Animal Agriculture Facility Runoff Control using Intensive Management and Treatment Channels
Team
P.I.: Steven Safferman, Biosystems & Agricultural Engineering
Graduate Researcher: Becky Larson
Collaborators: Michael DiBernardo, Michigan Department of Agricultural
Stephen Davis, Michigan USDA NRCS
Thad Cleary, Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
Benjamin Darling, MSU Land Management
Sponsors
Michigan Department of Agricultural
Animal Industry Coalition
Michigan Department of Environmental Quality
MSU Department of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering
To determine if a combination of intensive management and low cost treatment channels can effectively and efficiently improve runoff water quality from animal agricultural facilities. Runoff from the silage area and exercise lot will specifically be targeted for this research. A protocol will be developed to environmentally manage silage and a treatment channel designed. The protocol will be instituted and small-scale experimentation on the treatment channel will be conducted. Additionally, the project team will monitor the installation of a NRCS approved wastewater treatment strip. Samples will be collected and analyses conducted to determine base-line impacts before the implementation of the management and treatment systems. Storm-event sample monitoring will then proceed.