Thanks to state-of-the-art manure handling equipment, storage facilities and application processes, it’s easy for farmers to get proper nutrients to the soil, while protecting against runoff and reducing air emissions. One way farmers handle manure is through modern mechanical separators, which separate the solids in manure from the liquid portion. The solids can be directly applied to cropland or composted and sold as organic fertilizer. The separated liquids can be recycled and used for flushing alleys in the barn and can irrigate the fields, too. Technology also has shown that there are many ways to fertilize a field beyond applying the manure directly to the crop. One alternative uses high-tech equipment to “inject” or mix the manure right into the soil, which minimizes odor while adding rich nutrients into the soil.

Another high priority for farmers is storing the solid and liquid manure until weather conditions are right for fertilizing the land. Many farmers use progressive lagoons to store and naturally treat the manure. In a lagoon, solids settle to the bottom and bacteria and microorganisms break down the manure resulting in a nutrient-rich wastewater with fewer odors. Cutting-edge research seeks to further enhance the benefits of lagoons on farms. One example is adding algae to lagoons. The oxygen produced by the algae allows odor-eating bacteria to live longer, resulting in an even greater reduction of odor.

DFT Main Content HeaderSoil Friendly Dairy Farm, Dairy Farming, soil friendly

Dairy Farm, Dairy Farming, soil friendly

DFT Main Content Header
Soil Friendly
Dairy Farm, Dairy Farming, soil friendly