Innovative Mortality Management Tools for Animal Agriculture Industries

The purpose of this award is for the grantee to address nutrient, pesticide, and pathogen transport to surface water and groundwater; Energy consumption; and air quality.The Division will produce an educational brochure and distribute it to all Soil and Water Conservation Districts throughout North Carolina informing them of the innovative mortality management tools available and the associated environmental and long-term economic benefits. The districts will then share the brochure and information with dairy and swine producers. The Division will install these innovative technologies on 10-11 commercial farms across the State. The use of forced aeration composting and gasification for swine, dairy, and poultry mortalities will assist in reducing surface and ground water pollutants from animal agriculture operations and in reducing Energy consumption for managing mortalities.