Manure Management Economics
Agriculture and Resource Economics have been investigating several issues related to animal waste. One is how regulation of animal waste is impacting the hog industry. Other research looks at some of economic implications of agricultural engineering solutions to manage animal waste. Several economists in the program have been researching the impact of hog farm locations on real estate property values.
Faculty members involved in these projects are Kelly Zering and Tom Vukina.
The Smithfield Agreement
Follow-up studies on Terra Blue technology
A follow-up study on 2nd generation Terra Blue Technology
A follow-up study on 2nd generation Terra Blue Technology (formerly called Super Soils USA) dated November 1, 2007: includes links to a summary report and two appendices including an economic report.
Take me to the links and summary.
Follow-up Study on 3rd generation Terra Blue Technology
Follow-up Study on 3rd generation Terra Blue technology dated August 19, 2013.
Take me to the study.

Phase One
- Determination of Economic Feasibility
- Benefits of Adopting Environmentally Superior Swine Waste Management Technologies in North Carolina: An Environmental and Economic Assessment (RTI)
Phase Two
- Summary reports of economic feasibility
- Market Modeling of the Effects of Adoption of New Swine Waste Management Technologies in North Carolina
- Costs and Returns Analysis of Manure Management Systems Evaluated Under the North Carolina Attorney General Agreements (Methods)
- Appendices A-I of the Costs and Returns Methods document
- Appendix B.1b Costs and Returns for New Anaerobic Lagoon and Sprayfield Systems
- Appendix B.1c Costs and Returns for Barham Farm (Retrofitted In-ground Anaerobic Digester)
- Appendix B.1d Cost and Returns for Ekokan (Retrofitted Aerobic System)
- Appendix B.1e Costs and Returns for ReCip (Retrofitted mixed system)
- Appendix B.1f Costs and Returns for BEST (FAN + TFS and Filtramat + TFS) Retrofitted solids separation and aerobic system
- Appendix B.1g Costs and Returns for Belt Systems (Lake Wheeler Road and van Kempen-Koger) Retrofitted underfloor belt systems
- Appendix B.1h Costs and Returns for High Solids Anaerobic Digester (HSAD) (Off farm system)
- Appendix B.1i Cost and Returns Report for Super Soils On-Farm (Retrofitted multi-function System)
Phase Three
- Summary Report including summary of economic feasibility
- Appendix B.2 Costs and Returns for ANT Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) (Retrofitted System)
- Appendix B.3 Costs and Returns for Constructed Wetlands (Retrofitted System)
- Appendix B.4 Costs and Returns for Environmental Technologies (Sustainable NC-Frontline Farmers) (Retrofitted System)
- Appendix B.5 Costs and Returns for ISSUES Aerobic Blanket System (ABS) (Retrofitted System)
- Appendix B.6 Costs and Returns for ISSUES Permeable Cover System (PCS) (Retrofitted System)
- Appendix B.7 Costs and Returns for ISSUES RENEW (Retrofitted System)
- Appendix B.8 Costs and Returns for BEST Idaho (Centralized Fluidized Bed Combustion Facility) (Off farm System)
- Appendix B.9 Costs and Returns for Gasifier (RE-Cycle) (Off farm System)
- Appendix B.10 Costs and Returns for Insect Biomass from Solids (black solider fly) (Retrofitted System)
- Appendix B.11 Costs and Returns for Super Soils Composting Facility (Off Farm System)
- Follow-up Report Costs and Returns of Terra Blue 2nd Generation (formerly called Super Soils)
- Follow-up Report Costs and Returns of Terra Blue 3rd Generation (formerly called Super Soils)
In the news
Jul 29, 2022
From Robots to Customers: Exploring New Opportunities for Dairy Farmers
Assistant Professor Alejandro Gutierrez-Li won a $250,000 Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education grant to study Automatic Milking Systems.
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Dec 22, 2021
Supply Chain Issues, Increased Wages and Inputs Pushing Pork Prices Up
Economists from Iowa State University, North Carolina State University and the National Pork Producers Council find the farm-to-wholesale price spread has remained relatively constant the past two years.
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Feb 9, 2022
New Grant Will Explore the Economics of Hog, Poultry Manure Recycling Technologies
Working with other NC State researchers on a new environmental grant, Eric Edwards will assess the economic outcomes of manure recycling technologies.
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Oct 31, 2021
Extension Conference Resources Roundup
Sharing knowledge and research through an annual conference is an activity that makes the Cooperative Extension stronger.
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