Nutrient Management Committee

Goal #1:  Optimize nutrient management and utilization in the Valley

Objective #1: Develop a poultry litter collection and redistribution program.

Objective #2:  Foster awareness of bio-security issues for the agriculture industry and assist in preparedness for large-scale food/animal disease outbreaks.

Are there goals and objectives missing that the Council should consider?  Put objective #2 as a subset of objective 1.  Add another objective that links nutrients and organic waste with soil quality:

Objective #1: Develop a poultry litter collection and redistribution program.

A.                            Foster awareness of bio-security issues as they relate to litter collection, redistribution and disposal; assist in preparedness for large-scale food/animal disease outbreaks.

Objective #2:  Optimize nutrient recycling in the Valley and throughout the Commonwealth where possible with animal and other organic wastes to improve soil quality.

Objective #3:  Explore emerging options related to nutrient management and disposal including waste to energy options.

Purpose of Committee: 

• Get input from key people and organizations on emerging issues in nutrient management. 
• Suggest project ideas and solicit proposals to address them. 
• Review and make recommendations on project proposals to the Council. 
• Keep Council informed of emerging issues and activities related to nutrient management.
• Help facilitate coordination between the RC&D Council, organizations and local governments and ensure awareness of RC&D role.
• Works with coordinator on project implementation, makes recommendations on potential partners and funding sources, helps make follow-up contacts on projects.
• Once projects are approved for implementation, any changes in the focus or status of the project will be updated on the Initial Project Proposal Sheet, under Internal Tracking, upon concurrence with the committee chair.

What are the committee’s key priorities through July 2005?

• Determine what support Shenandoah RC&D can offer in the future to the Waste to Energy Consortium group.
• Conduct a media/informational campaign to help inform the community on the positive aspects of what is being done with waste management in the Valley – what environmental benchmarks are being met?
• Help make SWCD and Extension more aware of what Shenandoah RC&D does and ensure SWCD directors inform Shenandoah RC&D Council of issues and opportunities.
• Solicit projects that promote soil quality since production agriculture is losing soil carbon at a rate greater than it is being replenished.
• Ensure the need to improve soil quality is considered in projects since it ties in with water use efficiency in crop production.

What are the committee’s key priorities over the next 2-5 years?

• Monitor the state of agriculture in the Valley.
• Explore issues related to composting and incinerating dead animals, including on-farm systems.  The Shenandoah County landfill director can be a resource.
• Consider bio-solids issues.
• Develop education and information programs on environmental issues related to nutrient management.
• Foster applications for projects that deal with recycling organic wastes.

How does this committee propose to help bring projects to the Council for consideration to meet key goals and objectives?  Actively solicit ideas from groups/individuals known to be working in these key areas?  Make general contacts?  Wait until projects come forward? 

• This committee wants a pro-active operating philosophy; should meet regularly – quarterly was proposed, and touch base prior to Council meetings.  Will meet more often as proposals are submitted.  Consider e-mail and conference call options for meetings when appropriate.
• Partner with as many groups as possible whose objectives are keyed to the preservation and wise use of natural resources in order to bring projects to the Council.
• Consider a well-publicized public meeting at a central location to introduce the RC&D.  What is it?  Why it was formed?  What is its major purpose, etc.

Committee Chair:  Scott Strickler

Committee Membership:  Scott Strickler, Hobey Bauhan, Dale Gardner, Carl Luebben, Linda Campbell, Rick Shiflet

Potential Additional Members:  Need a livestock community representative – call Reggie Reynolds and get him to appoint someone; maybe Matt Lohr or Ernie Reeves?  Ask the new Rockingham extension agent, Troy Lawson and/or Eric Bendfeldt; Bobby Clarke; someone from biosolids industry?  VPI, JMU, BRCC reps?

Technical Advisers:  Shenandoah County landfill manager.

Meeting Schedule:  Quarterly and as-needed.