Managing Organic Wastes PWT Annual Report, Oct. 2002-Sept. 2003
The Managing Wastes PWT continues
to engage diverse stakeholders including government agency personnel who are
responsible for managing wastes, regulating wastes and funding waste-related
research and outreach; livestock farmers; compost producers; NGOs and private
consultants as well as Cornell Cooperative Extension educators and Cornell
faculty and staff. Participation in
meetings and projects helped to reach hundreds of NYS farmers, educators,
students, composters and staff with up to date research-based information and
also served to keep us abreast of current issues. We continue to use email to
facilitate communications and materials are available on the WWW (through the
Cornell Waste Management Institute www site at cwmi.css.cornell.edu).
Substantial progress was made on numerous PWT goals
including composting of mortalities and butcher residuals. A NESARE project that involves collaboration
among faculty, CCE educators, agency personnel, NYS Dept. of Corrections,
farmers, butchers and other stakeholders in NY, PA and VT was funded and work
commenced. It includes research (focus
on pathogens) and outreach (focus on best practices for composters and
regulators). Through the PWT work
including demonstration sites, composting is becoming an accepted option. Through these same efforts, the NYS
Department of Environmental Conservation and NRCS have developed guidelines and
standards for mortality management through composting. NYS Department of Transportation is a new
stakeholder for this PWT. They have
become involved in the mortality composting since disposal of road killed
animals is a significant issue. Discussion
was also initiated with DOT as a potential user of compost in erosion control
as well as landscape construction.
Implementation has commenced on a project involving
numerous collaborators (CCE educators in several counties, CU faculty, organic
lawn care co., grape grower, compost producers, other stakeholders) directed at
working with the turf, landscaping and vineyard industries to enhance NYS
compost markets. The project involves
research (impacts on soil health being studied in collaboration with soil
health PWT members; plant response being studied in collaboration with
Landscape Horticulture PWT members and though a CU landscape architecture
course) and outreach (work with the relevant industries to develop compost use
guidance and use the research sites for demonstration). Sources of funding include USDA, Cornell and
NYSERDA. The relationship between composting practices and compost quality was
studied in a project partially funded by NYSERDA and advice and technical
assistance are being provided to composters to help them refine practices to
create composts that best meet market needs.
Models for “cooperative” or “collaborative”
composting whereby several farms work together since any single farm may not
produce enough compost to compete in the market place are being developed as
part of a newly funded project (partial Empire State Development funding,
collaboration among numerous stakeholders).
Recognizing the need for education at a more than
basic level, an Advanced Composting short course was organized that drew more
than 45 diverse participants (composters, regulators, CCE educators, ag advisors, farmers, agency staff) from all over the world
and included instructors from PA, ME, IO and WI as well as NY. Evaluations
showed that participants learned a tremendous amount and highly valued the
experience. More locally-based courses also reached NYS composters and farmers.
Dairy is the largest agricultural sector in
NYS. Working jointly with faculty and
with ProDairy extension staff, guidance materials on
mortality management (“Natural Rendering” video won “outstanding new extension
publication of 2003,” fact sheets available on the CWMI www site) and on use of
sewage sludges on dairy farms (available on the CWMI www site) were developed
and made available.
At a PWT meeting held in
Albany in April, 2003, 20 such participants discussed proposed changes in the
NYS Dept. of Agriculture and Markets rules pertaining to fertilizers and their
relation to composting. The meeting was
widely advertised and was open to all.
Some of those who attended followed up with meetings with several
legislative staff. As a result of their
interest, a bill that exempted compost from fertilizer rules was proposed and
passed both the Senate and Assembly.
While vetoed by the Governor, DAM is working with the Farm Bureau and
others to develop rules that address the unique aspects of compost that make it
a misfit under the current fertilizer rules.
Names, titles, affiliations, and contact information
for program work team members. Please
note with asterisks those who are external stakeholders.
Benjamin, Michelle, CCE Schuyler Co,
Rural-Urban Ctr, 208 Broadway,
Bonhotal, Jean, Extension Associate,
Cornell Waste Management Institute, 101b Rice Hall,
Bouldin, Dave, Prof. Emeritus, Crop and Soil Science, Cornell
University, 920 Bradfield Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; drb6@cornell.edu;
607-255-1731
Brown, Nellie, ILR
Extension, Cornell University, 237 Main St, Ste 1200, Buffalo, NY 14203;
njb7@cornell.edu; 716-852-4191
*Darling, Mark,
Recycling Coordinator, Ithaca College, 201 Physical Plant Bldg, Ithaca, NY
14850; mdarling@ithaca.edu; 607 274-1777
Eller, Bob, Horticulture Educator, CCE
Wayne Co., 1581 Rt 88N, Newark, NY 14513; rfe4@cornell.edu; 315-331-8415
*Fiesinger, Tom, NYS ERDA,
Gabriel, Aaron, CCE Washington Co.,
County Office Building Annex,
*Goodale,
Douglas, Ph.D., Dean, Agriculture and Natural Resources, SUNY Cobleskill, 100
Curtis-Mott Hall, Cobleskill, NY 12043; Goodaldm@Cobleskill.edu;
518-255-5323
Grant, Jennifer, IPM Turf, NYS AES, 15
Kennedy Hall,
Gruttadaurio, Joann, Dept of
Horticulture,
Haith, Doug, Dept. of Biological and Environmental Eng.,
Cornell University, 308 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; dah13@cornell.edu;
607-255-2802
Harrison, Ellen, Director, Cornell Waste
Management Institute, 100 Rice Hall,
Hay, Anthony, Microbiology,
*Hosking, Linda, Empire State
Development, ESI,
*Johnson, Sarah, Northeast Organic
Farming Association of New York, 661 A Lansing Rd., Fultonville,
NY 12072, sjds@wizvax.net; 518-922-7937, Fax 518-922-7646
Lamboy, Jana, IPM Ornamentals, NYS AES, 15 Kennedy Hall, NY
14853; jsl7@cornell.edu; 315-787-2207
*Marion, Jim, NYS DOCS, ENYCF, Division
of Industries, 601 Berme Rd, Napanoch,
NY 12458; jimdocs@catskill.net; 914 647-1054 x 1653
Michaelides, Adam, CCE Tompkins Co,
Petrovic, Martin, Dep. of Horticulture, Cornell University, 20
Plant Science, Ithaca, NY 14853; amp4@cornell.edu; 607-255-1796
Rangarajan, Anu, Dept of Horticulture,
Cornell University, 121 Plant Science, Ithaca, NY 14853; ar47@cornell.edu;
607-255-1780
Regenstein, Joe, Dept. of Food Science,
Cornell University, 8 Stocking Hall, Ithaca, NY 14853; jmr9@cornell.edu;
607-255-2109
*Sellew, Paul,
Executive Vice President, Synagro Technologies,
Severson, Keith, Executive Director, CCE
Chenango Co, 99 N. Broad St., Norwich, NY 13815; kvs5@cornell.edu; 607 336-6961
Steenhuis, Tammo, Dept of Biological
and Environmental Eng, Cornell University, 216 Riley-Robb Hall, Ithaca, NY
14853; tss1@cornell.edu; 607-255-2489
*Suarez, Julie, NYS Farm Bureau, PO Box
992, Rt 9W, Glenmont, NY 12077; nyjsuarez@fb.org;
518-436-8495
Telega, Lee, ProDairy,
Tyler, Lucia, Dept of Horticulture,
Cornell University, 135-A Plant Science, Ithaca, NY 14853, ldt1@cornell.edu;
607-255-7884
*Wolfe, Gale, Chemung County Sewer
District,