coordinating technical service provider (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 to provide training to all TSP who need certification. Expected impact: Technical Service Providers will write high quality site-specific manure nutrient management plans that will assist producers to improve environmental quality in their respective vicinities.

    7) Biofilter evaluation: Illinois, Missouri and South Dakota are collaboratively evaluating biofilters for ammonia and odor control from mechanically ventilated swine buildings. Outcomes: Long-term, bench-scale experiments 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 was built, 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. Further experience with the large-scale vertical biofilter container was obtained at a commercial farm installation, with the cooperation of the farm staff. Extension publications on biofilters were posted on the Livestock & Poultry Environmental Learning Centers eXtension website. Impacts: Prediction models for nitrous oxide formation related to media moisture content were proposed and tested and will help biofilter designers and operators avoid creation of excess greenhouse gases. Improved design of the novel moisture sensing system is nearly complete, which will greatly enhance odor and ammonia mitigation performance of biofilters, reduce the need for biofilter media moisture monitoring by the operators, and reduce release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

    7) Air Quality: The Air Quality Education in Animal Agriculture (AQEAA) project is a collaborative extension and teaching effort led by specialists in Nebraska, Louisiana, Pennsylvania, and Minnesota. Through the AQEAA project, Land-Grant University specialists from across the U.S. have been collaborating in delivering applied, research-based air quality information to those who work with livestock and poultry producers. The AQEAA project developed Air Quality content on the Animal Manure Management eXtension website in collaboration with the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center (LPELC). The NIFA-funded project was completed this year. Outcomes: The online materials include 18 written publications, 3 videos, and 16 recorded webinars. Also made accessible are selected research and technology summaries as well as online content produced by other organizations. Impacts: Website usage information, participant polls, and stakeholder surveys provided evidence that the resources developed by this project are being utilized to maintain and improve air quality, and that delivery of the information via eXtension has been an effective means of communicating information on this topic. Webcasts were especially effective in communicating information and providing continuing professional development.

    8) AFO air emissions: Minnesota is working with collaborators from Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota on a USDA NIFA-funded integrated project on airborne emissions from animal feeding operations. Outcomes: A series of videos for public policy makers, regulators, producers, owners, managers and interested citizens is being produced. The videos will be posted on the on the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center website. Expected impacts: Decision-makers will make better-informed decisions and/or more timely decisions regarding AFO air emissions, which are expected to result in reduced and/or less-problematic air emissions.

    8) 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. Outcome: A composting demonstration site was set up in Wisconsin, and workshops have been held for composting cooperators. Impact: One waste hauler who has a horse farm manure disposal route is collaborating so far, diverting manure to a composting site.

    9) Climate change: A national project team including Nebraska, Washington, Texas, Georgia, New York, and Minnesota is collaborating on a newly 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 within each of five regions in the U.S. are forming and beginning to conduct regional needs assessments. Minnesota leads efforts in the Midwest and is involving several NCCC-9 members in the Midwest working group. Expected impacts: This 5-year project will build Extension capacity to extend climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies nationally, which will result in more resilient livestock and poultry operations and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

    10) Flood recovery: North Dakota provided resources and education on flood recovery and rebuilding energy efficient homes. There was significant need and demand for this information throughout the northern plains states and Missouri River valley due to the extensive flooding during the spring and summer of 2011. Outcomes: Information and resources were provided at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/flood in a timely manner for use throughout affected areas in the Midwest. Expected impacts: Rebuilding and recovery in these areas will be hastened and will include better-designed homes and facilities.

    11) Field tile drainage: North Dakota, Minnesota and South Dakota collaborated to deliver joint workshops on designing and installing field tile. Outcomes: Field Tiling Workshops were filled to capacity. Water quality monitoring results were made available at http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/waterquality/tile-drainage-1. Expected impacts: More acres in the northern plains states will be properly tiled, increasing the productive capacity of this land without harming water quality.

    12) Farm energy: NCCC-9 members (esp. from Iowa, North Dakota and Wisconsin) have contributed to various renewable energy and farm energy conservation extension programs underway in the Midwest. Outcomes: Contributing NCCC-9 members have produced fact sheets, webinars, You Tube videos, and other web content related to grain drying, swine housing, and manure digestion. Impacts: Other members are kept informed of research and educational developments in the farm energy area. The intended impacts are that farm operations become more energy efficient and produce more energy.

    Impact Statements:
    1. The quarterly conference calls provided more continuity to committee activity and facilitated more timely communication about extension publications and programs.
    2. Participants state that this professional development opportunity provides them with useful information that can be directly used in their facility-planning activities.
    3. Beef finishers with bedded pack manure systems will be designed to more accurately reflect the appropriate manure storage sizes needed to protect the environment, fertilize cropland, and efficiently house animals.
    4. Pork producers will maintain a healthier and more productive environment for their pigs and will do so using less energy (feed, fuel and electricity).
    5. Various solutions are expected to be developed within 2-3 years and reduced incidence of fires and explosions is anticipated.
    6. The training provides a framework to maintain operator safety while achieving consistent biogas production from anaerobic digesters.
    7. Technical Service Providers will write high quality site-specific manure nutrient management plans that will assist producers to improve environmental quality in their respective vicinities.
    8. Prediction models for nitrous oxide formation related to media moisture content were proposed and tested and will help biofilter designers and operators avoid creation of excess greenhouse gases. Improved design of the novel moisture sensing system is nearly complete, which will greatly enhance odor and ammonia mitigation performance of biofilters, reduce the need for biofilter media moisture monitoring by the operators, and reduce release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
    9. Website usage information, participant polls, and stakeholder surveys provided evidence that the resources developed by this project are being utilized to maintain and improve air quality, and that delivery of the information via eXtension has been an effective means of communicating information on this topic. Webcasts were especially effective in communicating information and providing continuing professional development.
    10. Decision-makers will make better-informed decisions and/or more timely decisions regarding AFO air emissions, which are expected to result in reduced and/or less-problematic air emissions.
    11. One waste hauler who has a horse farm manure disposal route is collaborating so far, diverting manure to a composting site.
    12. This 5-year project will build Extension capacity to extend climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies nationally, which will result in more resilient livestock and poultry operations and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
    13. Rebuilding and recovery in these areas will be hastened and will include better-designed homes and facilities.
    14. More acres in the northern plains states will be properly tiled, increasing the productive capacity of this land without harming water quality.
    15. Other members are kept informed of research and educational developments in the farm energy area. The intended impacts are that farm operations become more energy efficient and produce more energy.
    Last Modified: 11-Apr-2013
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