Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T19:34:12.766Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Improved manure management and utilization: A systems approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 February 2007

Laura McCann*
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, 214B Mumford Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
Charles Abdalla
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics and Rural Sociology, 201B Armsby Building, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
Mark Jenner
Affiliation:
Renewable Resource Economist, 714 Poplar Street, Greenville, IL 62246, USA.
Ray Massey
Affiliation:
Department of Agricultural Economics, 214B Mumford Hall, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
*
*Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

The manure issue is complex and inherently interdisciplinary but, more fundamentally, it requires systems thinking. Current policies, technologies, infrastructure, incentives and modes of thinking about the problem fail to consider the system-wide implications, and thus fail to foster the creation of new and innovative solutions. At the farm level, complexity, uncertainty and lack of compatibility with the current farming system need to be addressed in order to promote better manure management. Production facilities, feed management and waste treatment systems (including centralized treatment plants) need to be designed to allow for beneficial use of manure components. At the industry level, changes in the poultry, swine and beef industries have resulted in concentration, both in terms of decision-making and geography. This currently limits the ability of these farmers to take a systems approach to livestock production. Environmental policies thus need to take account and advantage of this new reality. At the economy-wide level, factors affecting the demand and supply for alternative manure products need to be considered. A number of innovative uses are being developed in the private sector, but there are constraints as far as technology, institutions and infrastructure are concerned. A systems perspective will allow the design of policies and technologies that reduce environmental problems associated with manure, while promoting efficient utilization of the resource.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2005

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1Grusenmeyer, D.C. and Cramer, T.N. (1997) Symposium: Manure management – a systems approach. Journal of Dairy Science 80: 26512654.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2Hoag, D.L. and Roka, F.M. (1995) Environmental policy and swine manure management: waste not or want not. American Journal of Alternative Agriculture 10(4): 163166.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3Aronson, D. 1996. Introduction to systems thinking. Available at Web site http://www.thinking.net/Systems_Thinking/Intro_to_ST/intro_to_st.html (verified 9 January 2003).Google Scholar
4Ribuado, M.O., Gollehon, N.R. and Agapoff, J. (2003) Land application of manure by animal feeding operations: Is more land needed. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation Jan./Feb.: 3038.Google Scholar
5Stevenson, W.H., Brown, P.E., Forman, L.W., Baker, W.G., Boatman, J.L. and Boatman, B. (1926) The economic value of farm manure as a fertilizer on Iowa soils. Agricultural Experimental Station, Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts. Bulletin 236: 219268Google Scholar
6Rogers, E.M. (1995) Diffusion of Innovations. 4th ed New York, Free Press.Google ScholarPubMed
7Nowak, P., Shepard, R. and Madison, F. (1998) Farmers and manure management: A critical analysis. In Hatfield, J.L., Stewart, B.A. (eds). Animal Waste Utilization: Effective Use of Manure as a Soil Resource. Ann Arbor Press Ann Arbor, Michigan.Google Scholar
8Schiffman, S.S., Auverman, B.W., and Bottcher, R.W. 2001. Health Effects of Aerial Emissions from Animal Production and Waste Management Systems White Paper. National Center for Manure and Animal Waste Management, Raleigh, North Carolina.Google Scholar
9Williamson, O. (1985) The Economic Institutions of Capitalism.Free Press New York.Google Scholar
10Sutton, A., Applegate, T., Hankins, S., Hill, B., Allee, G., Greene, W., Kohn, R., Meyer, D., Powers, W., and van Kempen, T. 2001. Manipulation of Animal Diets to Affect Manure Production, Composition, and Odors: State of the Science White Paper. National Center for Manure and Animal Waste Management, Raleigh, North Carolina.Google Scholar
11Lorimor, J., Powers, W. and Sutton, A. (2000) Manure Characteristics. MWPS-18, Section 1 Midwest Plan Service, Ames, IowaGoogle Scholar
12Risse, L.M., Cabrera, M.L., Franzluebber, A.K., Gaskin, J.W., Gilley, J.E., Killorn, R., Radcliffe, D.E., Tollner, W.E., and Zhang, H. 2001. Land Application of Manure for Beneficial Reuse White Paper. National Center for Manure and Animal Waste Management, Raleigh, North Carolina.Google Scholar
13Weaver, W.D. and Souder, G.H. (1990). Feasibility of Economics of Transporting Poultry Waste. In Blake, J.P., Hulet, R.M. (eds). Proceedings 1990 National Poultry Waste Management Symposium, Auburn University, Auburn, AlabamaGoogle Scholar
14Mathews, B.W., Sooenberger, L.E. and Tritschler II, J.P. (1996) Grazing systems and spatial distribution of nutrients in pastures: Soil considerations Nutrient Cycling in Forage Systems. Potash and Phosphate Institute and Foundation for Agronomic Research Manhattan, Kansas.Google Scholar
15Hinrichs, C.C. and Welsh, R. (2003) The effects of the industrialization of U.S. livestock agriculture on promoting sustainable production practices. Agriculture and Human Values 20: 125141CrossRefGoogle Scholar
16Lanyon, L.E. (1994) Dairy manure and plant nutrient management issues affecting water quality and the dairy industry. Journal of Dairy Science 77: 19992007.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17Covey, S.R. (1989) The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. The Business Library. Melbourne Australia.Google Scholar
18ISO. 2002. Environmental Management: The ISO 14000 Family of International Standards., Available at Web site http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/otherpubs/iso14000/index.html verified 23 July 2004.Google Scholar
19Porter, M.E. and van der Linde, C. (1995) Toward a new conception of the environment-competitiveness relationship. Journal of Economic Perspectives 9(4): 97118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20Pagano, A.P. and Abdalla, C.W. 1994. Clustering in animal agriculture: Economic trends and policy. In Balancing Animal Production and the Environment, Great Plains Animal Agriculture Task Force Conference.Google Scholar
21Abdalla, C.W., Lanyon, L.E. and Hallberg, M.C. (1995) What we know about historical trends in firm location decisions and regional shifts: policy issues for an industrializing animal agriculture sector. American Journal of Agricultural Economics 77(5): 12291236.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
22Parrish, D.R. (2000) Co-permitting and other issues: Concerns and consequences In Blake, J.P., Patterson, P.H. (eds). Proceedings 2000 National Poultry Waste Management Symposium, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama.Google Scholar
23Jenner, M. (1998) Improved grower/integrator relations would enhance the poultry industry. Feedstuffs 70(11):1 620.Google Scholar
24Goodwin, H.L., Simms Hipp, J., and Wimberly, J. 1999. Off-farm litter management and third-party enterprises. Foundation for Organic Resources Management. Fayetteville, Arkansas. Available at Web site http://www.organix.org/Publications/thirdparty.htm (verified 6 December) 2004.Google Scholar
25Wimberly, J. (2003) Final Report: Commercialization of Biomass Direct-fired Heating Systems. Foundation for Organic Resources Management, Fayetteville, Arkansas.Google Scholar
26Fibrominn, L.L.C. Makefield Executive Quarters, 301 Oxford Valley Road, Suite 704A Yardley, PA 19067. http://www.fibrowattusa.com/US-Benson/ (accessed 6 December 2004).Google Scholar
27Kroger, J.B., van Kempen, T., and Wossink, G.A. 2003. Belt Manure Removal and Gasification Systems to Convert Dry Manure Thermally to a Combustible Gas Stream for Liquid Fuel Recovery. Attorney General of North Carolina “agreement” projects. Animal and Poultry Waste Management Center, North Carolina State University.Google Scholar
28Russell, R. 2003. Swine manure-derived biodiesel demonstration. Watershed Heroes Conference American Farm Bureau Federation, St., Peter, Minnesota, 1921 June 2002.Google Scholar
29Richard, T. 2003. Thinking outside the box: Building materials and other products from animal processed fiber. USDA Agricultural Outlook Forum, 21 February.Google Scholar
30Changing World Technologies. 460 Hempstead Avenue, West Hempstead,. http://www.changingworldtech.com/ (accessed 6 December) 2004.Google Scholar
31Tyler, R.W. (1996) Winning the Organics Game: The Compost Marketer's Handbook. ASHS Press, Alexandria, Virginia.Google Scholar
32Sennett, J. 1998. Potential demand for organics, lawn and garden market report. Appendix 5 of the Report of the Alternative Use Working Group, Del Denney, Chair. In Environmental Framework and Implementation Strategy for Poultry Operations. Final Report to Poultry Industry Environmental Dialogue, December.Google Scholar
33Brown, R.C. (2003) Biorenewable Resources: Engineering New Products from Agriculture. Iowa State Press, Ames, Iowa.Google Scholar
34Jurgens, R. 1999. Summary on Organic Fertilizer., Alliance for Environmental Stewardship: A Comprehensive Approach, St., Louis, Missouri, 2022 September.Google Scholar
35US EPA. 1998. An Analysis of Composting as an Environmental Remediation Technology. United States Environmental Protection Agency, EPA530-R- 98-008, April. Available at Web site http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/compost/ (verified 6 December 2004).Google Scholar
36Comus, D. 2000. Growing a Crop of Algae on Dairy Manure. USDA Agricultural Research Service. Available at Web site http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jul00/algae0700.htm (verified 6 December 2004).Google Scholar
37Bardach, J.E. and Santerre, M.T. 1979. Use of organics residuals in aquaculture. Food and Nutrition Bulletin 1(2). The United Nations University Press. Available at Web site http://www.unu.edu/unupress/food/8F012e/8F012E02.htm (verified 6 December 2004).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
38Sheppard, C. 2003. Using black soldier fly larvae to convert manure to feed. Watershed Heroes Conference, American Farm Bureau Federation, St., Peter, Minnesota, 1921 June, 2002.Google Scholar
39Myers, D. 2002. Crop and manure fiber product demonstration, Watershed Heroes Conference, American Farm Bureau Federation. St., Peter, Minnesota, 1921 June.Google Scholar
40Hannawald, J.E. 1999., Alternative Waste Management Technologies, Summary of Available Resources., USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, October, p., 10. Available at Web site http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/ECS/nutrient/manureutil.doc verified 6 December 2004.Google Scholar
41Wimberly, J. 2002. Energy from Manure, Wind and Biomass Conference, American Farm Bureau Federation Park Ridge, Illinois,23 May.Google Scholar
42Kramer, J.M. 2002. Agricultural Biogas Casebook. Great Lakes Regional Biomass Energy Program, Resource Strategies, Inc., September.Google Scholar
43Jenner, M.W., Prato, T., and Xu, F. 1994. The impact of management on the classification of broiler litter., Poster presented at the American Agricultural Economic Association annual meeting in San Diego, California, 710 August.Google Scholar
44Pennsylvania General Assmbly. 2003. Commercial, Manure Hauler and Broker Certification, Act. House Bill No. 1809 Session of 2003, Printer's No. 2350.Google Scholar
45Merton, R.K. (1976) The unanticipated consequences of social action. In Sociological Ambivalence and Other Essays. The Free Press, New York.Google Scholar
46US EPA. 2003. Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) – Final Rule. Federal Register 68(29), 12 February 2003. Available at Web site http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/ (verified 6 December 2004).Google Scholar
47Lape, J. 2001. Presentation at EPA CAFO proposed rule, Baltimore, Maryland, March.Google Scholar
48Dodd, A., Abdalla, C., Lanyon, L., and Graves, R. 2003. New EPA CAFO Rules: What Pennsylvania Poultry and Livestock Operations will be Affected. Pennsylvania State University College of Agricultural Sciences.Google Scholar
49Smith, C.M. 2001. Testimony, before the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee United States House of Representatives Concerning Environmental Protection Agency Proposed Regulations Concerning National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Permit Regulation and Effluent Limitations Guidelines and Standards for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations, 16 May, Washington, DC.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
50Powell, M. 2000. Delmarva Poultry Industry Questions MDEs co-Permits., Delmarva Farmer, 29 August, p. 10.Google Scholar
51US, EPA. 2003. Final Water Quality Trading Policy, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water. Water Quality Trading Policy, 13 January. Available at Web site http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/trading/finalpolicy2003.html (verified 6 December 2004).Google Scholar
52Letson, D. (1992) Point/non-point trading: An interpretative survey. Natural Resources Journal 32: 219232.Google Scholar
53Hoag, D.L. and Hughes-Popp, J.S. (1997) Theory and practice of pollution credit trading in water quality management. Review of Agricultural Economics 19(2): 252262.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
54Alexander, R. 2003. U.S.C.C. Seal of Testing Assurance Labels. Annual Meeting of U.S., Composting Council, Las Vegas, Nevada, January., STA Web site is http://tmecc.org/sta/index.html (verified 6 December 2004).Google Scholar