Is Growing Livestock Inventories a Sustainable Initiative Given Phosphorus Crop Removal Regulations?

Abstract

As environmental regulations continue to tighten and shift from nitrogen to phosphorus-based application standards for manure, phosphorus removal will become increasingly important for any state considering a livestock growth initiative. A framework was developed that can determine a state’s phosphorus removal capacity based upon production of livestock and crops and varying phosphorus removal standards. The state level results indicate that Indiana, along with Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, and Texas, are well positioned to undertake a livestock growth initiative given that each state has excess phosphorous removal capacity.Agribusiness, Livestock Production/Industries,