Most people understand that anaerobic digesters produce a biogas that can be used to create power (usually in the form of electricity). But few realize that farmers seldom install digesters primarily for this reason – if at all. More often than not, farmers install a digester to enhance their nutrient management plan, as well as control odors, destroy pathogens, kill weed seeds, etc. For these farmers the ability to produce power is a secondary benefit. The revenue from power sales simply helps pay for the digester system that gives these other benefits to their farming operation.

Implementation of anaerobic digestion technology on U.S. dairies continues to stumble along. There are several reasons, with the most prevalent being economics, including: high capital costs, high or unknown operation and maintenance costs, reliability concerns and low revenues. Anaerobic digestion technology is proven to work, but the dollars and cents situation is simple reality and largely out of the control of producers. Despite the environmental benefits, a segment of producers also steer away from anaerobic digestion systems due to the perceived notion manure is the only bedding option. Here’s how sand bedding users are implementing sand-manure separation as part of digestion pretreatment.

“Do you milk by hand?” That is the typical question I hear when I tell people Roger and I have a dairy farm. I anticipate this question and am still surprised. What amazes me is the total sincerity of people as they ask this question. People in Michigan live in the midst of agricultural communities and yet they are oblivious to how we farm. My response is to laugh gently, then say, “No, we milk with robots!” Amazement and disbelief cross their faces, and we begin a conversation about dairy technology.

The power take-off (PTO) shaft is an efficient means of transferring mechanical power between farm tractors and implements. This power transfer system helped to revolutionize North American agriculture during the 1930s. It is also one of the oldest and most persistent hazards associated with farm machinery. This article discusses several aspects of PTO safety.

Iceland is dominated by volcanoes and mountainous highlands at its center. Although picturesque, most of the surface is barren, the arable land occurring in pockets around the coast.

In this summer of discontent, we still have reasons to be thankful to be an American. This Fourth of July, we as a people filled our city parks and backyards, watched the fireworks, grilled our burgers and flew flags on our front porches. Once again displaying our loyalty to a concept, a constitution, a country that represents something bigger than us as individuals.

My friend and utility consultant, Stevo, often points out the obvious in a sea of obfuscating shrapnel. For example, upon seeing a sailing vessel on the high seas, I noted that sailors in the old days often did not know how to swim. Stevo commented, with the wisdom of my shoe-shine lady, “Probably made them better sailors!” Not long ago, in Erath, we were discussing cattle genetics and breeding. In south Louisiana, one can see the influence of the Brahman breed. They are bred to be heat-resistant. I noted that Brangus is a popular cross in the South and Southwest.

I am finished with my South Sudan, Africa, assignment debriefs in Washington, D.C. My recollections and summaries and insights are recorded and filed away at the State Department, at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and at the USDA.

New research presented at the 2012 American Society of Animal Science meeting provided insight into the consequences if U.S. farmers and ranchers no longer used productivity-enhancing technologies to raise beef cattle.

The dry summer has many corn producers concerned that their corn crop may not meet their production expectations, according to Tim Schnakenberg, an agronomy specialist with University of Missouri Extension. “The corn crop is deteriorating rapidly in areas that have missed key rains and producers are looking at alternatives, especially for their later planted corn,” said Schnakenberg. Chopping the crop for silage is one way to retain some value of the crop before it wilts down in the drought, even though the dry matter tonnage produced may be 10-50 percent lower in a drought compared to normal corn silage.