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.

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.

Dan Monson Gratiot, Wisconsin Director of Dairy Specialists Agri-King

More than 250 Sorrento Lactalis production and maintenance employees are back on the job after a two-day strike that started July 9 outside the Buffalo, New York, cheese plant. The employees that went on strike are members of the Teamsters Local Union No. 264, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, from Cheektowaga, New York. The issue was inferior terms for health care coverage.