An agronomic‐economic approach to connect manure nutrients back to grain‐producing regions

Stakeholders for nutrient‐impaired watersheds have long discussed the causes and consequences of nutrient surpluses associated with intensive livestock production. Nonetheless, nutrient surpluses relative to crop requirement, particularly with phosphorus (P), persist and continue to contribute to wa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of environmental quality 2022-07, Vol.51 (4), p.552-565
Main Authors: Duke, Joshua M., McGrath, Joshua M.
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Stakeholders for nutrient‐impaired watersheds have long discussed the causes and consequences of nutrient surpluses associated with intensive livestock production. Nonetheless, nutrient surpluses relative to crop requirement, particularly with phosphorus (P), persist and continue to contribute to water quality impairment. Nutrient life‐cycle analysis shows that mineral P, from soil minerals or mined fertilizer P, flows to livestock regions from grain‐producing regions. Although creating a return flow of these nutrients to grain fields seems like an easy solution, significant economic obstacles exist to creating a connected manureshed over large geographic distances. To limit the impact of manure use on local surface water, state, federal, and nongovernmental actors have largely targeted their interventions in manure source areas. Even manure transport programs tend to focus on obstacles at the point of production in manure source areas. However, if we are to realize connected manuresheds that cost‐effectively distribute manure nutrients beyond the current publicly funded incentive programs, we must address obstacles to manure utilization in potential sink areas that supply grain to livestock regions. Further, we can harness the power of computer‐mediated market design and scientific research to build even more‐effective markets that generate manure nutrient transfers of an order of magnitude that will substantively improve water quality in source areas. This manuscript offers economic insights into potential improvements to current manure nutrient relocation programs. Under the right conditions, these improvements will relocate more manure, generate more environmental benefits, and improve the profitability of most participating farmers. Core Ideas Manure relocation subsidies that direct nutrients to sink regions improve social efficiency. Education in manure sending and receiving regions improves the efficiency of manure markets. Markets mediated to adjust for distance and environmental impact expand program impact. Adding price discrimination to mediated markets reduces total program costs. Collectively, market improvements free funds to force trades beyond economic equilibrium.
ISSN:0047-2425
1537-2537
DOI:10.1002/jeq2.20329