Overview: Agricultural pollution primarily from non_irrigated crop land, grazing land, and feedlots presents a significant threat to North Dakota's surface waters. About 60 percent of the state's total river and stream miles and about 70 percent of the lakes and reservoirs are either threatened or impaired for designated uses. In both cases, the major pollutants are nutrients and sediments from agricultural nonpoint sources. Agriculture also threatens ground water. Over application of fertilizer can result in degradation of ground and surface water. Livestock waste has been identified as an increasing source of pollutants. The area occupied by feedlots and other concentrated production units is currently relatively small; however, their proximity, relative location in regard to drainage ways, and the concentration of nutrients during snow melt or runoff events make them a significant factor for pollution of surface and ground water.

Extension specialists and Experiment Station researchers developed approaches that make site-specific fertilization feasible for a variety of crops in different physiographic settings. These techniques reduce over-application of nitrogen (N) where residual N is high at the end of the growing season and in areas where leaching potential is high. Sugar beet growers in the Red River Valley manage about 100,000 acres using satellite imagery and aerial photography to map areas of homogeneous N uptake within sugar beet fields and then give an N credit or adjustment for subsequent crops. Wheat and sunflower growers in central and western North Dakota are using topography, aerial imagery and electrical conductivity detectors to locate homogeneous zones within fields. These zonal boundaries are used as guides for soil sampling. The move to site-specific approaches is progressing west of the Red River Valley with about 80,000 acres involved.

Impact – In 2001, programs focusing on site-specific management totaled about 1,000 attendees at various presentations around North Dakota. In addition, site-specific soil testing has been woven into nearly all presentations given, amounting to about 2,000 other attendees. News releases on radio and in the press have been provided for people who do not attend meetings. Four circulars were printed in 1999 to provide general site-specific information regarding sampling, fertility, concepts and environmental benefits. These have been well received by growers and received a national award from the American Society of Agronomy in 2000. It is estimated that an additional 20,000 growers were contracted indirectly to some aspect of site-specific farming/N management in 2001. In studies using zone management of N in sugar beets, economic advantages when there is sufficient variability of N range from $10-100/acre. On wheat and sunflowers, net returns are in the range of $5-15/acre, which would roughly double profit margins in these crops. In addition, the use of some form of zone N sampling reduces the need for "insurance" rates of N, which are often 40-50 lb N/acre ($6-15/acre current price). There is the intangible benefit of reduction in nitrate leaching due to better N utilization by crops and reduction in over-fertilization of "leaky" areas of the field.

Source of federal funds: Smith-Lever and Hatch

Scope of Impact: Multi-state research and extension. MN and SD

Oyster mushrooms can be a value-added crop, utilizing agricultural byproducts as substrates. Different substrates are being evaluated for effects on oyster mushroom yield, quality attributes, nutrient differences and usability of the spent substrates after mushroom harvest. Substrates tested (based on preliminary screening) have included wheat straw, sugar beet pulp and soybean hulls with or without supplementation with corn gluten and buffers (calcium carbonate and calcium sulfate). Oyster mushroom yield appears to be highest on substrates such as soybean hulls and sugar beet pulp with nitrogen supplementation from corn gluten and pH buffering. Researchers will determine optimal substrate composition for oyster mushroom production using agricultural residues and evaluate if substrate composition affects sensory and nutritional qualities of oyster mushrooms. They’ll also study spent substrate from oyster mushroom production to see if it can be used for animal feed and to determine if it contains commercially useful enzymes.

Impact – Many agricultural residues, which traditionally have limited uses, can be converted to value-added products such as mushrooms. The oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp.) is an ideal type of mushroom for such a purpose because it can easily be grown on many types of lignocellulosic materials and has highly prized culinary and health benefits. Examples of North Dakota agricultural residues which have potential as mushroom substrates are sunflower meal, stalks and hulls; sugar beet pulp and fibrous plant material; potato peels; soybean and edible bean meal, hulls and waste materials; and wheat, barley and flax straw. Farmers could expand the productivity and profitability of their crops by producing secondary products, such as oyster mushrooms. The mushroom grower might utilize the spent oyster mushroom substrates as protein-enriched animal feed. The mycelial mat left after mushroom harvest may also contain commercially useful enzymes. Currently, oyster mushrooms sell for approximately $4.99 /lb fresh and $95.00 /lb ($2.99 per ½ oz) dried at wholesale prices, while agricultural residues such as sugar beet pulp sell for around 6 cents per pound.

Effective irrigation water management requires accurate daily crop water use estimates. In1995, the Extension specialist and an applications programmer developed a website that displays the crop water use for the 10 major irrigated crops in North Dakota. The water use for each crop is calculated using data from the 59 automated weather stations on the North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network (NDAWN). During the growing season, the crop water use data is updated daily. The user can view the crop water use as color-coded maps or as numerical tables. To use the maps for irrigation management purposes, the irrigator or crop consultant selects both the crop and the nearest emergence date. Every year since 1995, additional features have been added to the website.

Impact - The crop water use maps and numerical tables are used extensively for irrigation scheduling. For example, during June, July, August and September of the 2001growing season, the crop water use website handled over 48,000 successful requests for pages. The average daily requests were over 450 with Monday being the busiest day with a total of more than18,000 requests. The website was accessed the most in August (over 16,000 requests), which is not surprising since it was the hottest and driest month. Over 800 distinct computers accessed the website. The crop water use numerical tables were requested about 10 times more often than the crop water use maps. There are about 1,500 irrigators in North Dakota. Many contract with crop consultants for information services. Most consultants that work with irrigators access the website at least twice per week and increase the impact of the irrigation water management information by providing a multiplier effect.

Source of federal funds: Smith-Lever

Scope of impact: Statewide extension.

Manure production by about 2 million cattle and 250,000 swine in North Dakota impacts water quality; improving manure management is essential. Generally producers cannot determine manure nutrient values in a timely manner, as it is not practical for them to collect and get a representative manure sample before land application. Applying too much could lead to contamination of surface and subsurface water. Not applying enough manure is an inefficient use of a nutrient-rich resource.

Impact – Researchers developed simple sensors to determine manure nutrient value at the time that manure is removed from storage and applied to the land. The sensors proved accurate for beef and swine manure but were poor for dairy manure. Adoption of the technology could allow producers to tailor livestock waste applications to crop needs, making manure an economical and environmentally safe source of crop nutrients.

Source of federal funding: Hatch

Scope of impact: Statewide research

Green ash is the most important tree species in North Dakota. Consequently, researchers have been studying a disease called ash yellows for nearly a decade. Because of the prevalence of green ash in the state, the disease has the potential to have more of an impact than Dutch elm disease.

Impact – Researchers have identified isolates of ash yellows in North Dakota and found that some of them are more virulent than those found in other regions of the country. Pathologists are working with plant breeders to assess the tolerance of green ash varieties to the disease so that ash trees that are resistant to the disease can be used for urban landscapes and resource conservation plantings.

Source of federal funding: MacIntire-Stennis, Hatch

Scope of impact: Statewide research

Harsh northern environmental conditions allow a limited number of trees to adapt to the region. Tree breeders must select and introduce new tree species to the region to further improve trees that are adapted to cold environmental conditions. The process of developing trees that are adapted to both cold weather and resistant to the region’s pests and diseases is long and difficult. Researchers are using genetic transformations to adapt trees by introducing disease resistance genes into American elm, herbicide resistance genes into Siberian elm, and improved rooting genes into aspen.

Impact: Success of the research will lead to a broader selection of trees that are better able to tolerate the climate and pests of the region. In addition, the aspen with improved rooting characteristics will allow them to be propagated more economically, possibly allowing them to be used as an energy crop.

Source of federal funding: MacIntire-Stennis, Hatch

Scope of impact: Statewide research

Water flow and chemical transport properties of field soil influence crop nutrient and pesticide loss. These properties also influence the transport of other possible environmental pollutants such as antibiotics and industrial solvents. NDSU soil scientists studied these processes with chemical tracers to learn more about areas prone to loss of agricultural and industrial chemicals. Researchers have also studied the fate and transport of bioactive chemicals through soils. These chemicals include estradiol, testosterone, brominated flame retardant and sulfa-based antibiotics. The chemicals may be present in animal manures that are applied directly to soils and can potentially contaminate surface and subsurface water resources.

Impact: Research on the fate and transport of chemicals and bioactive chemicals in soil will lead to more precise studies on how these chemicals move and change in the environment and the affect they may have on plant, animal and human health, such as genetic mutations, reproductive problems, antibiotic resistance and other health problems.

Source of federal funding: Hatch

Scope of impact: Multi-state research

NDSU specialists are working to help producers and land managers control leafy spurge, an invasive weed that infests rangeland and drastically reduces its value for grazing. One project uses sheep and cattle grazing together to control the weed, because sheep will graze the weed while cattle will not. In addition, NDSU entomologists evaluate insect pests of the weed and have identified insects that have been released widely across the region in a biocontrol effort against leafy spurge. Additional research focuses on identifying grasses and other plants that can compete with leafy spurge and recommending chemical control strategies.

Impact – Sheep effectively controlled leafy spurge after one year using a single-species grazing approach and after three years using a multi-species grazing approach. Leafy spurge stem densities were reduced by 96 percent and 92 percent on single-species and multi-species grazing treatments, respectively, after six years. Season-long grazing using a multi-species approach provided a quicker, more efficient grazing of leafy spurge than rotational grazing; however, both reduced leafy spurge stem densities by 94 percent and 82 percent, respectively, after six years. The research provides new options for North Dakota livestock producers who want to control this invasive weed.

Individual counties in North Dakota continue to use flea beetles from their own insectaries to reduce leafy spurge. Data indicate these insects may have an annual impact of $58 million by 2005. n some areas.

NDSU weed scientists showed that an additional herbicide could be used on leafy spurge infestations. Because of NDSU research, the EPA granted a label for that use and producers now have an additional tool to use in areas where other control methods do not work and during times of the year when other herbicides are not effective.

Source of federal funding: Hatch and Smith-Lever

Scope of impact: Multi-state research and extension

From 1999 to 2000, the NDSU Soil Testing Laboratory processed nearly 25,000 soil samples for farmers, ag consultants and researchers from North Dakota and Minnesota.

Impact: Soil tests and fertilizer recommendations by the Soil Testing Laboratory are recognized as the standard for crop nutrient recommendations in western Minnesota, North Dakota, northeastern South Dakota and eastern Montana. Accurate results and recommendations assure producers that crop nutrient needs are being met efficiently while environmental quality is maintained.

Source of funding: Hatch

Scope of impact: Multi-state research and Extension, MN, MT, SD.

The University of North Dakota Energy and Environmental Research Center and NDSU researchers are evaluating the placement, engineering performance and environmental performance of fly ash, a by-product of coal combustion. Fly ash was combined with a clay base and compacted for a feedlot surface.

Impact – During the first year, bison gained faster on less feed in pens with fly ash during the spring thaw and rainy summer months. Runoff from pens with fly ash and holding pond samples did not contain minerals, heavy metals or other compounds that should restrict the commercial use of fly ash in livestock facilities. The research may provide an inexpensive source of material for producers to use in improving their feedlots and the subsequent performance of their livestock. The research may also alleviate a disposal problem for energy plants and other facilities that burn coal.

Source of federal funding: Smith-Lever and Hatch

Scope of impact: State specific.

Two Environmental Assurance Program Workshops were held for pork producers dealing with regulations, odor control, nutrient management, community relations and composting.

An extension specialist acted as coordinator for the On Farm Odor/Environmental Assurance Program (a National Pork Producer's Council initiative) and recruited 22 assessors (Extension, NRCS and consultants) and organized their certification school. The program is designed to offer pork producers a free, confidential review of their operation's environmental strengths and weaknesses.

An interagency Livestock Waste Management and Utilization Workshop designed to provide technical and field staff with a basic grounding in the issues that comprise the Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plans proposed by EPA/USDA. The two-day workshop was attended by 90 participants representing NRCS, SCDs, NDSU Extension Service, NDDH, Section 319 funded Water Quality Coordinators, producer group boards, ND Dept. of Agriculture, ND Water Commission, ND Game and Fish, and tribal agencies.

Manure Application Planning Workshops were held at 10 locations around the state. The objective of the workshop was to give producers the planning and record keeping skills necessary to make better use of their manure as well as meet NDDH requirements. More than 120 producers, along with 45 local extension and NRCS/SCD staff, attended the four hour workshops. Each participant received a binder containing all of the information required to prepare a manure application plan. In their evaluation questionnaires, 15 out of the 120 producers reported that they had used manure tests in the past. Thirty-nine producers had tested soil from fields receiving manure, 17 had used manure nutrient credits to reduce fertilizer purchases, seven had kept written records of manure applications, and 10 had performed a calibration of the manure spreader.

Impact: EAP Workshops-- Of the 12 producers who completed an evaluation form, 11 were planning to make changes in the way they manage their manure.

OFO/EAP Program -- Eight assessments were completed as part of the training program. One producer has participated since the program began.

Livestock Waste Management and Utilization Workshop-- On a scale of 1 (not useful) to 5 (very useful), evaluations from the participants scored the workshop at 4.1. The most common suggestions for follow-up activities or topics included a field day to view successful waste management systems, more information on regulations and permits, information on system costs, and more information on manure utilization.

Manure Application Planning Workshops-- Seventy-six percent of the producers who participated said that they were going to implement changes in their manure management practices. The most common intended changes were to test manure nutrient concentrations, to give credits for the manure nutrients applied, and to keep records.

Source of federal funds: Smith-Lever and EPA

Scope of Impact: State Specific