A2*UMMt»r Faming Saturday. StptMPbw 9,1995
Silo Gas
A Silent Killer
In the case of silo gas, the say
ing, "A little knowledge is danger
ous,” should be replaced by, “No
knowledge can be fatal.”
Another slogan, "Haste makes
waste,” could read, "Haste means
death”
As in most farm accidents, far
mers know about the dangers but
they get in a big hurry, or are too
tired and forget to take proper pre
cautions. With a little common
sense, a farm fatality can be
prevented.
In sealed silos, some nitrogen
gas is produced, but the greater
amount is carbon dioxide. This
odorless, colorless gas replaces the
oxygen in the silo and can over
come a person without warning.
For this reason, sealed silos arc
designed in a way that entering
them is unnecessary.
In conventional uptight silos,
the dangerous gas is nitrogen diox
ide (NO2). Nitrate or nitrite gases
are especially dangerous in grasses
or corn which have been heavily
fertilized or exposed to rain before
harvest following a period of
drought
With the weather conditions in
199 S in Chester County coupled
with the high fertility levels of the
soils, this year could have a high
potential for silo gas accidents or
deaths.
Nitrogen dioxide has a bleach
like odor, and the low-lying fumes
are yellow, red, or dark brown. It is
heavier than air so it will settle on
the top of the silage or go down the
TRAIL AGI-POMPE'"
32’ AND 42’ FOR LAGOONS
mmiMam
1-Highly articulated nosla designed 2- 24* dla. mixing propeller providing
to slca and break the top emit Irani lull lime agitation up to 21,500 US
above tho manure level as the pro- OPM even when loading a spreader,
pellet homogenises the liquid with
the remaining Moating chunks. «. RoUtiyw directional valve designod
to be operated at low R PM without
stopping the PIO.
3- HydnuHc controls can bt opiraM
from tractor seal
Gear box oil bath protected by a greaseable
3 seals mechanism on each shaft.
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Mid-Atlantic
Agrisystems
Liquid Waste Specialists
Oxford, PA
800-228-2948
silo chute and collect in feed rooms
and even flow into the bam pro
ducing a danger to livestock. The
greatest danger occurs 12 to 60
hours after filling the silo.
Many fanners think that silo gas
is only a problem with com silage,
but it can be produced in haylage.
A dairyman near Elverson had a
close call this spring upon entering
a conventional silo recently filled
with haylage. He had some serious
symptoms for a few days, but
thankfully has completely
recovered.
This gas causes severe irritation
of the throat and nose and may lead
to inflammation of the lungs.
Death can occur immediately.
Being briefly overcome by the gas
can result in a fall that can cause
death or serious injury.
However, what makes nitrogen
dioxide especially dangerous is
that low level exposure may only
result in a little immediate pain or
discomfort and that night, die far
mer could die in his sleep from
fluid collecting in his lungs.
Relapses with pneumonia
symptoms can occur up to two
weeks later.
Precautions:
1) If crops have been damaged
by hail or frost, harvest as quickly
as possible to prevent nitrate build
up and delay harvesting immedi
ately after a rain.
2) Excess nitrates are stored in
the bottom portion of the plant, so
raise your harvester and cut higher
than normal.
3) Display “Deadly Gas” signs
around silos and particularly keep
children away from area for 2
weeks following filling.
4) Close feed room door to bam.
5) If you must enter the silo dur
ing the first 3 weeks to level the sil
age, lower the unloader, or make
repairs, be absolutely sure to fol
low these safety rules:
a) Run the blower for 20
minutes before entering the silo
and keep it running the entire time
anyone is in die silo.
b) Have a helper standing by in
case a problem develops.
c) Wear a N.1.0.5.H. approved
dust mask to protect lungs from
dust and mold spores.
We have a lot of good fanners in
Chester County, but none to spare.
Take your time and be careful.
Market Lamb
Blows Away
(Conllniwd from Papa A 27)
brought $2,677 from Singo Feed
and Sons, or $2.25 a pound.
Average price paid for the 54
steers was $1.12 a pound.
Megan Frazee’s 257-pound,
grand champion York market
swine sold for $1,542, or $6 per
pound to First Philson Bank of
Beilin. Frazee is from Fort Hill.
Matt Fletcher, Rockwood, saw
his reserve grand champion York
hog go to Somerset Hoss’s for
$932, or $4 per pound.
Sale average for the 148 hogs
was $1.27.
The five and a half hour event
brought a grand total of
$140,953.45, according to sale
statistician John Hartman.
Walker Farm Service spent
more than $9,000 and was the pre
mier buyer.
Many sale donations were made
to the Somerset County 4-H Deve
lopment Scholarship Fund and
area fire companies.
Granulite™ Organic Fertilizer
Granulite is a nutrient rich organic fertilizer derived from municipal biosolids
• Granulite releases its organic nitrogen slowly, creating a longer feeding time.
• Granulite provides plant nutrients and micronutrients essential for growth.
• Granulite adds organic matter to soil, increasing soil productivity.
Granulite is ideal for use on all crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, hay, and
pasture land.
To find out more about Granulite Organic Fertilizer, please call
(301) 791-0919.
Lite?
Chaster County DHIA - August 1995
Cows producing ovsr 800 lbs. protein ars;
Nam* Brood Ago Milk Fat Pro
Loon D. Kurtz
Jowel
Kon & Marilyn Umble
Pandora
Connis
Posh
Marilyn & Duane Horshey
Sugar
Starry
Alvin
Fom
Gorald L. Kulp Sons
43
E. Kant High Jr.
177
Marl* J. King
Mandy
Gig)
Walmoore, Inc. #2
436
278
Dunwood Farm
Goldlks
Crystal-Ray Farm
Leona
Pam
Walmoor* Inc. #3
520
598
614
676
3005
Charles J. Moore
Alfalfa
Rodney Bare
28
Joy-WII Farms
72
57
54
16
Century Oaks Farm
Laska
David K. Stoltzfus
22
Thunder Valley Farm
Rose
S 9
23
Wilkinson Farm #1
2912
Maplesway Farm
Echo
Sam & Marian Stoltzfus
253
Ar Joy II
Patsy
Mel wood Farm
Merri •*
Breck-A-De-Farm
59
83
Pei Valley Farm
49
56
A Wheelabrator Clean Water Systems Inc.
Hagerstown Facility
1030 Frederick Street
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone 301-791-0919
8-01 23,845 997 808
7-02 26,641 993 829
5-09 28,818 1135 910
4-08 26,242 918 906
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5-10 24,833 806 800
3-08 27,604 1000 012
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6-05 25,733 1037'828
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3-01 26,321 906 856
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