Erin Cortus

Professional headshot of Erin Cortus posed in front of a grey background.
Associate Professor
Extension Engineer
She/her/hers
[email protected]
+1 612 625 8288
210 BioAgEng Building

1390 Eckles Ave
St. Paul, MN 55108
United States

Education
  • Ph.D. - University of Saskatchewan. 2007
  • B.E. - University of Saskatchewan. 2002
External Affiliations

American Society of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

Canadian Society of Biological Engineering

Air & Waste Management Association

Areas of Interest

Sustainable Livestock Production

Biography

The broad mission of my program is to work with producers and communities to understand and continually improve the quality and productivity of livestock environments. My specific applied research interests lie at the intersection of measuring and communicating sustainability metrics and improving air quality.

Teaching

Graduate cohort mentorship:

INFEWS-er: Food Animal Production and Local Community Relationships

Wicked Problem Solving using System Dynamics

Research

Current projects focus on biosecurity practices on poultry and livestock farms, manure storage design, mass mortality management, manure characteristics, and hydrogen sulfide mitigation. ManureDB, Greenhouse Gas Sampling Methods for Minnesota Livestock Farms, Building Sustainability Capacity for Midwest Dairy Farms, Biosecure Entry Education and Research.

Select Publications

* indicates advisee

  • Turner, B., Wuellner, M., & Cortus, E. (2021). A multi-university cohort model for teaching complex and interdisciplinary problem-solving using system dynamics. Systems Research and Behavioral Science. [In Press]. https://doi.org/10.1002/sres.2778
  • Cortus, E. L., Hetchler, B., Spiehs, M. J., & Rusche, W. (2021). Environmental conditions and gas concentrations in deep pit finishing cattle facilities: A descriptive study. Transactions of the ASABE, 64(1), 31-48. https://doi.org/10.13031/trans.14040
  • Parker, D. B., Casey, K., Hales, K., Waldrip, H., B. M., Cortus, E., . . . Willis, W. (2020). Towards modeling of nitrous oxide emissions following precipitation, urine and feces deposition on beef cattle feedyard surfaces. Transactions of the ASABE, 63(5), 1371-1384. https://doi.org /10.13031/trans.13847
  • Akter, S.*, & Cortus, E. L. (2020). Comparison of Hydrogen Sulfide Concentrations and Odor Annoyance Frequency Predictions Downwind from Livestock Facilities. Atmosphere 11(3), 11(3), 249. doi:10.3390/atmos11030249.
  • Janni, K., & Cortus, E. (2019). Common animal production systems and manure storage methods. In Animal Manure: Production, Characteristics, Environmental Concerns and Management. Madison, WI: ASA-SSSA-CSSA. doi: 10.2134/asaspecpub67.c3.
  • Wilson, M. L., Niraula, S., & Cortus, E. L. (2019). Nutrient characteristics of swine manure and wastewater. In Animal Manure: Production, Characteristics, Environmental Concerns and Management. Madison, WI: ASA-SSSA-CSSA. doi: 10.2134/asaspecpub67.c6.
  • Miller, E., Spiehs, M., Arthur, T. M., Woodbury, B., Cortus, E., Chatterjee, A., . . . Schmidt, J. W. (2019). Cropland amendment with beef cattle manure minimally impacts antimicrobial resistance. Journal of Environmental Quality 48(6), 1683-1693. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2019.02.0042
  • Mehata, M.*, Cortus, E. L., Niraula, S., Spiehs, M. J., Darrington, J., Chatterjee, A., . . . Parker, D. (2019). Aerial Nitrogen Losses and Soil Nitrate Balances in Response to Fall-Applied Manure and Fertilizer Applications in Eastern South Dakota. International Journal of Agronomy 2019. https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/8572985. Nold, R., Mastellar, S. L., & Cortus, E. L. (2019). Simulating public meetings on controversial agricultural issues using cross-departmental collaboration. NACTA Journal, 63(2), 54-58.
  • Cortus, E. L., Darrington, J., & Thaler, R. C. (2019). Dynamic heat flux measurements from finishing pigs. Applied Engineering in Agriculture, 35(4), 535. doi.org/10.13031/aea.13260
  • Niraula, S., Rahman, S., Chatterjee, A., Cortus, E. L., Mehata, M.*, & Spiehs, M. J. (2019). Beef Manure and Urea Applied to Corn Show Variable Effects on Nitrous Oxide, Methane, Carbon Dioxide, and Ammonia. Agronomy Journal, 111(3), 1448. doi: 10.2134/agronj2018.08.0547
  • Cortus, E., Kasu, B., Jacquet, J., Embertson, N., Millmier Schmidt, A., Lim, T. T., & Heemstra, J. (2018). Relevant information sources in the vast and complex manure nutrient management network. Journal of Extension, 56(3). https://joe.org/joe/2018june/a6.php

Book Chapter (Published and/or Accepted While at UMN)

Honors and Awards

  • Dean's Award for Distinguished Team - Extension Biosecurity Education Team (2018-19) 

Licensed Engineer in Minnesota and South Dakota