The Agricultural Development Center is pleased to have been awarded one of the first-round Ag. Development Fund grants for market development in Tennessee. The funding from the “Ag Tag” program has been essential to this project’s in-depth investigation of potential markets for value-added livestock waste. During the funding period, July 1999 to June 2000, potential markets (home owners, golf courses, landscaping contractors and nurseries) for value-added livestock waste (mulches, compost, soil conditioners, fertilizers) were surveyed in order to assess market potential and prepare educational information to assist in the development of marketing strategies for value-added livestock waste products.

A questionnaire and survey sample for the four different target markets were developed. Telephone interviews were conducted by the Human Dimensions Lab in the Department of Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries and completed in April 2000. The project was coordinated by Dr. Kent Wolfe of the Agricultural Development Center. The survey data was compiled by the Human Dimensions Lab and analyzed and summarized by Dr. Wolfe. Dr. Wolfe resigned from the Agricultural Development Center prior to the ending date of the project and final reports and documentation for the project was prepared in cooperation with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Marketing by other members of the Agricultural Development Center.

Questions and comments regarding the Tennessee Department of Agriculture’s “Ag Development Fund” (Ag. Tag) grant program should be forwarded to Mr. Stanley Trout, Marketing Chief, Tennessee Department of Agriculture, 615-837-5160. Questions and comments regarding this report and the “Evaluating Markets for Value-Added Livestock Waste in Tennessee” project should be forwarded to Mr. Rob Holland, Feasibility Specialist, Center for Profitable Agriculture, 931-486-2777.

For results of the survey, please read the Executive Summary.