Sunday, May 07, 2017

Next on Annex A is "Manure management"

Managing waste products (click here) is a necessary activity of our existence as a society.  How well this job is accomplished is reflected in the quality of the surroundings in which we live.  Water, soil, vegetation, air, fish, animals, and humans, literally all natural things are the resources of our planet that need to be considered when deciding what to do with wastes generated by human activities.  In the past, waste management needs were not so critical.  Today, the growing world population demands more and more products, which results in more and more waste by-products that must be managed.

The agricultural industry, livestock production in particular, is a producer of waste materials that need management.  These wastes include manure from a large number of different animals, wastewater from sanitizing operation, unused pesticide mixes and pesticide containers, and residue from food processing operations.  Wastewater and sludge from municipal treatment plants, which are often applied on agricultural land, must also be managed.

Farmers and ranchers around the world have managed excess agricultural residue since they began production for the marketplace.  The lessons learned from the beginning are still applied today.  The character of agriculture has changed markedly in the last few decades.  Herd sizes have been increased to meet demands for animal products.  Large equipment and a broad array of agrichemicals are now used to increase production.  The rapidly expanding population, along with increased consumption of animal products creates a higher awareness and a higher level of need for waste management....