3/3/97

Contacts:
Colin Scanes, Executive Associate Dean, College of Agriculture, 515/294-1823
Ed Adcock, Agriculture Information, 515/294-2314

MANURE MANAGEMENT CONSORTIUM HAS TWO NEW MEMBERS

AMES, Iowa -- Oklahoma State University and Michigan State University have joined a consortium aimed at conducting research on manure management and odor control.

The new members join Iowa State University, North Carolina State University and the University of Missouri in the consortium, which was formed in February 1996. The University of Missouri joined in December 1996.

Iowa is the nation's leading hog producer and North Carolina has emerged in second place while Missouri ranks seventh, according to a USDA report of hog numbers as of Dec. 1, 1996. Oklahoma ranks 10th among hog-producing states and Michigan is 12th.

Colin Scanes, executive associate dean of ISU's College of Agriculture, noted that both new members of the consortium "bring considerable strengths in animal science and agricultural engineering, all related to livestock." Both states have similar problems with manure management and unique challenges arising from cattle as well as hog production, Scanes added.

"The major issues concerning swine waste management in Oklahoma, as well as in other states, are odor and management of nutrients from wastes. OSU has launched a program to better understand the sources of odors and systems to minimize them. The consortium is an opportunity for our faculty to work "elbow-to-elbow" with other outstanding scientists," said D.C. Coston, associate director of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station.

Robert Von Bernuth, chair and professor of the Department of Agriculture Engineering at Michigan State University, is optimistic that solutions to livestock waste management can come from the interaction among consortium researchers.

"Finding improved methods for managing livestock wastes as an economic asset will remove many barriers to what is the forefront of a potentially large expansion in the animal industry in Michigan," said Von Bernuth, who heads an MSU Animal Manure Management Task Force. More than 24 million tons of livestock wastes are generated in Michigan each year.

Representatives of all the consortium members will meet March 21 and 22 at North Carolina State. Researchers funded by the consortium will report on the results of their first year's work. New joint projects also will be discussed. The second round of research projects is scheduled to begin July 1.

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