About AWARE

History

AWARE stands for Animal Waste Awareness in Research and Extension. The concept for an AWARE Team was formulated in the Summer of 1995. Dr. Glen Harris, an Extension specialist from Tifton, and Dr. Miguel Cabrera, a researcher from Athens, were both attending an Animal Waste conference in Arkansas when they realized there was a need to somehow bring together everyone in Georgia who works on animal waste issues. When they returned to Georgia, the two of them began to organize the first ever "Manure Tour" across Georgia. Dr. Dean Buchanan helped kick-off "Manure Tour I" as it is now known, that ran for two days across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain in September 1995. The tour included eight stops looking at research and Extension activities related to poultry litter utilization. The success of this tour led the group to plan another tour in December 1995 to look into swine and dairy waste issues. "Manure Tour II" involved another 2-day trek across the Piedmont and Coastal Plain and included eight stops at dairy and swine operations. During this second tour, the group decided to formalize itself and develop objectives and a plan of action to accomplish its goals. Currently AWARE members and participants represent various departments of The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, and others entities. AWARE Team members are experts in a variety areas related to animal waste management, environmental regulations, agricultural economics, crop and soil science, water quality and agricultural pollution prevention.

Objectives

The overall objective of the AWARE Team is: "To facilitate awareness of animal waste issues to research scientists, Extension personnel, industry representatives, and producers and to serve as a catalyst for providing economically and environmentally sound waste utilization solutions to Georgia's animal production industry." Some more specific objectives of the AWARE Team are to:

1. identify waste management problems and impediments to economically and environmentally sound waste utilization solutions.
2. prioritize research and Extension waste management needs.
3. promote statewide communication among all parties involved in Georgia's Animal production industry.
4. develop and provide educational tools and workshops to Georgia's agricultural community.
5. provide a forum to demonstrate the pro-active nature of Georgia's agricultural industry.
6. provide for information exchange and updates on the newest technologies, research, and events that affect animal waste management in Georgia.

People

AWARE is collaborative effort of: The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Pollution Prevention Assistance Division (P2AD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Department of Agriculture, and many others.

AWARE Team members are experts in a variety areas related to animal waste management, environmental regulations, agricultural economics, crop and soil science, water quality and agricultural pollution prevention.

Some of these include:

• John McKissick of the Dept. of Agricultural and Applied Economics
• Casey Ritz and Dan Cunningham of the Poultry Science Department
• Rick Jones, John Bernard and Larry Newton of the Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences
• Miguel Cabrera, Glen Harris and David Radcliffe of the Crop and Soil Science Department
• David Kissel, Parshal Bush and Paul Vendrell of the Agricultural and Environmental Services Lab
• Julia Gaskin, John Worley and Mark Risse of Biological and Agricultural Engineering

Contact and Referrals

For more information, questions or a referral to another AWARE Team specialist, please contact:

Melony L. Wilson
Public Service Representative
Depts of: Animal and Dairy Science & Biological and Agricultural Engineering
mlwilson@engr.uga.edu
(706) 542-2735
618 Driftmier Engineering Center
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-4435