FUTURE CHALLENGES IN ANIMAL PRODUCTION SYSTEMS: SEEKING SOLUTIONS THROUGH FOCUSED FACILITATION

• Sponsoring Institution: National Institute of Food and Agriculture
• Project Status: COMPLETE
• Funding Source: HATCH
• Reporting Frequency: Annual
• Accession No.: 1017877
• Multistate No.: S-OLD 1074
• Project Start Date: Oct 1, 2018
• Project End Date: Sep 30, 2023
• Program Code: [(N/A)]- (N/A)

Recipient Organization
UNIV OF MINNESOTA
(N/A)
ST PAUL,MN 55108

Performing Department
Bioproducts & Biosystems Engineering

Non Technical Summary
University of Minnesota participants are willing and active participants in the multi-state project S1074 objectives to: (1) create issue-focused adaptive networks; (2) synthesize data, analytical tools and communication mechanisms to evaluate and discuss animal protein supply chain sustainability; and (3) propose research and Extension directions and solutions that contribute to animal protein system sustinability for future generations. Weagree to the Issue-based approach outlined for S1074and recognize the scope of work will shift and require adaptation depending on the issues S1074 decides to target. University of Minnesota participants will support education of the next generation of problem solvers through student mentoring, and participation in the INFEWs-ER Virtual Resoruce Center. The ongoing workby University of Minnesota participants related to housing systems and design for beef cattle, poultry and swine production systems are opportunities to integrate both research and communication mechanisms into broader discussions and synthesis efforts by S1074. Finally, University of Minnesota participants will continue to seek solutions to improve sustainability in the protein supply chain, and seek the resources to test these solutions. The expected short-term outcomes over the duration of the project enhanced graduate student training through collaboration and mentoring opportunities, and strengthenednetworks encompassing livestock industry and research and Extension personnel with University of Minnesota participation.

Animal Health Component

20%

Research Effort Categories

Basic

0%

Applied

20%

Developmental

80%

Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)	Subject of Investigation (SOI)	Field of Science (FOS)	Percent
307	5399	2020	80%
307	3910	2020	20%

Knowledge Area
307 - Animal Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
3910 - Cross-commodity research--multiple animal species; 5399 - Structures, facilities, and equipment, general/other;

Field Of Science
2020 - Engineering;

Keywords

sustainability

animal production systems

barn design

biosecurity

Goals / Objectives
Create issue-focused adaptive networks that transcend discipline and stakeholder boundaries, now and into the future Synthesize¬ data, analytical tools and communication mechanisms to evaluate and discuss animal protein supply chain sustainability metrics on various spatial and temporal scales Propose solutions, research and Extension directions to significantly contribute to sustainable animal protein systems and food security with forecasting of future trends

Project Methods
University of Minnesota participants agree to the Issue-based approach outlined for S1074, and recognize the scope of work will shift and require adaptation depending on the issues S1074 decides to target. However, the broad activities that University of Minnesota will contribute to are outlined according to objective and tasks presented in the S1074 project description.Objective 1University of Minnesota participants will enable connections between official and non-official members for participation on Issue Teams.?Task 1B. Facilitate face-to-face workshops that translate techniques and methods among Issue Teams and S1074 membersAkey opportunity for enabling these connections is the Waste to Worth 2019 conference, to be held in April of 2019, in Minneapolis, MN. This conference brings together Extension and outreach, research, government and industry personnel with the theme of "Advancing Sustainability in Animal Agriculture".University of Minnesota participants are the local hosts and responsible for local logistics, forming the agenda and tracking metrics.Task 1C. Strengthen the next generation of thinkers to engage in animal protein sustainability discussionsUniversity of Minnesota participants will support and mentor undergraduate and graduate research and Extension assistants that serve this project's objectives. This includes serving supportive roles in the NSF-funded INFEWS project for engaging graduate students from different disciplines and institutions in cohort projects requiring transdisciplinary approaches to case studies for modeling and evaluating animal systems for their food, energy, and water implications (INFEWs-ER).Objective 2University of Minnesota will engage in data analysis and synthesis to evaluate animal system dynamics related to the core issues, moving from causality to mechanistic relationships. Ongoing efforts focus on beef cattle finishing systems in the Midwest, biosecurity of pork and poultry systems, and communicating sustainability efforts in the pork production industry.Task 2A. Align sustainability definitions and metricsUniversity of Minnesota participantsare currently engaged with sustainability initiatives in the regional and national pork production industry. Proposed work includes translating definitions, analyses and metrics for pork production system sustainabilitywithin and around the pork production industry.Objective 3Task 3A. Propose SolutionsUniversity of Minnesota participants will propose solutions and testing of solutions via proposals for external funding. Proposals will likely support alternative livestock housing designs, and sustainability communication mechanisms.

Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20

Outputs
Target Audience:This reporting period, our target audience included two cohorts of graduate students engaged in the cohort challenge "Exploring Relationships between Food Animal Production and Local Communities" through the INFEWS-ER project. The 2019-2020 cohort was seven students from five universities across the US, and six different fields of study. The 2020-2021 cohort is ten students, from six universities and fields of study ranging from agricultural communications to natural resource management to agronomy to animal science. These two cohorts engaged with stakeholders from South Dakota and North Carolina. The stakeholders represent community leaders, local government association personnel, Extension specialists and agricultural development specialists from the two states. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The INFEWS-ER cohort challenge is designed around technical outcomes: students will develop a working knowledge of theeconomic, social and environmental metrics associated with livestock production systems and supporting communities; students will interpret qualitative and quantitative data with respect to these metrics; and students will model cause-effect relationships of these factors for multiple (up to four) counties. Equally important are the "Team Science" Outcomes: students will apply concepts specific to Systems Thinking; students will develop effective communication products; students will identify and engage stakeholders; and students will apply the principles of "High Performing Teams". Modules,invited speakers and application of concepts tothe challenge support these technical and team science outcomes. Two University of Minnesota graduate students who met through the first cohort furthered their professional development through participation and presentation at a local conference on "Partnering with Minnesota: Connecting the University with Urban, Suburban, and Rural Communities through Public Engagement", and a regional conference on "Communicating Outside Academia - Preparing Graduate Stdents for Careers in the Livestock Industry". A graduate student is presently investigating indirect methods for ammonia and carbon dioxide emission rates from deep beef cattle barns, poultry and swine facilities. Indirect methods rely on management methods, facility design, and production data, and producer engagement to accurately reflect nutrient flows through a barn. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project updates and results were disseminated via a peer-reviewed publication andconference presentations (by faculty and graduate students). The University of Minnesota activities and results are regularly communicated to the S1074 community through participation in webinars and meetings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?INFEWS-ER Cohort Challenge 'Food Animal Production and Local Community Relations' is on-going, with educational objectives and deliverables that address Objectives 1and 2. 'Communicating Sustainability Metrics in the Livestock Industry' is anon-going effort, with proposals submitted and/or under review to support greenhouse gas emission measurements and Extension programming. This work relies on networks of reserach and industry to ultimately address Objectives 2 and 3.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Issue-focused adaptive networks INFEWS-ER Cohort Challenge 'Food Animal Production and Local Community Relations' Since Fall of 2019 through present, two graduate student cohorts formedaround the premise that economics, social acceptance, and community demongraphics influence the rate of change of livestock development at a county-level. The two cohorts focused their challenges on understanding these relationships in South Dakota (2019-2020) and North Carolina (2020-2021), respectively. The cohort developers and advisors are all members of S1074 from MN, NC and IA. Through engaging with stakeholders affiliated with livestock development, Extension, and community leadership in South Dakota, the first cohort identified a series of economic, governance and societal factors thought to be related to changes in livestock production in five South Dakota counties. The cohort adapted a boolean approach to correlatethe existence of these factors to growth or decline in cattle and swine numbers among the counties and over time. Analyses are presently under review in preparation for a peer-reviewed publication.The second cohort is currently in the stage of refining their challenge to understand current and potential changesin the livestock industry, unique to North Carolina. Objective 2: Synthesize data, analyses, and communication mechanisms related to animal protein chain sustainability Northern Great Plains Beef Barn Model Project A multi-state collaborative effort between University of Minnesota, South Dakota State University, North Dakota State University and several USDA-ARS stations examinedlinkages between beef cattle production and corn production in the Northern Great Plains.We are broadening the set of information that the cattle and allied industries need when making large capital investments like housing. The airflow rates, gas concentration/emission data, and manure quality, quantity and agronomic information supplement the cattle performance, time management and cost estimates from suppliers and previous research to make for more informed decisions. The collaboration produced the first comprehensive set of environmental and aerial gas concentration data for deep pit beef cattle finishing facilities (Cortus et al. 2021). Simultaneous plot studies in Nebraska, South Dakota and North Dakota showed limited differences in ammonia and nitrous oxide fluxes for fall-applied beef cattle manure (with and without bedding) as a fertilizer source compared to urea. Through model simulations of current and future (2050) production scenarios using the Integrated Farm System Model (Rotz et al. 2016), temperature and precipitation changes are expected to decrease corn production in Nebraska and increase corn production in the Dakotas. The use of beef cattle manure (with or without bedding) or urea as a fertilizer is not expected to result in significant differences in future corn production or nitrate leaching losses, but warmer temperatures could increase ammonia emissions following urea nitrogen appliction more so than bedded pack manure.The study concluded in 2020. Two additional publications are expected related to this project. Objective 3: Propose solutions, research and Extension directions Producers are under pressure, both within their industries and local communities, to demonstrate and document environmental sustainability. Responding to these pressures requires literacy in popular sustainability metrics, and measurements to demonstrate metric benchmarks and/or changes over time. An integrated research and Extension project was proposed to the USDA NIFA Foundational Critical Agriculture Research and Extension programto encourage these critical conversations about environmental sustainability metrics between generations and within the agricultural community, to promote engagement and broaden opportunities for continuous improvement. A stakeholder group with livestock industry representatives, 4-H leadership and sustainability researchers from Minnesota and beyond supported this proposal. The proposal was not successful, but the concept and stakeholders will move forward.

Publications

• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Accepted Year Published: 2020 Citation: Soriano, N.C. & Pereira, G. 2020. Factors Influencing Livestock Development in South Dakota at the County Level. Poster Presentation at Partnering with Minnesota: Connecting the University with Urban, Suburban, and Rural Communities through Public Engagement. Minneapolis, MN. 5-Mar-2020.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Cortus, E. 2020. Communication and cooperation around sustainability metrics - Opportunities and needs. Presented at 2020 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting (Virtual). 10-Nov-2020.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Cortus, E. 2020. Balancing air quality needs on and off the farm. Presented at 2020 ASA-CSSA-SSSA International Annual Meeting (Virtual). 11-Nov-2020.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Awaiting Publication Year Published: 2021 Citation: Cortus, E. L., Hetchler, B., Spiehs, M. J., & Rusche, W. 2021. Environmental conditions and gas concentrations in deep pit finishing cattle facilities: A descriptive study. Transactions of the ASABE. [Accepted:2020]
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Spiehs, M. J., Cortus, E. L., Rahman, S., Niraula, S., Mehata, M., Chatterjee, A., & Parker, D. Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from land application of solid beef manure and urea to corn fields in south central Nebraska. Presented at the 2020 ASABE Annual International Meeting (Virtual). 12-15 July 2020. https://doi.org/10.13031/aim.20192
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Cortus, E., Hetchler, B., Spiehs, M., and Rusche, W. 2020. Deep pit beef cattle barn ammonia and carbon dioxide concentrations. Presented at the 2020 ASABE Annual International Meeting (Virtual). 12-15 July 2020. DOI: 10.13031/aim.2000840.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Janni, K. 2020. Managing cow heat stress when it is hot, humid. 11 July 2020. Dairy Star 22(10):29
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Cortus, E. 2020. By Design: Capturing the value of manure. Angus Beef Bulletin, October 2020.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Rotz, C.A., Asem-Hiablie, S., Cortus, E., Spiehs, M., and Rahman, S. 2020. An environmental assessment of cattle manure systems in the Northern Great Plains. Presented at the 2020 ASABE Annual International Meeting (Virtual). 12-15 July 2020. DOI: 10.13031/aim.202000607.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Cortus, E. 2020. Manure's contribution to carbon footprints. Journal of Nutrient Management 1(2): 22-23.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Janni, K.J. 2020. Reflections on Odor Management for Animal Feeding Operations. Atmosphere 2020, 11, 453; doi:10.3390/atmos11050453
• Type: Websites Status: Published Year Published: 2020 Citation: Armstrong, J. & K. Janni. 2020. Heat stress in dairy cattle. UM Extension Article. Accessed online at: https://extension.umn.edu/dairy-milking-cows/heat-stress-dairy-cattle

Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Our target audience for the 2019 Waste to Worth conferenceincluded multipliers of information to animal producers which includes extension educators, federal, state, and local government agency staff, private consultants, animal industry representatives, and policy makers. Although technical information and tools are generated for use by end users (animal producers and/or managers of livestock and poultry operations), the intent is to wholesale materials to multipliers of technical information for use during advising and consulting with livestock producers. This reporting period, our target audience also included graduate students engaged in local research projects affiliated with S1074 objectives, but also graduate students engaged in the cohort challenge "Exploring relationships between food animal production and local communities" through the INFEWS-ER project. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The Waste to Worth 2019 conference was a professional development opportunity for the 150 participants. The INFEWS-ER cohort challenge is designed around technical outcomes: students will develop a working knowledge of the economic, social and environmental metrics associated with livestock production systems and supporting communities; students will interpret qualitative and quantitative data with respect to these metrics; and students will model cause-effect relationships of these factors for multiple (up to four) counties. Equally important are the"Team Science" Outcomes: students will apply concepts specific to Systems Thinking;students will develop effective communication products;students will identify and engage stakeholders; andstudents will apply the principles of "High Performing Teams". How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Project updates and results were disseminated via peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations and webinars. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?INFEWS-ER Cohort Challenge 'Food Animal Production and Local Community Relations' This cohort challenge is on-going, with educational objectives and deliverables that address Objectives 2 and 3. This cohort challenge also serves as an initial development activity for the second issue topic for S1074, centered around animal housing in the future.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Issue-focused adaptive networks Waste to Worth 2019 Waste to Worth 2019 was held in Minneapolis, MN, April 22-26, 2019. Waste to Worth is a biennial conference that highlights science and innovative outreach geared toward animal agriculture and the environment. The 150 participants represented University and/or Extension (40%), USDA agency staff (24%), Regulatory agency staff (9%), Farmers/Ranchers (6%), Agribusiness (6%) and others. Conference participants came from a broad set of backgrounds in animal science, soil science, agricultural engineering, microbiology and agronomy. The conference opening focused on animal livestock sustainability. Representatives from the National Pork Board, US Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, Field to Market: The Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and the University of Arkansas Resiliency Center Executive Director shared their efforts related to sustainability metrics for their respective industries. The speakers also identified how the conference participants can help producers move sustainability efforts forward. The conference was a joint effort between the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Community (lpelc.org), and the University of Minnesota. Many S1074 members played influential roles on the planning committee, including Cortus and Janni (MN), Lim (MO), Koelsch (NE), Larson (WI), Rahman (ND) and Chen (ID). The Waste to Worth 2019 conference produced meaningful collaborations among participants that transcend discipline and stakeholder boundaries. All participants left the conference with at least one potential future collaborator, 48% left with three to four, and 22% left with five or more, based on a survey at the conclusion of the conference. Also, 95% of participants were satisfied or extremely satisfied with the quality of information and science shared at the conference - this information and research feeds into the data, tools and communication methods to evaluate and discuss animal protein supply chain sustainability efforts and metrics. The S1074 is looking forward to meaningful discussions and activities to advance our project goals at Waste to Worth 2021 and beyond. Objective 2: Synthesize data, analyses, and communication mechanisms related to animal protein chain sustainability Northern Great Plains Beef Barn Model Project An on-going multi-state collaborative effort between University of Minnesota, South Dakota State University, North Dakota State University and several USDA-ARS stations is examining the linkages between beef cattle production and corn production in the Northern Great Plains. The study includes environmental measurements following land application of beef manure for corn production, replicated in three states, and environmental conditions measured in multiple barn types with bedded pack or deep pit manure storage. We are currently comparing and integrating the barn and land application data to the Integrated Farm System Model (Rotz et al. 2016), to provide a broader platform for decision making that incorporates nutrient cycling, economics and crop and animal production.We are broadening the set of information that the cattle and allied industries need when making large capital investments like housing. The airflow rates, gas concentration/emission data, and manure quality, quantity and agronomic information supplement the cattle performance, time management and cost estimates from suppliers and previous research to make for more informed decisions. Swine Environmental Footprint Calculations and Communication We conducted a pilot project to evaluate "Environmental Footprints for Regional Swine Production Systems Now and in the Future". This collaborative effort between University of Minnesota and University of Nebraska engagedregional producers in Environmental Footprint calculations of current production practices. Using the baseline footprints, we identified strategies that influence environmental metrics. These strategies include: (1) changes to feed rations; (2) changes to manure storage design and manure removal frequency; (3) improving production efficiency; and (4) integrating more farm-based data into on-going footprint calculations.The majority of producer contacts were through networks of the project team. Based on survey responses by 10 producers, we found the producers we engaged with are aware of and engaged in protecting the environment, but the interest and specific knowledge about environmental footprints is highly variable. The producers' prior experience with environment footprints ranged from no experience to instances of producers who have looked into their operation's footprint in the past. We personally asked the majority of producers to participate, but the majority indicated "a desire to be able to address questions about pork production" was a major driver for participation. INFEWS-ER Cohort Challenge 'Food Animal Production and Local Community Relations' A graduate student cohort challenge was designed around the premise that economics, social acceptance, and community demongraphics influence the rate of change of livestock development at a county-level. The cohort participants are charged with further refining these factors and the relationships between factorsto identify if a common model can describe the changes that have occurred across multiple counties. Seven graduate students representing five institutions across the US started the cohort challenge in October of 2019. The cohort developers and advisors are all members of S1074 from MN, NC and IA.

Publications

• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Miller, E., Spiehs, M., Arthur, T. M., Woodbury, B., Cortus, E., Chatterjee, A., . . . Schmidt, J. W. (2019). Cropland Amendment with Beef Cattle Manure Minimally Impacts Antimicrobial Resistance. Journal of Environmental Quality, 2019.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Mehata, M., Cortus, E. L., Niraula, S., Spiehs, M. J., Darrington, J., Chatterjee, A., . . . Parker, D. (2019). Aerial Nitrogen Fluxes and Soil Nitrate in Response to Fall-Applied Manure and Fertilizer Applications in Eastern South Dakota. International Journal of Agronomy, 2019, 15.
• Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Niraula, S., Rahman, S., Chatterjee, A., Cortus, E. L., Mehata, M., & Spiehs, M. J. (2019). Beef Manure and Urea Applied to Corn Show Variable Effects on Nitrous Oxide, Methane, Carbon Dioxide, and Ammonia. Agronomy Journal, 111(3), 1448.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Janni, K., & Cortus, E. Common livestock production systems and manure storage methods., Animal Manure: Production, Characteristics, Environmental Concerns and Management. Madison, WI: ASA-SSSA-CSSA.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Cortus, E. L., Hetchler, B., Spiehs, M., & Rusche, W. (2019). Seasonal and spatial variations in aerial ammonia concentrations in deep pit beef cattle barns. In Waste to Worth 2019, 22-26, April 2019, Minneapolis, MN.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Felton, R. & Cortus, E. L. (2019). Quantitative analysis of words in popular press articles about livestock and environment. In Waste to Worth 2019, 22-26, April 2019, Minneapolis, MN.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Cortus, E., Sabo, R., & Sharara, M. (2019). Watershed Nutrient Inventories - Opportunities and Needs. Webinar presented by S1074 and Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center.
• Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Janni, K.A. 2019. Modeling lactating cow respiration rates during heat stress based on dry-bulb and dew-point temperatures, daily milk production and air velocity. ASABE Paper No. 1900297. St. Joseph, MI. ASABE.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Janni, K & E. Cortus. 2019. Are your sand lanes freezing? 26 January 2019. Dairy Star 20(23):28.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Janni, K. 2019. Shade and Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle. 11 May 2019. Dairy Star 21(6):29.
• Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Janni, K. 2019. Air Velocity and Production Level Impact Heat Stress in Dairy Cattle. 13 July 2019. Dairy Star 21(10):29.
• Type: Book Chapters Status: Published Year Published: 2019 Citation: Wilson, M. L., Niraula, S., & Cortus, E. L. Characteristics of swine manure and wastewater., Animal Manure: Production, Characteristics, Environmental Concerns and Management. Madison, WI: ASA-SSSA-CSSA.