Project Number: 6209-32000-004-00
Project Type: Appropriated

Start Date: Jan 10, 2000
End Date: Jan 09, 2005

Objective:
1) Determine potential inoculation pathways by which pathogens/toxins are transferred to food crops when manure laden water is applied as irrigation. 2) Determine potential inoculation pathways by which pathogens/toxins are transferred to food crops when covered with manure laden particulates. 3) Determine any potential hazards when food crops are grown on land that has received manure.

Approach:
Experimental Design: A pathogen/toxin profile will be developed for several types of waste water holding and treatment facilities and multiple sampling techniques will be used to determine pathogen/toxin profiles of dust leaving feedyards, manure storage areas, and soils having manure applied. Studies will be conducted at cooperating commercial feeding operations, in our research feedlot, in laboratory-scale systems, and during storage, treatment and application of manure to land. Once manure has been applied either through irrigation, dust, or normal land application; the life cycles of pathogens/toxins will be determined and followed. The effects of manure treatment and handling on populations of viable pathogens/toxins will be determined. Previously was 6209-42000-001-00D (05/01).