Government officials need a paradigm shift when it comes to animal manure. They should consider it a valuable asset and not a waste, according to comments made Sept. 6 by Payne County Farm Bureau leader and Oklahoma State University agricultural economist Michael Dicks. He testified before the U.S. Senate’s Environment and Public Works Committee.
“By treating animal manure as a waste we have employed all efforts and resources to contain and eliminate rather than collect and utilize,” Dicks told the committee. “There are many systems around the world that use manure to efficiently produce food and energy products. Until we get to the point where we concentrate research on the benefits of manure, we’ll continue to have a problem with the way we handle manure.”
The Farm Bureau leader was asked by Senator James Inhofe ( R- OK), ranking minority member on the EPW Committee, to address the impact of confined animal feeding operations (CAFO) on the environment. Dicks said the government can enact stringent regulations on agriculture but those regulations will only work if technologies are available and producers have the money to implement those technologies.
“We don’t need more regulations, but rather more incentives for producers,” Dicks said. He suggests support for research on using manure as an energy source.
“Economic incentives to produce methane gas would be a step in the right direction,” Dicks said.
He noted farmers and ranchers are using the best current technology to the best of their ability.
“If that still creates a problem, then it’s hard to blame them for it,” Dicks said.
The Oklahoma State University economist joined a cadre of other national farm leaders testifying on behave of the agriculture industry. The list included Chris Chinn, a Missouri farmer and chairperson of the American Farm Bureau Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee; Leonard Blackham, Utah Agriculture Commissioner; and Olin Sims, president of the National Association of Conservation Districts.
