Michigan Correspondent

EAST LANSING, Mich. — Visitors can get a firsthand look at new technology and research during an open house at the Michigan State University Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Facility and Animal Air Quality Research Facility on Oct. 13.

The event will highlight a new research lab dedicated to measuring air quality and information about the newly completed comprehensive nutrient management plan (CNMP) for the south campus farms. In addition, participants can learn about storm water runoff using intensive management practices and hear from experts who implemented innovative biological and physical treatment strategies for milk parlor wastewater.

“Throwing open the doors and inviting farmers in enables them to see firsthand some of the interesting projects going on here on the farms,” said Ben Darling, assistant director of the MSU Office of Land Management.

Darling will be available during the open house to discuss how his team designed the CNMP for the university farms.

“Completing the CNMP was a challenge because, unlike other farms, we have nine livestock species farms in one,” Darling said. “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. This state-of-the-art lab will be home to several 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 nonfarm neighbors,” Powers said. “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 also can learn about storm water runoff control and strategies for milking-parlor wastewater.

In addition, graduate students will showcase more than a dozen research projects specific to environmental quality and the dairy industry.

The event will be from 1-4 p.m. at the MSU Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center and Animal Air Quality Research Facility at 4075 College Road in East Lansing, south of the MSU campus along the west side of College Road, between Forest and Jolly roads.

Held in conjunction with MSU’s Homecoming, visitors are invited to a tailgate party put on by the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Demonstration Hall Practice Field from 5-7 p.m., prior to the Spartans’ game against the Hoosiers at the stadium, which kicks off at 7 p.m.

The open house is free.

For tickets to the tailgate party and football game, contact Kathryn Reed at kreed@msu.edu or 517-355-0284.

This farm news was published in the Sept. 26, 2007 issue of Farm World, serving Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan and Tennessee.