Swine producers' perceptions of alternative waste management systems

A two-stage data collection approach was used to evaluate swine producers' perceptions of factors affecting the adoption of alternatives to the lagoon and sprayfield system. First, in-depth interviews were conducted with swine producers to collect qualitative information on perceived benefits and limitations of the current system. Based on the interview findings, a questionnaire was developed and administered to a sample of North Carolina swine producers using a mail survey. The survey collected information on factors to consider when evaluating alternative technologies, the likelihood of installing alternative technologies with different features and components, and the effect of changes in waste management regulations. © 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.