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Full-Text Articles in Life Sciences
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 1, J. P. Harner, T. D. Strahm, D. Key, T. L. Strahm, J.P. Murphy
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 1, J. P. Harner, T. D. Strahm, D. Key, T. L. Strahm, J.P. Murphy
Manure Matters (newsletter)
Time and motion (TM) studies are useful in determining labor requirement to perform a specific task in manufacturing processes. These studies have been used in the dairy industry to evaluate the labor requirements for various tasks associated with milking routine and milk parlor. Data may be used to evaluate the impact of changes or help in understanding labor requirements. The objective of this project was to determine the labor requirements for removing manure from concrete basins prior to land applications.
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 3, M. S. Davis, Terry L. Mader
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 3, M. S. Davis, Terry L. Mader
Manure Matters (newsletter)
Using Weather Stations in Nebraska Livestock Operations
Enforcement of environmental regulations placed on feedlots in Nebraska by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), have lead to an increased need for accurate documentation of weather variables. In addition to the need to monitor weather conditions for compliance, an accurate representation of current weather conditions within the microclimate of the livestock operation allow for proactive responses to periods of potential environmental stress periods (i.e. heat and cold stress). Currently, most producers use manual documentation of rainfall events, local weather forecasts and some degree of intuition to monitor weather conditions. Weather station technology exists …
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 4, Raymond Ward
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 4, Raymond Ward
Manure Matters (newsletter)
How to Read a Manure Sample Report
Correctly sampling manure can be a challenge. Try to obtain a representative sample and get the sample to the lab as close as possible to the time when manure is going to be applied. It is preferable to obtain sample results before land application so that appropriate application rates can be determined.
Slurry samples should be taken at the time the slurry is being applied, so that you have a good mix of the manure storage. The amount of material is usually recorded in gallons per acre and once the analysis is received, …
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 5
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 5
Manure Matters (newsletter)
Marketing Manure-Part 1
This is part 1 of a two part series discussing the results of a manure marketing survey conducted by the University of Nebraska.
Livestock enterprises have undergone substantial structural change in recent years, including the concentration of livestock and poultry industry into fewer farms (Council for Agricultural Science and Technology, 1996). There has been a reduction in farms with cattle by 50% and farms with swine by 80% between 1965 and 1995 while numbers of hogs and cattle in inventory has stayed nearly constant (USDA, 1965-1995). Livestock and poultry produce, annually, 3.5 and 3.1 million tons of …
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 8, Richard Stowell
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 8, Richard Stowell
Manure Matters (newsletter)
Pit Additives
As producers have been trying to deal with odor issues on their operations, many have been inundated with product advertisements and solicitations for pit additives. Understandably, producer concerns arise over product effectiveness, reliability and value. Results of an NPPC-supported study on the effectiveness of many pit additives were released this year. This article summarizes major findings of that Odor Solutions Initiative study. A full report of results from that study is available through NPPC.
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 2, Rick Koelsch
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 2, Rick Koelsch
Manure Matters (newsletter)
Pivot Irrigation of Livestock Manure
The selection of an appropriate land application method for manure can have an impact on several environmental issues. Individual methods should be evaluated based upon impact on:
• Air quality
• Water quality
• Soil conservation and quality
• Pathogen transmission
The following discussion will review these considerations as they relate to application of manure or lagoon effluent through a center pivot system. A generalized comparison of the relative strengths and weaknesses of alternative application methods is attached in Table 1.
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 10, Christopher Henry, Richard K. Koelsch
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 10, Christopher Henry, Richard K. Koelsch
Manure Matters (newsletter)
What is an Anaerobic Digester?
The first methane digester plant was built at a leper colony in Bombay, India in 1859. A methane digester system, commonly referred to as an AD (anaerobic digester) is a device that promotes the decomposition of manure or “digestion” of the organics in manure to simple organics and gaseous biogas products. Manure is regularly put into the digester after which the microbes break down the manure into biogas and a digested solid. The digested manure is then deposited into a storage structure. The biogas can be used in an engine generator or burned in a …
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 7, J. David Aiken
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 7, J. David Aiken
Manure Matters (newsletter)
Nebraska Livestock Nuisance Law
Until 1976 the Nebraska Supreme Court had ruled that animal feeding operations (AFOs) located in rural areas did not legally constitute a nuisance unless the AFO were improperly operated. However, in 1976 the Nebraska Supreme Court ruled that a rural AFO may constitute a nuisance even if properly operated. This decision made AFO operators liable for the first time in Nebraska if their AFO constituted a nuisance.
In 1977 the Nebraska Unicameral adopted an amendment to the Nebraska Environmental Policy Act defining when AFOs would legally constitute a nuisance. Basically, the statute said that an AFO …
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 6, Keith Glewen, Rick Koelsch
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 6, Keith Glewen, Rick Koelsch
Manure Matters (newsletter)
Marketing Manure - Part 2
This is part 2 of a two part series discussing the results of a manure marketing survey conducted by the University of Nebraska.
The survey attempted to identify those services that were packaged with the export of manure to off-farm customers. At this time, many producers do not offer any services to enhance the value of manure (Table 4). Of those exporting manure to off farm users, 40% offered no agronomic services, 51% provided no nuisance avoidance services, and 70% offered no manure processing services. However, there were a number of feedlots that offered services …
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 9, Richard K. Koelsch, Bryan Woodbury, David Stenberg, Daniel N. Miller, Dennis Schulte
Manure Matters, Volume 7, Number 9, Richard K. Koelsch, Bryan Woodbury, David Stenberg, Daniel N. Miller, Dennis Schulte
Manure Matters (newsletter)
Total Reduced Sulfur Concentration in Beef Cattle Feedlots
In 1997, the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality amended its Title 129 Air Quality Regulations to establish a regulatory threshold for Total Reduced Sulfur (TRS) concentrations under ambient conditions. These thresholds are set at “10.0 parts per million (10.0 PPM) maximum 1 minute average concentration or 0.10 parts per million (0.10 PPM) maximum 30-minute rolling average”. Two agricultural regions of Nebraska with significant cattle finishing in open feedlots came under scrutiny for possible rule violations. In one situation, area feedlots were asked to prepare and implement a TRS control plan.
This growing …