Chinese farm leaders and policymakers have just completed a visit to the US to examine the management and recycling methods for untreated manure, an issue which they see as posing a serious constraint to China’s future expansion of livestock production.
The visit, which was hosted by the US Grains Council (USGC), included stops at Washington DC, Illinois and Indiana where the party was able to see testing facilities, crop farms and livestock operations first hand.
“The trip also gave participants the opportunity to learn how to promote manure recycling, which helps producers use untreated manure as fertilizer without damaging the environment, while reducing the cost to livestock producers,” said the USGC, whose programme manager in China, Wennie Liu, accompanied the party.
A visit to Illinois to meet the Illinois Pork Producers Association was also included to enable the party to discuss the preparation of nutrient management plans.
USGC officials said that will be continue to work with Chinese stakeholders, sharing information about manure management best practices as a way of addressing this “impediment” to further livestock production in China. The council’s hope, of course, is that helping the Chinese livestock sector grow sustainably will also open the door for future grain imports.
“The goal of USGC’s nutrient programme is to encourage farmers to adopt land application techniques for manure without extensive treatment,” said Ms Liu. “We look forward to seeing further developments in China’s livestock industry in the near future.”