Agricultural Waste Management Systems

by Kelly J. Klausmeyer, Agricultural Engineer,
Natural Resources Conservation Service
Hays, Kansas

Planning an Agricultural Waste Management System (AWMS) involves the same process used for any type of natural resource management system, such as an erosion control system. Each system includes a group or series of practices planned, designed, and installed to meet a need. However, different resource concerns, management requirements, practices, environmental effects, and economic effects must be considered.

Planning an AWMS often requires the cooperation and combined efforts of a team of people. The team is made up of the decision maker of the property involved and may include Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) specialists and conservationists, county agricultural extension agents, regulatory agency personnel, and professionals outside of government. Specialists include engineers, geologists, soil scientists, and agronomists.

The planning process is often complex because of the number of alternatives to be considered; however, the AWMS selected should be as simple and easily managed as possible.

To successfully plan an AWMS, one should understand that it is planned under the umbrella of a Resource Management System (RMS). An RMS is a unique combination of practices and management that when applied to a specific land use and problem situation will protect the resource base and environment. It also provides solutions to all identified resource problems and meets the decision maker’s and public’s resource use, conservation, and maintenance objectives. As such, an AWMS is a subsystem in an RMS that deals with an agricultural waste problem. In solving an agricultural waste problem, an AWMS will interface or relate to other subsystems in an RMS, such as a cropping system or a water management system.

For details please contact your local NRCS or conservation district office located at your local county USDA Service Center.

For more information about NRCS programs, visit the Kansas NRCS Web site at www.ks.nrcs.usda.gov.

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Last Modified: 08/05/2008