Sanford’s research focuses on agricultural wastewater management, including runoff control, nutrient management, water recycling, and emerging contaminants like PFAS. He is particularly interested in improving on-farm water use efficiency and reducing environmental impacts. Sanford’s position is funded by the Dairy Innovation Hub.
This study builds on previous Dairy Innovation Hub-supported research that revealed current nutrient management guidelines may significantly underestimate how much nitrogen is available to crops from processed manure. The first phase, conducted in a lab setting, showed that treatments like solid-liquid separation and anaerobic digestion can dramatically change how quickly and how much nitrogen is released. In this second phase, the focus moves to real-world field conditions to evaluate nitrogen availability from processed manure applied in both spring and fall. The goal is to generate more accurate data that can guide on-farm decisions, helping farmers apply manure more effectively to support crop growth while protecting soil and water resources.