Introduction

The conference featured challenges and solutions for large and small livestock producers in nutrient management planning; odor control; manure storage, transportation and handling; legal and regulatory issues; economics and funding initiatives; manure management alternatives; and societal concerns.

The target audience included those who provide direct technical, educational, and information assistance to livestock producers and others; and producers themselves. The focus was on the interdependence between livestock production, society and the environment. Topics included local, state and regional regulations; agricultural zoning issues; impacts to communities and the environment from manure production; what science is telling us; lessons learned; and practical manure management applications.

One intention of the conference was to build stronger bridges of understanding between livestock producers and society. Additional objectives included:

• To provide current information about approaches to reducing negative environmental effects from livestock manure.
• To develop a greater common understanding of the issues and solutions related to maintaining a high quality of life in livestock regions.
• To enhance the ability of producers-and those advising producers-to select manure management strategies that best meet the needs of the producer, environment and neighbors.

This conference followed-up on the Soil and Water Conservation Society's draft policy position Effective Management of Animal Manure. This draft policy can be reviewed on the world wide web at http://www.swcs.org/POLICY/policymanman.html. This site has temporarily gotten lost in cyberspace. Please continue to check back until it regains its place. Thank you for your partonage.

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