Costs Associated with Development and Implementation of Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans. Part I-Nutrient Management, Land Treatment, Manure and Wastewater Handling and Storage, and Recordkeeping

摘要

Animal agriculture has changed dramatically over the last two decades. Livestock populations have become more spatially concentrated in high-production areas. Small- and medium-sized livestock operations have been replaced by large operations at a steady rate. The total number of livestock has remained relatively unchanged, but the average number of livestock per operation has increased and more livestock are kept in confinement. These changes in animal agriculture have resulted in increased concern about the utilization and disposal of animal waste. As livestock production has become more spatially concentrated, the amount of manure nutrients relative to the land available for application has grown. In some high-production areas, the amount of manure produced exceeds the capacity of the land to assimilate manure nutrients.