According to Daniel Andersen, assistant professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University, there is about $24 worth of nutrients in 1,000 gallons of dairy manure. “It has lots of potential value but it’s got to get to the right field at the right time and in the right amount,” he said. “There might …Continue reading “Andersen: Manure is valuable, should be treated like fertilizer”
Hydrogen sulfide gas is a serious issue in and around barns with liquid manure storage. The decomposition of organic matter in manure results in the release of several gases: ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane and hydrogen sulfide among them. Most of the time these gases are emitted at low levels, but any time manure is being agitated …Continue reading “Pit gases pose a danger in beef barns”
Better distribution of manure nitrogen can help reduce the need to apply supplemental N as sidedressing in spring, thus resulting in cost savings and water quality benefits.
Dan Andersen, an ag engineer at Iowa State University, said between 25 and 30 percent of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium needs are provided through manure usage. “We have plenty of room for more,” he told producers at the Iowa Pork Congress here Jan. 25.
When Iowans talk about water quality, they sometimes think the major problem is manure. “I’m a big fan of the nutrient reduction strategy,” says Iowa State University Extension Agricultural Engineer Dan Andersen. “I’m not a big fan of when people call it the manure reduction strategy.” Andersen was one of the speakers at a manure management workshop …Continue reading “Andersen: Workshop offers insight on water quality issues”
The U.S. News and World Report named Iowa State’s agricultural and biosystems undergraduate program number one among all national universities and first among public universities this September—a tie with Purdue University. Iowa State was ranked number two last year.
Daniel Andersen, Iowa State University assistant professor in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering specializing in Manure Management, recently addressed questions of how manure moves through the soil profile in a recent edition of his blog “The Manure Scoop.” Andersen, aka Dr. Manure, explains that there are some factors at play that determine how manure filters down — …Continue reading “Andersen: Understanding manure flow is a piece of cake”
When manure is disturbed or agitated, H2S is released into the air “in bursts,” says Dan Andersen, ag and biosystems engineering professor at Iowa State University. Air concentrations can increase a thousand-fold, reaching deadly levels within seconds.
Much has been learned about the causes of pit foaming in hog facilities, says Dan Andersen. However, he cautioned, much more needs to be understood before the potentially deadly problem can be solved. Andersen, an ag engineer with Iowa State University, is one of several scientists working toward a solution to pit foaming. Under the right …Continue reading “Research continues toward pit foaming solution”
A review of hundreds of academic articles on technologies to reduce odor and gas emissions from livestock operations shows that most such technologies undergo lab testing but never reach farm-scale study. A team of ISU researchers surveyed all the available publications on mitigation practices that focus on animal housing, manure storage and land application techniques.
An Iowa father and son and a Wisconsin father and son died in July when they were overcome by hydrogen sulfide gas in manure pits. In both cases, one went into the pit to work on or retrieve equipment and was overcome. The others went in to help. Hydrogen sulfide is a serious issue, said …Continue reading “Andersen: Producers alerted to hydrogen sulfide dangers”
Pit foaming creates a dangerous environment for producers, said Dan Andersen, an ag engineer with Iowa State University. He said producers need to check pits often because conditions can change quickly. Andersen said three things are need to create foam — biogas, something to surround the bubble and something to stabilize the bubble. Feeding distillers grains is the …Continue reading “Andersen: Pit foaming continues to endanger pork producers”
With the wide variety of farming operations and soil types in the Midwest, farmers need to answer a few important questions when contemplating manure fertilizer: When are the best times of the year to apply and what are the key factors in this decision? Dan Andersen, assistant professor in agricultural engineering at Iowa State University, who …Continue reading “Andersen: Timing, nutrients, environment factor into fertilizing decisions”
Andersen, an ISU assistant professor of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering specializing in manure management, reminds producers to adhere to the rule of waiting for soils to get down to 50 degrees F (and cooling) at a four-inch depth before applying anhydrous ammonia to fields. Andersen writes that this 50-degree rule also applies to ammonia-rich manure. …Continue reading “Andersen: Get the most from your farm’s manure”
