D3O-~Lancasterfarming, Saturday, March22,l9Bo Manure management advantages BY DICK ANGLESTEIN LANCASTER Manure was given many designations, such as home grown resource, valuable farm product, important plant nutrient and alternate source vf energy, at the Lancaster Dairy Manure Management Seminar at the Farm and Home Center on Monday. Avoiding the once com mon-place term as an agricultural waste, a suc cession of speakers stressed the values to be gained from modern manure management • both efficient on-farm handling and ef fective utilization. The role of manure as a plant nutrient was covered by David Matthews, Agway agronomist, who outlined research conducted at the Agway Farm Research Center at Fabius, N. Y. “Manure is not a waste, but a resource containing useable plant nutrients,” Matthews said. The research primarily showed, according to Matthews, that manure will increase crop yields and spring application and in corporation is better than use in the fall In the corn silage research project, three manure management systems were compared, including daily spread, stored liquid and stored semisolid. The daily spread was simulated by spreading one load every two weeks from October to April. The spring applications of stored manure were plowed im mediately upon application. The daily spread was plowed in at the same time, too. All research plots received 3,100 pounds of manure dry matter per acre. Yields of 32 percent dry matter com silage for the three manure systems showed 14.3 tons per acre for daily spread, 16.1 tons for the liquid manure and 18.5 tons for the semisolid. The Agway study also measured the amount of fuel stressed in seminar, tours required for the three systems. The fuel required per cow per year to move manure from the barn to field, a round trip of one and one half miles, included 5.5 gallons for daily spread, 4.6 gallons for liquid storage and handling and 2.3 gallons for semisolid storage and handling. The semisolid system used significantly less fuel, Matthews explained, because of the higher amounts of water being hauled in the other systems. “Where it fits into a farm operation,’’ Matthews concluded, “the semisolid system has advantages over the other systems in terms of crop production and energy expended.” Scott Eberly, Soil Con servationist, discussed the construction of earthen holding ponds. He emphasized that a major problem in the Lancaster County area is the small, congested farm steads, resulting in location near silos or houses. Soils should be checked prior to construction, he explained. After con struction, the pond should be properly fenced for safety purposes. “If well designed and properly constructed in favorable soils,” Eberly said, “these ponds do seal and provide adequate manure storage for periods of four to six months. ” Suggestions on the ap plication of manure were given by Ed Petrus, Soil Conservationist. He urged the formulation of a con servation plan to list the types of soils to determine which fields can accept the proper amounts of manure to avoid runoff pollution problems. “The longer you wait to incorporate manure into the ground, the less value it will have,” Petrus said. Don’t overlook pastures, he urged, giving them the same consideration as cropland in terms of needing the nutrients in manure. Ray Brubaker, of the ASCS Office, discussed the availability of cost-sharing funds for die construction of manure management systems. All current funds have been expended, he said, but it appears that cost-share money may be available for 1981. Farmers planning a system for 1981 should contact the ASCS Office late this year to see if funds are available. The cost-share assistance can cover 40 percent of the cost, with a $2,500 maximum grant. The state guidelines of Manure Management for Environmental Protection were explained by Roger -Grout, Penn State agricultural engineer. He warned that too many misuses, such as spreading manure on snow or frozen ground, could result in the guidelines being taken away and replaced by stricter regulations. A brief of some manure management systems in Lancaster County was given by Glenn Shirk, Extension daily agent Covering a number of component parts of various systems, Shirk outlined some important factors to be considered. DRAINAGE PROBLEMS? COCALICO EQUIPMENT HAS THE TWO MACHINES TO HANDLE YOUR DRAINAGE PROBLEMS. * Both Machines Equipped with Laser Beam Grade Control Drainage Pays High Returns COMPARE ftJS&m Eve " with the conservative fig- Land Drainage 21-46% ures shown here, it s obvious that FarmS"* 5 I::::::::::::::::::::::::: ;; 3 .1 i% land drainage should top farmers' ggf I*l lists of investment priorities. COCALICO EQUIPMENT CO. \ / DRAINAGE & EXCAVATING V RD #3, DENVER, PA 17517 When building a ramp into a holding pond, make certain it is wide enough to handle a front-end loader and permits parking the spreader sideways. Jle stressed the im portance of proper ven tilation in barns to remove the gases from underground manure pits. He also cited the tremendous pressures that can build up in underground storage tank systems. In addition to the speakers, the day-long seminar featured various exhibits of manure handling equipment and facilities. - ★ We Stock Heavy Grade Tubing which Exceeds SCS Specifications. In sizes 4", 6", 8", 10” and 12". * Also Pipe And Fittings For Tile Outlet Terraces. Brillion has been the leading manufacturer of pulverizers for many years. The latest units to be added to the line incfude a series of hydraulic wing models in working widths of 21’, 23’ and 25’ that fold to 12’6”. A second series in working widths of 26’8", 30’8” and 32’8” fold to a transport width of 14’2”. The new design requires a single hydraulic system for operation. The machine can be raised and lowered and wings controlled from the tractor seat. May be ordered with regular smooth rollers or Crowfoot wheels. Now you can cover more acreage, faster. Break up hard clods; pack soil free of air pockets. Help cover seed, hold moisture, push down stones. Husky and durable, like all Brillion pulverizers, they’re built to take the punishment of today’s high speed farming. 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