The proper utilization of animal waste, sludge, and herbicides has become a primary focus of federal, state and local officials and agricultural leaders in the southeastern United States. Similar trends can also seen in other southeastern states that have large agricultural components. However, limited research has been conducted on the effectiveness of these BMPs and their potential impact on surrounding water resources.
Agriculture is an important nonpoint source of pollution in the southeastern United States.
For example in North Carolina, there has been a dramatic increase in both poultry and hog numbers in the past few years and the knowledge of potential water quality problems has the public demanding that these wastes be regulated to protect our water resources. Many scientists in the southeast consider large concentrations of animal and associated waste utilization problems to be the largest single nonpoint source threat to water quality. The best utilization method for these wastes is land application but this method also poses potential problems for water quality. However, there is very little scientific data to use as guidelines for buffer requirements for areas receiving waste. It is important that effectiveness data be obtained for different soil types, slopes, hydrologic and vegetative conditions.