Air Issues Associated with Animal Agriculture: A North American Perspective (Issue Paper)
(Chair) Larry Jacobson, Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
This Issue Paper will address two main topics of concern related to air associated with animal agriculture: greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air quality. The authors will sort out differences between recent reports from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regarding livestock-related GHG emissions and will discuss the how different types of animal diet also affect GHG emissions. The paper also will contain a discussion of ammonia emissions that affect air quality, associated U.S regulations, and EPA activities relevant to animal agriculture. This Issue Paper will present scientific data specific to the U.S. and Canada and explain how and why these data compare with other parts of the world. Additionally, it will discuss how to reduce the environmental impact of livestock agriculture while preserving resources and quality of life.
Assessing the Health of Streams in Agricultural Landscapes: How Land Management Changes Impact Water Quality (Special Publication)
The Clean Water Act of 1987 states that the elimination of pollutant discharge into navigable water is a national goal. Agriculture has been identified repeatedly as a significant contributor of nonpoint source pollution to surface waters. Despite conservation efforts, water quality problems still exist; all agricultural states struggle with balancing productive landscapes and water quality. Legislation, potential regulations, or allocations of millions of dollars to change agricultural practices seem warranted only if we know stream water is favorably impacted by modified agricultural practices, and in which streams the greatest potential impact might be observed. The goal of this publication is to determine whether or not stream water quality in agriculturally dominated watersheds is a suitable metric to judge agricultural practice impact on water surface quality.
Carbon Sequestration and Greenhouse Gas Fluxes in U.S. Agriculture: Challenges and Opportunities for Mitigation (Task Force Report)
Reducing concentrations of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHG) in Earth's atmosphere has been identified as one of the most pressing modern-day environmental issues. Agriculture, in addition to being affected by the climate, contributes to climate change through its exchanges of GHG with the atmosphere. This Report will provide up-to-date information on the science of carbon sequestration and GHG mitigation for various sectors of U.S. agriculture, including logistical and economic considerations for implementing practices designed to reduce this country's GHG emissions from agriculture. The Report will draw on elements of the related 2004 CAST Report, Climate Change and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation: Challenges and Opportunities for Agriculture.
Convergence of Agriculture and Energy: IV. Infrastructure Requirements for Biomass Harvest, Transportation, and Storage (CAST Commentary)
(Chair) Jerry Fruin, Department of Economics, University of Minnesota, St. Paul
Fourth in a series, this Commentary will focus on the infrastructure issues associated with biomass energy and address what is needed to properly and successfully deliver cellulosic bioenergy. The paper also will identify the necessary infrastructure for bioenergy to become profitable, including research and implementation costs.
Energy Flow in Agricultural Systems: Corn and Soybean Production (Issue Paper)
This paper will address the energy requirements and costs for production and transportation associated with the major crops of corn and soybean. The authors will examine three specific farming practices, including conventional tillage vs. no-till. Each production practice will be evaluated from an energy flow standpoint relative to the USDA's sustainable agriculture definition, which highlights the societal, economic, and environmental components.
Food, Fuel, and Plant Nutrient Use in the Future (Issue Paper)
(Chair) Dr. Rolando Flores, Professor and Department Head, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
This Issue Paper will address the idea that the world’s ability to meet current and future food demand while protecting numerous interrelated ecosystem services will depend on advances in crop productivity through genetic improvement, soil conservation and management, and efficient use of nutrients. Topics will include the relationship among food production, land use, and nutrient use, and the capacity of natural resources to produce fertilizer nutrients.
Unwanted Horses in the United States: Addressing the Problem from Economic, Ethical, and Animal Welfare Perspectives (CAST Commentary)
Since the early 1900s, there has been considerable debate in the United States concerning the slaughter and use of unwanted horses for human consumption and in animal feed. Public debate largely concentrated on whether consumption of horse meat was ethical and whether slaughtering horses was humane. Several pieces of legislation on these issues have had the overall effect of closing down horse slaughter facilities in the United States, leaving few options for disposing of unwanted horses. By effectively banning the the slaughter of horses in the United States, legislators and advocacy groups have overlooked or failed to address the unintended animal welfare, economic, and societal consequences. This paper aims to delineate the scope and magnitude of unwanted horses in the United States; discuss the unwanted horse problem from economic, ethical, and animal welfare perspectives; and propose viable options for addressing the problem from those same perspectives.
Water and Land Issues Associated with Animal Agriculture: A North American Perspective (Issue Paper)
(Chair) Kelly D. Zering, Extension Specialist and Associate Professor, North Carolina State University, Raleigh
This paper will address specific water and land concerns related to animal agriculture. The authors will consider issues of water use and water quality associated with the livestock sector and the related environmental and economic impacts. The paper also will include a discussion of livestock land use, land degradation, land application of manure and manure-based composts, and deforestation related to farm policies. This Issue Paper will present scientific data specific to the U.S. and Canada and explain how and why these data compare with other parts of the world. Additionally, it will discuss how to reduce the environmental impact of livestock agriculture while preserving resources and quality of life.
Welfare of Egg-Laying Hens in Different Housing Systems (CAST Commentary)
This report will provide a comprehensive review of the advantages and disadvantages of laying hen housing systems, both cage and cage-free. It will address the impacts of different laying hen housing systems on the welfare of the hens as well as on food safety, human health, and the cost of food. This paper will complement the multi-year, multi-institution study currently being conducted by the AVMA to examine the impacts and sustainability of housing systems for egg-laying hens.
