We see this as a broad range topic which can serve to emphasize not only the pathogenic microbial constituents of manure but also the lesser known commensals, nuisance, and functional microbial constituents. This approach should make it a broad interdisciplinary topic for quite a few of the attendees interested in not only microbiology, but also soils (land application), water (runoff), and other environmental concerns such as odor emmisions. Understanding what is in the manure, from a microbiological standpoint, before it leaves the production site is an issue that is just not addressed often, but it touches and influences so much of what goes on in land application, runoff, emmissions, etc.