By Kate Wilhite, College of Agricultural, Human & Natural Resource Sciences
PULLMAN, Wash. – A national conference addressing the effects of manure from agricultural operations on water, air, soil and climate is calling for abstracts. “Waste to Worth” will take place March 31–April 3 in Seattle. The deadline for abstracts is Nov. 17.
“Keeping our water and air clean and safe is a big challenge as agriculture meets the food needs of 9.6 billion people in 2050,” said Joe Harrison, conference chair and animal scientist at Washington State University.
Conference topics will include climate change and animal agriculture, manure nutrient management, manure treatment technologies, environmental planning, pathogens, regulations and more.
The agenda includes tours of four sites where the application of innovative technology addresses agricultural waste:
• Anaerobic digester tour, Whatcom County
• Clean Samish Bay Initiative watershed farm tour, Skagit County
• Bainbridge Island small farms tour, Kitsap County
• Composting tour, King County
The conference is presented by the National Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center, a virtual center connecting more than 140 experts from land-grant universities and agencies nationwide with agricultural producers.
Farmers, growers, consultants, extension educators and representatives from agribusiness and government are encouraged to attend and submit abstracts. Student posters and proposals are also welcome.
For information on the conference and to see the proposal guidelines, visit http://www.wastetoworth.org and click on the “Presenters” tab.
Contacts:
Joseph Harrison, WSU Puyallup Research & Extension Center, 253-445-4638, jhharrison@wsu.edu
Kate Wilhite, WSU CAHNRS Communications, 509-335-8164, kate.wilhite@wsu.edu