J&D Manufacturing has hired Jeff Sebold as an outside sales representative for the state of Wisconsin.
J&D hires Jeff Sebold for Wisconsin sales
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J&D Manufacturing has hired Jeff Sebold as an outside sales representative for the state of Wisconsin. Jeff has been selling and servicing feed and manure handling equipment in the Midwest for more than 20 years, most recently with Jamesway Farm Equipment. He is eager to expand his knowledge in ventilation and cow comfort products and applications.
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New odor control technology
Parkson Corporation and Vapex Environmental Technologies recently announced a partnership in bringing Vapex’s odor control technology to the North American market.
The O-Mega hydroxyl ion fogging technology eliminates odors and reduces pH corrosion found throughout wastewater systems. Instead of more traditional technologies that use a considerable amount of energy to extract and scrub the odors, the O-Mega oxidizes the odorous space itself, eradicating the odors without the expense of moving high volumes of air. The O-Mega has been proven throughout the collection system.
The two companies will also offer the Sentinel scrubber control system. For scrubber systems, the Sentinel monitors the internal gas passing through the scrubber and reduces scrubber chemicals by up to 60 percent. The system saves plants money and introduces a low-maintenance control system with continuous monitoring of the scrubber.
Parkson and Vapex will work together to bring these two products to the North American market. Specifically, Parkson will sell into collection systems in Canada, Mexico and the northern parts of the U.S. Vapex will continue to sell its products directly into collection systems in the southern parts of the U.S. Parkson will also work with Vapex to develop new, customized applications for specific odor-control solutions, creating efficient methods to treat offensive odors.
Bacteria in cattle manure may survive composting
Contrary to popular belief, some disease-causing bacteria may actually survive the composting process.
Researchers from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada report in the February 2010 issue of the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology that campylobacter bacteria in cattle manure can survive composting and persist for long periods in the final product.
Campylobacter bacteria are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the developed world. They are frequently shed by beef cattle in manure and although the impact on human health is undetermined, there appears to be a link in areas such as Alberta, Canada, where cases of human campylobacteriosis are extremely common and the cattle density is high.
In the study, researchers examined the persistence of naturally occurring campylobacter bacteria in compost derived from manure of beef cattle that were administered antibiotics (AS700) and a control group that were not. Bacterial populations were the same in both groups, however, the temperature of the AS700 compost was more viable and not as high as that of the control group. Water content, total carbon, total nitrogen and electrical conductivity varied significantly between groups. Results showed that no reductions in the quantities of Campylobacter jejuni DNA were observed throughout the 10 month composting period. Further, testing suggests that campylobacter DNA examined from compost was extracted from viable cells.
Manure treatment projects announced in California
ProTech General Contracting Services, in partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) and three select dairy farms from the Merced Irrigation District (MID), recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to launch a pilot project with a new manure management system.
The public signing at the World Ag Expo confirmed the public-private partnership between MID, Gallo Farms, Hillcrest Dairy Farms, and Lima Farms (all in that district’s service territory), and the CDFA.
The dairy farms participating in the Dairy Waste Treatment Project are all located in Central California and have between 1000 and 5000 head of cows producing an average of 120 pounds of waste per day, including 16 pounds of solids and the balance as liquid. Each farm site is committed to providing a maximum of two acres per site for the footprint of the treatment plant’s technical components, including an anaerobic digester, aerobic digester, and high-growth algae ponds.
According to ProTech, the economics of the dairy farm projects indicate a payback for stakeholders in no more than seven years with a minimum internal rate of return of 20 percent over the 20-year economic life of the projects.
It’s hoped the Dairy Waste Treatment Project will improve air quality and water quality, generate 3.5 megawatts of clean renewable power per year at the three sites from animal and farm waste, and produce approximately 900 tons of algae and approximately 32,000 tons of high-grade organic, weed-free fertilizer with significant bio-available nitrogen. In addition, the projects are expected to enable the dairies to hire staff for green tech positions and empower farmers to improve upon existing nutrient management plans.
AGCO partners with Atlantic & Southern Equipment
AGCO Corporation recently announced that Atlantic & Southern Equipment, LLC is providing sales, parts and service for AGCO’s Challenger and application equipment products throughout Alabama and northwest Florida.
Products include the full line of Challenger farm equipment and RoGator, TerraGator and SpraCoupe self-propelled applicators as well as Willmar brand tenders, pull-type spreaders and material handling equipment.
Atlantic & Southern has locations in Lake City, Ga., and Birmingham and Theodore, Ala. As part of the new partnership, AGCO and Atlantic & Southern recently communicated initial details to existing AGCO customers to ensure continuity in business and a seamless transition. Key parts, sales and service employees who have worked with the Challenger and AGCO Application Equipment products also have been added to the Atlantic & Southern team. In addition, shop and mobile field service and parts capabilities have been added at all locations.
