Wastewater Environmentally Friendly WASHINGTON, D.C. Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman announced recently that USDA scientists have developed a process that can remove phosphorus from swine production wastewater and turn it into a solid, marketable fertilizer, while con verting the leftover effluent into a liquid crop ferti lizer that is more environmentally friendly than manure. “This technology is a good example of how agri cultural research can provide benefits to everyone through environmental protection and improve ment,” said Veneman. “This research provides an opportunity to help farmers better protect the envi ronment and enhance the soil they use for plant ing.” The process was developed by soil scientists Matias Vanotti, Ariel Szogi and Patrick Hunt at the Coastal Plains Soil, Water and Plant Research Center, operated by USDA’s Agricultural Research Service in Florence, S.C. ARS is the chief scientific research agency of USDA. Tl\e new process has several positive implica tions. Removing phosphorus from wastewater can cut down on any excess phosphorus that may run The Leader In Livestock Introducing MiraFbunt BlGsgrmg Fount Livestock Waterers For EVERY Need! Also 6300 Livestock Waterer 12 ft. long 22 in. wide, 22 in. tall,loo Gal. Capacity For Information or Nearest Dealer calf New Process Makes Swine BlGspring Model #6lOO Designed for Quick & Easy Cleaning • Access from 3 sides • No wasted space • Pour foundation with curve for easy cleaning • Center between stalls or one on each end of single stalls SPECIFICATIONS • Length 80" • Drinking Height 24" • Water Capacity 60 gals • Optional electric heat • Capacity Dairy 100 head • Valve MIRACO all plastic valve • 8 Stainless steel concrete anchors • Durable one-piece poly construction • Urethane foam insulation EMMERT FARM DISTRIBUTORS Dealer RD #l, Box 1019, Hallstead, PA 18822 welcome off into streams and rivers. Excess amounts of phos phorus can lead to oxygen depletion in water bodies. During processing, hydrated lime precipitates most of the phosphorus in the wastewater as a solid and converts it into a marketable phosphate ferti lizer. This phosphorus could be a boon to the ferti lizer industry, because world reserves of the nutrient are limited. Another benefit is that the high pH achieved by the process destroys disease-causing pathogens present in the leftover liquid. Meanwhile, the effluent contains a nitrogen-to phosphorus ratio greater than 12 to 1-ideal for crop irrigation, which requires an 8-to-l ratio. Regular manure offers a nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio of 4 to 1. This higher nitrogen-phosphorus ratio translates into less excess phosphorus on land on which the treated wastewater is applied. A patent application has been submitted for the combined nitrogen- and phosphorus-removal pro cesses, which will be tested through next summer at a full-scale demonstration facility that opened ear lier this month in Duplin County, N.C. • Width 36” •Weight 176 lbs POLY FEED BUNKS Various Sizes Poly Feed Bunks With Stainless Steel Hardware 570-879-4869 Waterers! The first waterers specifically designed for free stall installations New Model #6lOO, BlGspnng livestock waterer MIRAGO A division ot Ahrens Agricultural Industries