A2O-Lancttter Farming, Saturday, July 8,1989 Newspaper (Continued from Pago A 1) then spread on the fields. Further research at Penn State has shown that there is a very low concentration of heavy metals. PSU researchers found there was a higher level of heavy metals in the manure from straw bedding than in the manure from newsprint In other studies it was shown that mastistis bacteria grew slower in kiln-dried sawdust and in news paper than in other types of bedding. “Straw doesn’t keep the cows as dry as the newspaper,” said Berry. “Newspaper really soaks it up.” Berry prefers a mix of newspap er bedding and straw or com fod der. Bedding which is 70 percent shredded newspaper and 30 per le-year ago . jrry bought this small bale chopper for nearly $1,500. Paper Is loaded directly Into the bln. Berry prefers a mix of 70 percent paper to 25 percent straw or fod der. The m lx of other bedding material helps to keep the fluf fy bedding In Its place In the bed. - « . - > chopper newspaper and blows plenty of clean, dry, fluffy bedding inti freestail area in minutes. Berry is anxious to use more new paper for bedding, but" needs a' steady supply of newspaper. Bedding Makes Dollars cent com fodder or straw or some other material works best for Berry. “Where I used four bales of straw, now I use newspaper and one bale of straw. And if you are looking at $lOO a ton for straw or prices are high for sawdust that’s a big savings,” explained Berry. “In my pens and freestalls I like to blow in the newspaper and then blow in com fodder or straw on top of it. Then when the cows walk on it they mix it up,” said Berry. For $1,500 Berry purchased a small bale chopper. Newspapers (newspapers only, no magazines) are dropped directly into the bin and in a few minutes thirty stalls are covered with a thick, fluffy dry bedding. Although other types of paper have been tested for bedding there are some problems. Magazines, especially high-gloss magazines have a higher residue of heavy metals and trace elements. There is also the problem of sta ples found in some magazines and cardboard. For information on using other materials such as Xer ox paper and computer paper con tact your local county extension agent Berry has found that the mix of newspaper with other materials makes the bedding less fluffy and keeps it in place. Fluffy bedding has tendency to not stay in the beds. This is the only disadvantage of the newsprint Berry has found. Recycling Newspapers Benefits Everyone Mandatory recycling in some communities has increased interest in newsprint for bedding in animal agriculture. Recycling newspapers helps farmers by providing a low cost bedding while it relieves the overburdened landfills from thou sands of tons of paper. Pennsylvania Act 101 of 1988, The Municipal Waste Planning, Recycling and Waste Reduction Act, requires 407 Pennsylvania municipalities to recycle. Com munities gearing up to meet this requirement usually include paper' as part of their recycling program. These communities as well as communities in several other states requiring recycling programs have placed huge quantities of paper on the market Presently many recy cling coordinators are looking for new uses of this material. According to the Department of Environmental Resources Bureau of Waste Management the aver age Pennsylvania family of four produces about three tons of gar bage per year. At this rate the Com monwealth’s 75 landfills will be filled to capacity less than five years. A Snyder County dairyman who has used paper bedding for eight years reports he uses 300-400 pounds per day for 170 free stalls housing his herd (2-3 pounds per animal per day). At a rate of 2-3 pounds per day, if all dairy and beef producers in the Commonwealth recycled newspaper for bedding it would utilize only one-third of the states total of 3.S million tons of used newsprint. (Turn to Pag* A 22) / * - t ' Chopping paper to this size makes it easily dissolved Ir. the manure system and spreads well In the field. Interested In Newspaper Farmers interested in recyl ing newspaper for bedding should contact their county extension agent. Agents can discuss use and preparation of newsprint. Contact local solid waste officials. They have a large source of newspaper available for recycling and the newsprint may be available free of charge. However, the farmer may incur costs for local hauling. Also, recycling centers may shred newspapers and offer bales for a small fee. Although some commercial recycling centos no longer accept news papers for recycling because there has been no outlet for them, if they know there is a market for them they may be able to provide a collection and processing point for newsprint recycling, 'they can be found in the yellow pag&sof your tele phone book under‘recycling’. According to county exten sion recommendations, strips 8-10 inches long and about 1/4” to 3/4” wide work best. Longer strips track or move too mhch with animal movement, while shorter ones pose a blowing problem in the bedded area. Heavy-duty paper shredders are available for use by paper processing centers. If further processing of these bales is needed small bale busters or shredders, as used for straw or com fodder, may be employed at the farm. Bale choppers can cost between $1,500 and $5,500. If necessary, forage harvesters may be used at the farm to pre pare newspapers for bedding with some modifications to pro duce bedding of desirable proportions. For further information on recycling newspapers for bed ding contact yqpr county’s recycling coordinators or the one closest to you; Allegheny Donald Berman, (412) 355-5594. Armstrong Jeanine Wolanski, (412) 458-3223. Beaver Richard Packer, (412) 728-5700. Bucks Chuck Raudenbush, (215) 249-0487. Cambria Bradford Beigay, (814») 472-5440. Centre Irene Ferrara, (814) 238-7005. Chester Bedding? Paul Bickhart, (21S) 431-8464. Clinton Fred Teti, (717) 769-6977. Cumberland Robert J. Middleton, (717) 240-6379. Dauphin Keith Ashley, (717) 234-1850. Delaware Tom Kelber, (215) 891-4668. Fayette Vincent Vicites, (412) 430-1210. Greene Valerie Cole. (412) 852-1171 Indiana George Hurd, (412) 465-3870. Lancaster Jim Warner, (717) 397-9968. Lawrence Amy JoLabi'Carftndo, (412) ' 658-2541. Luzerne Frank Chadwick, (717) 825-1560. Luzerne Wilkes-Bane John Bergold, (717) 826-8287. Lackawanna J-pyce Hatala, (717) 963-6810. Lehigh Patti lannelli, (215) 437-7760. % Lycoming Robert McCullough, Jr., (717) 327-2360. Montgomery ' Michael Stoked (215) 278-3729. Monroe Jane Meeks, (717) 421-7301. Montour Stephen Bennick, (215), 686-8298. Northern Tier David Terrill, (717) 638-2107 Philadelphia Dezzi, Alfred 686-8298. Potter Lowell 274-8254. Somerset Ayers, Frank Burggraf, 445-7301. Susquehanna Lee Benedict, 278-4600. Washington Marlene Hohn, 228-6811. Wayne Veronica Haberthuer, (7L7) 278-4600. Westmoreland Lynn Showalter, (412) 834-2191. York Mary Jane Rodkey, (717) 845-1066. (215) (814) (814) (717) ('412)
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers