Manure

One option often considered for dairy farmers currently operating an anaerobic digestion system is the co-digestion of off-farm substrates.

When Lawnhurst Farms outgrew its bedding recovery unit – a mechanical dryer – it decided it was time to take the next step to produce more bedding for the dairy.

It may not be the most pleasant part of a dairy operation, but it’s one of the most important: What do you do with all that manure?

With nutrient pollution and water quality issues gaining attention in the media, as well as rising costs of fertilizers, retaining nutrients from fall manure is both economically advantageous and environmentally imperative.

Manure management are buzzwords that often bring a scowl to the face of a dairyman. It is often due to the huge costs of maintaining a manure system on a dairy, including equipment, personnel, regulatory costs, custom services, nutrient management plans, neighbor relations, odor control, sampling, maintenance, etc.

Kevin Erb, a conservation professional training coordinator with the University of Wisconsin Extension, directed a simulated manure spill during the 2015 North American Manure Expo, held recently in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.