All Articles About:
Air Quality
The National Air Quality Site Assessment Tool (NAQSAT)
The National Air Quality Site Assessment Tool (NAQSAT) was developed for livestock and poultry producers to assist in determining the areas on their operations where opportunities exist to make changes resulting in reduced air emissions. This tool can generally be run in 30-60 minutes and can be found at http://naqsat.tamu.edu/. Data is only stored on line for 30 days and there is no reference to location, farm site or person associated with the data. Data can be printed off as needed.
The tool is intended for voluntary and educational use. The tool can be used for swine, dairy, beef, broilers chickens, laying hens and turkeys and has been designed in cooperation with more than 20 university professionals and fifteen partnering agencies to be applicable across the diversity of enterprises in the nation.
Which Aspects of My Farm Does NAQSAT Address?
The on-line tool addresses eight constituents of concern that relate to air emissions: animals and housing, feed and water, collection and transfer of manure, manure storage, land application, mortalities, on-farm records and precipitation.
This tool is unique in that multiple gaseous emissions, including odor, particulates, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, methane, and VOCs will be considered during a single assessment. The data does not provide quantitative emissions data or regulatory guidance.
NAQSAT is based on the most accurate, credible data currently available regarding mitigation strategies for air emissions. When the science-based data was lacking, theories were based on the best professional judgment by leading air quality scientists. This project include a qualitative and quantitative self assessment that will allow producers to determine where air emissions control practices can return the greatest benefit as part of a proactive plan to mitigate air emissions.
Because each livestock facility with its infrastructure is unique, the reported information cannot be generalized to compare one operation to another. Results do not imply that practices conform to state or local regulations and the tool does not assess the economic merits or logistical practicality of practices; therefore, working through this tool with a professional advisor who is knowledgeable of local conditions is suggested.
Natalie Rector of Michigan State University presents an introduction to the NAQSAT during the August 2010 webcast(13 minutes)
You do not have the Flash plugin installed, which means you are missing out on great interactive content. Download Flash.
Presentation Slides
Download a Copy of This Video (9.4 MB)
Webcasts on using NAQSAT
- NAQSAT for Swine and Poultry October 15, 2010
- NAQSAT for Beef and Dairy August 20, 2010
Funding for this multi-state project was provided by a USDA NRCS Conservation Innovation grant.
