Features Applications Business/Policy Dairy Energy Energy Production Environment Global Manure Management Poultry Production Production Research Sustainability
Manure management up close and personal

May 15, 2015, Chambersburg, PA – The planning committee for the 2015 North American Manure Expo (NAME) – being held July 14-15, 2015, near Chambersburg, Penn. – understand that some of the best opportunities for learning occur when you can see things up close and personal.

And what better opportunity for people to see and learn about the latest in manure management equipment and techniques than when it’s in action on the farm?

Three full-day tours covering different themes – dairy, poultry and equine/beef – have been planned for the 2015 North American Manure Expo and are being held July 14. A fourth part-day tour is also available.

While the tours are free to attend, preregistration is required. You can do so by visiting manureexpo.org.

Dairy – The tour begins with a visit to Mercer Vu Dairy where attendees will learn about dual manure separation technologies, storage cover systems, mortality management, static dragline plus a unique calf feeding system and feed management planning.

The next stop is Slate Ridge Dairy where there will be a discussion of cropping and manure strategies plus a small-scale anaerobic digester tour, including a grain dryer using heat and power from the digester.

The final stop will be Burkholder Dairy, which will include a tour of the operation’s solid separation area plus numerous demonstrations: agitation equipment (concrete storage), dragline, manure gas monitoring equipment, phosphorus removal technology, agitation using lagoon boats (earthen basin). There will also be a summary of gas level observations taken during the demonstration.

Agitation only – A part-day tour is also available, leaving in the afternoon. This tour will meet up with the full-day dairy tour at Burkholder Dairy to take part in the events and demonstrations being held there.

Poultry – The first stop of the tour is Lesher Poultry. Here attendees will learn about the farm’s manure management strategies and view the operation’s layer manure compost facility and existing layer manure collection system. This includes a demonstration of compost turning equipment. There will also be an opportunity to tour a new enriched colony layer housing facility that is expected to be populated July 25.

After lunch at Caledonia State Park, the tour continues to Hillandale Poultry, where attendees will learn about the farm’s manure management strategies and manure collection system.

The final stop will be the EnergyWorks Poultry Manure Gasification Plant where there will be discussion of manure and nutrient strategies, nutrient trading programs, manure by-product development, electric production plus a tour of the facility.

[Please note: Due to biosecurity concerns related to the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus, currently affecting poultry producers in various areas of the U.S., the full-day poultry-themed tour scheduled for July 14 has been cancelled. The Manure Expo planning committee apologizes for the agenda change and any confusion it may cause.]

Equine/Beef – Attendees will visit Wilson College where they will take part in a stable, training facility and pasture tour. Discussion will include manure collection and storage, manure utilization, the value of manure nutrients, basics of soil productivity, water flow on farm grounds and heavy-use areas, parasite management and evaluating pasture.

The second tour stop will be Kiskaddon Beef Farm where attendees will learn about the operation’s manure management strategies plus concrete barnyard improvements and stacking, controlling water runoff, irrigating using gray water and supplemented rotational grazing.

All of the tours will be bussed back to the North American Manure Expo grounds in Chambersburg, Penn. where attendees will be able to visit with various trade show vendors and enjoy dinner. A selection of education sessions will also be held, covering everything from manure auctions to gas safety plus new product launches.

For more information and to register for the 2015 North American Manure Expo – including the tours – please visit manureexpo.org.