Manure

It will be two years in August since Mike Biadasz tragically lost his life while agitating a large, outdoor manure pit. The silent killer: hydrogen sulfide gas.

J Hall started custom raising dairy calves in 1995. What began as a small venture in his backyard in Kewaunee, Wisconsin, has grown into a farm with 8,500 calves from 27 different farms and 65 full-time employees.

Manure and tile are both important tools for improving the productivity of our farms. Manure as an organic nutrient source is a tremendous benefit to crops and soils, and tile improves crop growth in poorly drained soils.

Accidents can happen to anybody, but most are preventable. Or, as my grandpa said, “Accidents can happen to anybody, but clumsy people have the most.” Please take the time to think before you begin a chore or task. Take that second to think, “What could go wrong?” “Is there something not right here?”

The nutrient density of manure is one of the most important factors influencing transportation costs. As the largest part of the manure slurry is water, it is natural to consider separation and partitioning strategies that divide the slurry into different fractions.

California’s third annual Rethink Methane Symposium was recently held to showcase the state’s efforts to use renewable natural gas to help meet ambitious air quality, climate and economic goals. More than 300 attendees were anxious to hear an update on the progress the dairy industry is making.