Almost everyone involved in the animal industry knows that environmental issues are one of the hottest topics around (no, that is not a climate change pun). The intensification of livestock and poultry farms has led to increased public and regulatory pressures and more examination of the environmental impacts of farms. 

Two new self-study modules have been developed to introduce some of the most-requested topics: regulations and greenhouse gases. The suite of federal, state, and local regulations in both air and water topics can be a bit puzzling but it becomes less so after examining the relationship between agencies and the laws that grant regulatory authority. Greenhouse gases and climate change is a topic that, while controversial, is clearly one that the livestock and poultry industries need to understand and follow.

The modules are free and publically available on the national eXtension (e-extension) website. Each module is approximately one hour in length and includes a combination of fact sheets and videos. An optional quiz is available at the end of each. ARPAS members can self-report their completion of the modules at the ARPAS website at http://arpas.org

While animal science curriculums have grown and evolved to include environmental topics, the research and discovery adds new knowledge at an almost daily pace. “The more we learn about the environmental footprint of animal agriculture, the more prepared we are to address real concerns and to counter myths”, says Jill Heemstra, University of Nebraska Extension Educator and co-director of the team that created the modules.

These modules were developed by the beginning farmer team of the Livestock and Poultry Environmental Learning Center (http://www.extension.org/animal_manure_management). Future modules in 2012 are planned in mortality management, water quality, “manure 101”, and nutrient management. Additionally, the Center’s climate change team is planning to release an in-depth online course on animal agriculture and climate change in early 2013. To find out when each of the new modules is released, subscribe to the Center’s newsletter at http://water.unl.edu/lpe-subscribe or follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/lpelc. 

The web links to these new modules are: 
Regulations: http://www.extension.org/64950
Greenhouse gases: http://www.extension.org/64989

For further information contact Jill Heemstra, University of Nebraska Extension Educator at jheemstra@unl.edu or phone 402-748-3909

Web: http://www.extension.org/animal+manure+management 
Twitter: http://twitter.com/lpelc
YouTube: http://youtube.com/user/lpelc
Facebook: http://facebook.com/envagleaders



Capturing and utilizing biogas from manure digestion is one area that is gaining greater traction as a potential way to generate renewable energy and mitigate greenhouse gases.



As livestock and poultry production has intensified, more farmers are being affected by rules and regulations that govern many aspects of the operation, especially manure storage and land application.