MSU Farm Open House Features New Air Quality Research Facility
MSU Farm Open House Features New Air Quality Research Facility
8/30/07
Contact: Beth Stuever
517-432-1555, ext. 177
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- A new research lab dedicated to measuring air quality and information about the newly completed comprehensive nutrient management plan for the south campus farms at Michigan State University are just two of the highlights of an Oct. 13 open house held in conjunction with MSU’s Homecoming.
“Throwing open the doors and inviting farmers in enables them to see firsthand some of the interesting projects going on here on the farms,” says Ben Darling, assistant director of the MSU Office of Land Management.
High on Darling’s list of accomplishments is the comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP) that he helped develop for the MSU south campus farms. He will be on hand during the open house to show people how he and his group accomplished this monumental task.
“Completing the CNMP was a challenge because, unlike other farms, we have nine livestock species farms in one,” Darling explains. “It was also a worthwhile learning experience, and we want to share the process with farmers.”
In addition to the farm tour, visitors will get their first glimpse of the new MSU Animal Air Quality Research Facility, a state-of-the-art lab that will be home to numerous projects designed to determine the effects of animal agriculture on air quality.
Wendy Powers, MSU’s director of environmental stewardship in animal agriculture, heads up the facility.
“Livestock manure odor can cause tension between farmers and their non-farm neighbors,” Powers says. “This lab will help us measure air emissions and determine how we can modify animal diets to reduce those emissions and manure nutrients. We’re eager to show producers the types of valuable information we’ll be generating.”
At the MSU Dairy Cattle Research and Teaching Center, visitors can also learn about storm water runoff control using intensive management and an innovative method of biological and physical treatment strategies for milking parlor washwater. In addition, graduate students will showcase more than a dozen research projects specific to environmental quality and the dairy industry.
“It’s a great opportunity to see what’s going on at the farms and the new lab,” Powers says.
#bs#
OPTIONAL SIDEBAR
THINGS TO DO ON OCTOBER 13
EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Looking for an outing this fall that’s both fun and educational? The MSU south campus farms and Animal Air Quality Research Facility are holding an open house the same day as MSU’s Homecoming.
You and your family can learn about the exciting research taking place at MSU and then head off to a College of Agriculture and Natural Resources-sponsored tailgate party and the Indiana Hoosiers versus MSU Spartans football game!
The open house is free. For tickets to the tailgate party and the football game, contact Kathryn Reed at kreed@msu.edu or (517) 355-0284.
1-4 p.m. Open House
MSU dairy farm and Animal Air Quality Research Facility
5-7 p.m. CANR Tailgate
Demonstration Hall Practice Field
7 p.m. Indiana Hoosiers vs. MSU Spartans football game
Spartan Stadium
#bs#