This one is located on Allen Farms, six miles outside of Oshkosh, Wisconsin.

Anaerobic digesters have been proven to generate methane, which can be used to produce electricity or natural gas, but dairy producers remain skeptical on whether or not this technology has proven to be profitable.

Odor and air emissions are ever-present on dairy farms and continue to hold the attention of local, state and national regulation agencies. Earlier this year, Rick Stowell from University of Nebraska – Lincoln gave two presentations on the topic at the Midwest Manure Summit in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

What is the advantage to priming a centrifugal pump? Energy efficiency. Over the lifetime of a pump, this can equal very significant savings. A common misconception is that pumps lift liquid when they are primed and must work harder to do so, but centrifugal pumps do not lift liquid. Priming a pump utilizes the power of atmospheric pressure to do the work of a feeder pump for free.

Milk house wastes are becoming more of an issue as dairies expand and environmental issues become more pronounced. Today’s waste is higher in phosphorous compounds from cleaners. With milk and manure in the waste, improper discharging can lead to a poor image or even legal issues.

Most people assume that all anaerobic digesters – whether they are above-ground round tanks or towers, below-ground square, rectangular or octagonal vessels – are essentially doing the same thing in the same way.

The anaerobic digester system at Dallmann East River Dairy in Brillion, Wisconsin, does more than digest waste from the farm. A nutrient-recovery system after the digester not only helps to clean the biogas but also removes excess nitrates and converts them into a saleable fertilizer.

Very good agitation might be the most important step in utilizing liquid manure as a nutrient to grow a crop. If every gallon is homogeneous throughout the pump-out, we have a better opportunity to be successful year after year using manure as fertilizer.

Fall is a busy time on the dairy. Crop harvest means that a new manure application season is upon us. A safety reminder for anyone handling manure is a good idea.

Question: What are the two biggest factors affecting quality of recycled sand, regardless of the separation method? Answer: Sand type and water quality.