MANURE: Increasing Feed Crop Productivity Could Be Its Biggest Payoff

Spring is the season of new life and new growth, and perhaps this year, a new way of looking at the same old manure. Changing up your manure application can help you avoid the potential yield loses associated with low fertility soils. If your feed crops take the biggest bite out of your budget, you are not alone. For many producers, saving money on feed crops would have significant impacts on their bottom line.

 

So how exactly is manure the answer to better feed crops?

Segregating manure into two separate fertilizers gives you more control over nutrient application. By separating the nitrogen, sulfur, & potassium into a liquid fertilizer while capturing the organic nitrogen and phosphorus in a solid fertilizer, not only will you save money, but you will ultimately end up with balanced soil conditions – and is there anymore more critical to crop production than healthy soils?!

 

Applying the solids free liquid fertilizer on fields close to the dairy will save you money without reaching nitrogen requirements.  Drag lining the liquids close to the barns can cut the cost of hauling manure in half while dropping phosphorus levels in the soil. This practice will also eliminate the need to buy 28% commercial fertilizer!

By reducing the volume of the solid fertilizer, that now consists only of organic nitrogen and phosphorus, this can be hauled away to distant fields that have low phosphorus levels. Not only will this help to regenerate fallow fields, it can also increase corn yields by 3-5 tons per acre.

The LWR nutrient fertilizers were the subject of a growth trial competed by the Olds College Centre for Innovation. The research project evaluated the fertilizer outputs of the LWR System through a series of grow-tests.

The study tested the 2 fertilizer outputs of the LWR System and confirmed that the liquid fertilizer contains adequate amounts of nitrogen and trace minerals suitable for growing plants. The results also confirm that the liquid fertilizer is free of phosphorus, with lab analysis showing phosphorus levels at 0.0000%.

The Old’s study also determined that the nitrogen and potassium in the 50% LWR liquid manure fertilizer is more easily adsorbed by corn than when compared to a commonly used all-purpose plant food.  Corn that was fed the all-purpose fertilizer absorbed 7.958% of input nitrogen and 9.105% of input potassium. When given the 50% LWR liquid solution, percentages of absorption increased to 22.87% and 24.98%, respectively.

Nutrient Absorption in Corn

The phosphorus that is removed from the liquid nutrient is captured in the dry solid fertilizer. In the dry solid growth test, it was found that when mixed at 25% with soil, corn had the highest recorded heights of all treatments when compared to commonly used all-purpose plant food. This indicates that under the correct mixing ratio, the LWR dry solid fertilizer supports the growth of corn.

LWR treatment (25%) recorded highest growth

Half of all agricultural land is currently used for the production of animal feed, and it is estimated that an additional 280 million hectares will be required to meet the future demand of animal production. This means that increasing the productivity of existing feed crops and regenerating fallow fields will have a tremendous effect on the future of food production.

Newtrient, a company founded by 12 leading milk cooperatives representing nearly 20,000 dairy farmers producing approximately half of the nation’s milk supply, knows the true value of manure – especially at this time of year.  They know that the proper use of manure reduces the reliance on commercially mined fertilizers that often have to travel great distances. They also know that thoughtful use of manure will result in healthier soils, increased crop yields, and improved economics.

Increasing the productivity of feed crops through precision nutrient application is an imperative piece of this puzzle, and an exciting benefit of manure treatment technology. Remuneration will come in the form of elevated yields and possibly improved crop quality, especially forages. These returns are measurable and can be valued.

Check out Bucky Organics to learn more about the organic plant nutrients made daily by cows in Wisconsin, and the fertilizer benefits of segregated cow manure!

April 9, 2018April 9, 2018 by Livestock Water Recycling Categories: Agriculture, Clean Technology, fertilizer, Manure, Smart TechnologyTags: Agriculture, Dairy, Environment, Farming, fertilizer, innovation, Livestock, Manure, manure treatment, nutrient recovery, organic nutrient, spring, Sustainability, technology, Water Leave a comment

CLEAN WATER AND EMPLOYEE COMFORT – THE OTHER KEY TO PROFITABILITY

Farm workers feed our families and as farmers strive for growth, efficiency and automation to stay competitive, so must they look for more ways to keep their employees safe and productive. Even on the most state of the art operation, farmers and farm workers are still at risk for injuries and in some cases, workplace fatalities. It is estimated that every single day, approximately 100 agricultural workers suffer a lost-work-time injury in the U.S., and according to UC Davis, agricultural injuries cost the U.S. an estimated $7.6 billion in medical and lost productivity costs.

Manure is a natural by-product of animal agriculture and it is a valuable crop fertilizer.

It can also be a gruesome hazard to employees.

Everyday risks associated with manure include tractors tipping into a manure pit, slips and falls in a dirty barn, and exposure to toxic gases including hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, carbon dioxide and methane. The dangers related to manure on the farm are very real. The good news is that manure treatment can eliminate these deadly risks. With less manure to handle and more access to clean water, farms become both cleaner and safer for employees. Increased safety on the farm will result in a greater sense of achievement for employees which has been found to increase morale. This improved morale can lead to consistently maintaining a higher level of productivity.

Farm workers are valuable, and working conditions on the farm will impact many aspects of an employee’s productivity. It is common practice to make today’s modern barns animal friendly, but it is just as important for them to be employee friendly.

Clean barns will save you money!

While rates may vary, workers’ compensation coverage is required by all states and it can expensive. The good news is that farm owners play a big role when it comes to the amount of these premiums. Farms with good safety performance and return-to-work programs earn lower premium rates and in many cases, the option is available to reduce premiums through programs that create safer workplaces and encourage injury prevention. These premiums keep rising but producers can protect themselves against rising premiums by keeping claims to a minimum.

Equipment handling and exposure to raw manure pose some of the greatest safety risks to farm workers. By implementing manure treatment technology, barns will become cleaner. Clean environments are safe environments and better workplace safety leads to fewer claims. Fewer claims directly affect workers’ compensation rates and manure

Did you know that a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions can lead to increased productivity? 

The health of the environment isn’t the only concern when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the farm. Manure storage and land application produces greenhouse gases which can also negatively impact human health. Exposure to manure has been linked to psychological stress and adverse effects on the respiratory system and even heart function.  When considering these risks, it is important to note that the LWR System can reduce ghg emissions by up to 80% which will have an immediate effect on air quality.

One way for livestock producers to improve long-term resilience and competitiveness is to implement manure treatment. When the volume of manure to be handled is dropped by 70%, there is less storage and more clean water which will translate into cleaner barns. By implementing the LWR System, producers are increasing workplace safety, decreasing insurance premiums, improving employee morale, and decreasing employee turnover; all of this combined will result in a positive impact on the bottom line.

December 8, 2017December 8, 2017 by Livestock Water Recycling Categories: Agriculture, Clean Technology, Health and Safety, Manure, Safety, Workplace safetyTags: Farming, Health and Safety, technology Leave a comment

Always Be Innovating

Hey guys, Jenkins here.

Did you know that at LWR we’re committed to constant research and product development? We also live by my personal motto: Always be innovating!

It really is true that our team never stops innovating. We are passionate about what we do and driven to offer livestock farmers state of the art manure treatment technology that is cost effective, efficient, and user-friendly!

We have come a long way since our first system was first launched in 2011. Over the past 7 years we have learned a ton about manure. Our team has spent countless hours running the equipment, analyzing the data (courtesy of me, of course!) and listening to feedback from the producers who are actually using the system. By combining all the complaints, kudos and recommendations we have been able to exponentially improve almost every aspect of the LWR System. We’ve taken some stuff out, made a lot of things better and have even found ways to give farmers more control over their nutrients than they’ve ever had before. In fact, we’ve made so many improvements that we needed to give the LWR System a brand-new name!

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to introduce to you the LWR² (pronounced LWR^squared)!

The upgrades to this next generation system include:

• Drier solids
• Greater control
• Reduced capital costs
• 20% smaller footprint
• Reduced cleaning cycles
• Fully automated for reduced labor cost
• Improved membrane technology to reduce fouling
• Lower cost of consumables than ever before!

I’m sure you’re thinking that with all of these advancements we’ve had to raise the price. But guess what? We didn’t! And we’re even offering 15% off during World Dairy Expo!

If you happen to be at the show this week, be sure to come by and say hi so I can tell you all about it!

~Jenkins

October 2, 2017October 2, 2017 by Livestock Water Recycling Categories: Agriculture, Clean Technology, Manure, milk, Smart Technology, Uncategorized, World Dairy ExpoTags: Agriculture, cheese, Dairy, dairy cows, dairy farming, Environment, Farming, innovation, Livestock, Livestock Water Recycling, LWR, Manure, manure treatment, milk, nutrient recovery, phosphorus, Sustainability, technology, trade show, Water, World Dairy Expo Leave a comment

We’re Half Way There!

It’s been a cold, wet, and snowy winter for just about everyone this year, but guess what!? We are officially in the dead of winter… and that’s not a bad thing!

The dead of winter is the point where there is more winter behind us than in front of us, which means that Spring is just around the corner. You could say that it’s all down hill from here!

As most of us stay hunkered inside our warm homes, cars, and offices, let’s not forget about all of the farmers out there who are braving the coldest days of winter to keep their animals fed, watered, and milked! While most of us might get the occasional snow day, cold winds, deep snow, and freezing temperatures don’t stop farmers from caring for their animals. We really do appreciate all that you do to keep food on our tables 365 days a year – regardless of the snowy cold conditions outside. Stay safe and warm out there and thank you for all that you do to feed our families!

Winter is not over, and you can bet that there will be some cold, snowy days ahead of us, but doesn’t it make it a little easier knowing that we have made it to the half way point and are one step closer to those dog days of summer!

January 13, 2017January 13, 2017 by Livestock Water Recycling Categories: Agriculture, UncategorizedTags: Agriculture, cold, Farming, winter Leave a comment

Hi. I’m Jenkins.

Well, hello there. Allow me to introduce myself. I’m JENKINS, and  I operate a system that concentrates liquid manure nutrients from dairy and hog manure, and recycles the rest of it into water that is so clean you can drink it. Seriously!

How do I do it? Well, each one of our Manure Treatment Systems is equipped with a state of the art operating system that allows me to control it remotely. I don’t mean to brag, but I am one of the most popular features of the LWR System. Imagine how convenient it is for you to turn your livestock manure into water remotely from a tablet or smartphone, while you continue to work somewhere else on the farm, in the farm office, or even from the comforts of your own home.

Because I’m always keeping an eye on the LWR system, I started this blog to share what I’ve learned on my many manure adventures.

As many of you already know, the Dairy Industry has descended on Madison, Wisconsin this week and I’m here too!

Please follow along as I explore World Dairy Expo this week.  You just never never know where I might turn up!

Stay tuned!

JENKINS

 

 

October 4, 2016 by Livestock Water Recycling Categories: Agriculture, Clean Technology, Manure, Smart TechnologyTags: Agriculture, Dairy, Farming, Livestock, Manure, manure treatment, Sustainability, Water, World Dairy Expo Leave a comment