DlO—Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 23,19tl
BY SHEILA MILLER
ROBESONIA Nestled in the
fertile farmland of Heidelberg
Township, Berks County is a highly
productive dairy farm belonging to
Donald and Ann Duncan.
Conservationist, dairy
spokesman, and modem farmer
are terms that aptly describe
Duncan, as well as his attractive,
energetic wife.
Working side-by-side in their
modern milking parlor, the
Duncans share their philosophies
on the dairy industry, politics, and
their operation.
Since his father purchased the
fertile farm back in 1944 and smce
Don took over the 150-acre farm in
1959, many of the latest ideas in
dairying have been incorporated.
At times, Duncan admits, he’s
served as a “guinea pig”, in
vesting in new equipment and
concepts before other fanners in
the area.
One example of his willingness to
jump m and try something new
ramp m the mid-1970’s when he
installed the first timber-sided
manure stacking area to handle
the waste from his new free stall
barn.
Duncan recalls “all the red
tape” he had to go through with
government officials to have the
design approved. Now, he said, the
timber-sided stacking areas are
probably one of the most popular,
feasible manure-handling systems
that can be installed.
“The time and labor they save
the farmer more than pays for
stacking areas,” Duncan claims.
He explains the “pit" collects the
scrapings from 100 or so head of
registered Holstein in milking
string. The facility allows excess
liquid to dram to a lagoon located
in a pasture downstream from the
buildings. This lagoon also catches
waste water from the barn roof
and milking parlor.
“I've never had to empty the
lagoon,” Duncan says. “It takes
care of itself. And, if someone were
to measure it, I would say Fd have
zero runoff of dirty water from the
Donald and Ann Duncan, Robesonia, operate a con
servation-minded dairy operation. Soil conservation practices
were found on the cropland fields, a manure handling system
keeps the water leaving the farm clean, and modern in
novations, like this straight-through milking parlor, save time
and energy.
Berks dairyman
barn area.” Keeping the water
clean is important to this con
servationist.
Since his installation of the
stacking area, Duncan says he has
eliminated the need to haul
manure when conditions are un
suitable, like m the winter when
the ground is frozen. Ever
conscious of his conservation
ideals, Duncan says he empties his
manure “pit" at plowing time
spring, fall, and after wheat
harvest.
To empty the pit, Duncan ex
plains he uses a skid loader, also
used daily to scrape the bam floor,
and a chain conveyor. The con
veyor, Duncan says, can fill a big
manure spreader in about 50
seconds saving time. And, with
the stacking area,
there is no ne£d to run pumps to
agitate the manure before emp
tying, The system lends itself
efficiently to hauling from 65 to 70
loads of manure to the field m a
day, depending on distance, he
adds.
As far as the manure storage
facility saving fertilizer nutrients,
Duncan says he thinks that angle is
a gimmick for a sales pitch since
manure doesn’t contain much in
fertilizer value.
“You’re talking pennies there,”
he says, then pausing adds, “you
have to make dollars.”
Duncan emphasizes the con
cerns of many farmers, that
stacking areas or lagoons will
create more problems with flies
and odor, haven’t been a problem
with his system.
“The only day there is an odor
from the lagoon is when the ice
comes off in the spring. Then there
is a sewer-type smell for about two
days. And we haven’t had any
more flies than are normal around
a bam, although we have had more
mosquitos but not anything we
can’t tolerate,” he smiles.
Duncan has been a cooperator
with the Berks County Con
servation District since he began
farming in the early 19505. Now he
(Turn to Page Dll)
is conservationist,
spokesman,
ix a morning jng,. ig, nursing, jscuss ii jsai •- both Ann
and breeding their herd of Holstein cows and and Don are active in local and state
calves, the Duncans enjoy sitting down to a organizations,
hearty breakfast At times like these, they
.mean manure iron) . ing state, Duncan sal
area next to the free stall barn into the timber- red tape. Downstream from the “pit” is a
sided manure stacking area. Since it was one lagoon which collects rain water from the barn
of the first of its kind to be constructed in the roof ing parlor, and runoff.
means raise all their calves in vealer
crates in the barn. According to Ann, who
takes charge of the care and feeding of these
future feeder steers and replacement heifers,
it would cane too many hutches to hold them
innovative farmer
ft.
afl. She explained the fans give the calves the
right ventilation before they were installed,
the mortality rate for the calves in the barn
was higher.
r A