Connecting to national experts on animal manure management issues
Jill Heemstra and Rick Koelsch, University of Nebraska; Joe Harrison, Washington State University; and Mark Risse, University of Georgia
Do your continuing education opportunities keep you on top of emerging animal manure issues? The Livestock and Poultry Environmental (LPE) Learning Center was established to improve the connection between national experts and those advising animal producers on environmental issues.
What services does the learning center provide?
One product is a monthly seminar delivered to your office with webcast technologies. You can connect to this one-hour seminar from your office computer using free software called Real Player. These seminars occur on the third Friday of each month at 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time. If you cannot attend a live seminar, presentations are recorded and available for viewing at your convenience.
The Learning Center web site also provides a web connection to the “Best of the Best” national resources on many animal manure topics. A team of about 60 national experts are developing a far more content rich animal manure issues web site for release in early 2008.
What webcast seminars have been held to date?
The Learning Center’s customer advisory team helps set the agenda. At its request, initial seminars have addressed Value of Manure, Alternative Technologies, and Nutrient Issues from a national perspective. With the emergence of hot news topics, we have added presentations on Changing Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO) Regulations and Pathogens.
What seminars are planned?
Scheduled webcast seminars will address: Alternative Treatments – Matching the Treatment System to the Environmental Concern (Oct. 19); and Vegetative Treatment Systems for Barnyard and Open Lot Runoff (Nov. 16). Plans are being developed to address final U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) CAFO regulatory changes, impact of ethanol industry distiller’s grain use on nutrient plans, pharmaceuticals use and risk to environment, manure management for small farms, and animal housing options for handling dry manure, just to name a few.
How do I access the LPE Learning Center?
Seminars and web resources can be accessed through our web site, http://lpe.unl.edu. Check out the “Webcast Series” options in the left-hand column of the home page.
Who is the customer for these seminars and web resources?
The project targets individuals and organizations that influence animal producer decisions on environmental issues. Regulatory and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) agency staff, extension educators, and private sector advisors are regular participants. Producers are always welcome, but we tend to focus on the needs of those advising animal producers with the intent that these advisors will adapt this national information to local needs.
Can I receive continuing education credits for seminars?
Yes, all seminars since November 2006 are approved for continuing education units from both Certified Crop Advisors and Animal Registry for Professional Animal Scientist. Instructions on receiving credit are found along with the webcast seminars.
How do I stay aware of upcoming webcasts?
The LPE Learning Center provides subscribers with a monthly two-page newsletter introducing upcoming web casts and highlighting national resources. Join the 950 current subscribers by going to http://lpe.unl.edu/subscribe.html.
What is planned for the LPE Learning Center’s future?
The Learning Center currently is assembling plans for eight to 10 additional seminars in 2008 in addition to the three planned for fall 2007. However, the biggest current project is to substantially expand the content of recommended resources accessible from the LPE Learning Center’s web site. A team of 60 university and public agency representatives, approved as an eXtension Community of Practice, are assembling web content that will provide you with access to the “Best of the Best” educational resources and decision tools on nine animal manure management topics. Look for this expanded web resource in early 2008 within eXtension.
Who is the LPE Learning Center?
The Learning Center was the vision of the late Frank Humenik, professor from North Carolina State University who provided leadership for multiple national collaboration in research, public policy and outreach education targeting environmental stewardship in animal production. The LPE Learning Center is led by the authors of this article. A team of 15 representatives from other land grant institutions, U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. EPA, USDA, and Environmental Defense have contributed to making this vision a reality.
If you work with the livestock and poultry industry on environmental issues, we invite you to become familiar with the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center. ANM
—Submitted by Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center
