2002 Annual Report
Extension and Outreach
Assistant Extension Engineer–Manure Management Systems
David Schmidt, Assistant Extension
Engineer
Kevin Janni, Professor, Head, and Extension Engineer
Objective
This program was developed in 1995 to provide information to a broad
range of audiences on issues of animal agriculture and the environment.
Specific objectives of the program include:
- Define the educational and training needs for the many diverse Minnesota audiences involved in feedlot design, construction, management, funding, and permitting.
- Design and implement educational programs for different audiences, working in collaboration with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) and other relevant agencies such as the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR), the National Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).
- Prepare materials and visuals to support the educational programs.
Program Description
An Assistant Extension Engineer was hired in July 1995 to coordinate
and implement education and training programs in feedlot design, construction,
and management. The feedlot engineer conducts a variety of seminars with
producer groups, engineers, extension educators, technical staff, and
other interested groups and individuals on alternative waste handling
systems, odor control, and the pollution potential of manure. Other responsibilities
include farm visits, involvement in an odor research program, and coordination
of education efforts among state agencies. This part time position is
funded by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency using a special legislative
appropriation.
Outcomes
This program has improved the working relationship between state and federal agencies involved in manure education and research (MDA, MPCA, BWSR, and NRCS). This program has cooperated on several education projects including alternative swine production systems, land application of manure, certification of commercial manure applicators, livestock and poultry odor, and composting of dead animals. Efforts of this program have also resulted in the formation of two Feedlot and Manure Management Coordination Committees, one for research and one for education. All state agencies involved in manure research and education are represented on these committees. The committees meet on an as needed basis. This program also contributed significantly to the odor research within the department by securing funding, designing experiments, developing protocols, gathering field data, and analyzing data. This project also was responsible for presenting critical manure handling and odor information to federal and state staff at a variety of meetings throughout the United States.