Mason Dixon manure
BY DICK ANGLESTEIN
HARRISBURG - The cow
manure digester which produces
bio-gas for electrical generation is
literally changing the way of
farming at Mason Dixon Farms in
Adams County and, what’s more,
even around the world.
Farming changes prompted by
the operation of the digester, as
outlined by Richard Waybnght, ot
Mason Dixon, at a farm energy
seminar Wednesday night include:
-An expected saving of some
$60,000 in nitrogen fertilizer costs
through utilization of irrigated
liquid wastes squeezed from the
digester.
-Reduced soil compaction from
the center pivot irrigation units as
compared to the damage
previously done by constant traffic
of heavy spreader equipment.
-Better utilization of the Adams
County clay soils by gradual
conversion from predominant corn
production to more irrigated
alfalfa, which yields four or five
cuttings a year.
And based on what they ob
served at Mason Dixon, many
foreign agricultural interests,
principally the Israelis, are
carrying the technology to even
greater lengths. These mclude:
-Liquid from digesters is being
injected in commercial catfish
ponds in Israel and per-acre pond
production is being increased by
one-third.
-These liquid wastes are
atomized and sprayed on the roots
of tomato plants at 15-mmute in
tervals and ripe fruit is being
produced in 40 days instead of 120.
-Solid wastes from digesters,
which are about 22 percent protem,
are being fed to dairy heifers m
Israel, comprising about a fourth
of the total ration and eliminating
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In his discussion of Mason
Dixon’s two-year experience with
the manure digesters, Waybnght
told the handful ot tanners at
tending;
"Even it I had only 50 to 100
dairy animals, I’d build a digester.
"It could be built for $lO,OOO to
$12,000 and if the gas is used, you'd
have a tour-year payoft.
■ And even if I didn’t use the gas,
-s I’d still build a digester,”
f Waybnght cited the advantage
pt utilizing the liquid wastes which
contain nitrogen in a more stable
form and is more readily available
to plants.
At Mason Dixon the irrigated
liquid wastes have been sprayed on
wheat, corn and alfalfa.
Waybnght issued a couple of
warnings concerning digesters. He
cautioned against commercial
digesters on the market which
have not been able to stand up to
continuing use.
Also, Mason Dixon has not had a
successful experience in selling
excess electricity back to
Metropolitan Edison.
He explained that it would have
cost some $170,000 to install a
heavier power line, step-up
generator and switch gear, which
the utility said was necessary to
get the electricity from the farm
into Met Ed’s system.
"I don’t think it’s a viable option
for farmers to think they’ll be able
to sell excess power back to the
utilities,” Waybnght said.
Mason Dixon may be adding
alcohol production to its on-tarm
energy operation in the future
when commercial still equipment
is better perfected, according to
Waybnght.
"We have enough excess heat to
distill and ferment about 40 gallons
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digester changing way of farming
of alcohol an hour," Waybnght
said.
Mason Dixon has had a second
digester operating since February
1. One digester produces 48,000
cubic feet of gas a day and the
larger unit makes 60,000.
Mason Dixon flushes their barns,
but scraping would be even better
for digesters, Waybnght said. He
explained that poultry manure is
too high in nitrogen and dairy
manure too high in carbon content
tor optimum digester operation
BELTSVILLE, Md. - A simple
test used by diabetics to determine
the level of ketones in their urine
can help sheep producers deter
mine if gestating ewes are getting
adequate nutrients.
According to Science and
Education Administration animal
physiologist G. Paul Lynch of the
Ruminant Nutrition Laboratory,
here, when gestating ewes are not
getting enough feed to meet their
nutritional requirements, they use
reserve body fat. When this hap
pens, ketones shown up in their
blood and unne. This can usually
be corrected by providing ewes
with more feed.
Lynch points out the trend in
sheep production in recent years
has been to produce three lamb
crops in 2 years and to use breed
crosses with a high rate of multiple
births.
“A ewe carrying two or more
fetuses has greater nutritional
: -j. ,1-^. :
SQUARE FOOT
Diabetes test helps check
pregnant ewe’s nutrition
f st
Uncaster Farming, Saturday, Ally 25,1951—A19
But hog manure provides the
greatest gas production.
Waybnght observed one
disadvantage that be has had
concerning the digesters - too
many visitors.
Total visitors number about
18,000 over the past couple of
years.
And Waybnght humorously
recalled one visitor who came in
the middle of the mght.
Mason Dixon produces Kosher
requirements than one carrying a
single fetus,” the researcher says.
“In one experiment, about half the
lambs of underfed ewes carrying
multiple fetuses were bom un
derweight or dead.”
With small flocks, it may be
possible to separate ewes based
on the results of the ketone test,
and give extra feed only to those
ewes who need it usually, those
with multiple fetuses. Owners of
larger flocks may be able to test a
few ewes to determine the general
nutritional status of their flock.
Obtaining unne samples is a
ood for you and good for your budget
jnljr. IMG
milk. A rabbi from the Baltimore
area drove up to the farm m the
middle of the night to check on one
of his students who was overseeing
the production.
After the barns are flushed the
manure slurry is pumped into a
large collection pit. On a moonlit
night, the filled pit gives off a
reflection like a macadam parking
lot.
The rabbi sold his black Cadillac
after the nocturnal visit.
simple procedure that is best done
by two persons. Lynch says. One
person holds a hand over the ewe’s
nostrils to temporarily cut off her
breathing. This makes her ner
vous. In response she will urinate.
The second person can then collect
the urine sample. About a
tablespoonful is all that is needed
for the test.
The ketone test may be
especially useful to owners of
flocks who carefully manage their
animals for maximum lamb
production. Ketone test kits are
available at local pharmacies.
ken
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