News
Krieg & Fischer and Electrigaz launch bio-gas development program

Electrigaz Technologies
Incorporated, based in Montreal, Quebec, and Krieg & Fischer
Ingenieure GmbH of Denmark have developed a new service program to
address the need for unbiased bio-gas development expertise in the
Ontario, Canada, market.

Electrigaz Technologies Incorporated, based in Montreal, Quebec, and Krieg & Fischer Ingenieure GmbH of Denmark have developed a new service program to address the need for unbiased bio-gas development expertise in the Ontario, Canada, market.

The new program is in response to the recent launch of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs’ Ontario Biogas Systems Financial Assistance Program, a $9.0 million investment to help farmers and agri-food businesses develop and build bio-gas systems in the province. According to Electrigaz president, Eric Camirand, the program will provide a one-stop-shop service for producers interested in taking advantage of the OMAFRA funding program and help them negotiate the bio-gas development process. One way the companies can help is through Electrigaz’s Biogas Web Calculator software, which is able to evaluate a
bio-gas project’s potential, he adds.
“Working with Electrigaz gives us the opportunity to offer our specialized bio-gas engineering services in the Ontario market,” says Torsten Fischer, president of Krieg & Fischer, adding it is important to have local partners to handle local matters, such as permitting and client communications.
www.electrigaz.com/ontario

Accent Manufacturing product chosen one of 2008 World Ag Expo’s top new dairy products
New for 2008, the World Ag Expo is selecting the Top Five New Dairy Products being exhibited at the event and there is a manure handling item in the list.

The Sand Trap, manufactured by Accent Manufacturing of Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, removes bedding sand from sand laden manure that has been previously separated by the Accent IFRS 36 Separator. The product is designed for herds of one to 500 cows and captures up to 95 percent of the sand in sand laden manure. Removing the sand reduces handling problems and produces reusable sand. First, the fiber is removed by Accent’s IFRS 36. The remaining sand-liquid mixture flows tangentially into the Sand Trap. Cyclonic action spins the sand out and causes the sand to separate from the effluent; these separated sand particles then fall to the bottom of the cone chamber. The sand, which is removed by an auger, passes through a skimmer, removing any remaining fiber and excess liquid. The end result is clean, low moisture sand.

The 2008 Top Five New Dairy Products – which also include the Bella Health System from Bella Health Systems, the HI 84429 from Hanna Instrument, Multimin cattle 70mg from Multimin USA, and the Shifttronic three speed gearbox from Trioliet Mullos BV – will be unveiled during the Expo’s Media Day on February 11.
The 2008 Top Five were chosen by a panel of industry professionals and dairymen as the newest, most innovative dairy products to be displayed at the expo.
www.worldagexpo.com
www.accentmanufacturing.com

Construction begins at Nebraska bio-gas facility
Environmental Power Corporation recently broke ground for a new bio-gas plant at the JBS Swift beef processing facility in Grand Island, Nebraska. The plant will convert animal waste and other by-products generated by the meat processing facility into a methane-rich bio-gas to be used as fuel in the plant’s existing boilers.
 
Microgy, a subsidiary of Environmental Power, will construct, own and operate the renewable energy production facility and sell its gas to JBS Swift – the largest beef processing company in the world – pursuant to a 15 year purchase agreement.

The new bio-gas system will employ three skilled operators along with a facility manager. The gas production facility will consist of two 1.2 million gallon digesters, as well as a purification system that cleans the gas prior to its use. At capacity, the facility is expected to generate 235,000 MMBtu per year – the energy equivalent of 1.7 million gallons of oil – and will offset approximately 25 percent of JBS Swift’s annual purchase of natural gas. In addition, the meat processing plant will be able to reduce the land application of organic waste materials from its operations.

“The meat processing industry represents an important market for our co-digestion systems to produce renewable bio-gas,” says Rich Kessel, president and chief executive officer of Environmental Power. “The facility at Grand Island is our first inside-the-fence industrial project and demonstrates JBS Swift’s willingness to embrace emerging renewable energy technologies. We look forward to continuing our partnership with JBS Swift, including exploring the company’s network of processing plants to identify and develop additional facilities.”

The JBS beef processing plant in Grand Island processes about 6000 beef cattle per day and employs 2700 people. The plant is one of three facilities owned by JBS Swift in North America. The bio-gas plant is expected to be operational in late 2008.

Cedar Crest Equipment new distributor for Midwest Bio-Systems
Midwest Bio-Systems recently announced a distribution partnership with Cedar Crest Equipment, based in Cedar Crest, Pennsylvania. Through the partnership, Midwest’s Advanced Composting System and equipment will be available to growers throughout Pennsylvania.

Midwest Bio-Systems also delivers frequent workshops around the world to educate and assist composters and potential composters. Plans are in the works for Cedar Crest to host additional workshops in Pennsylvania.

“We see a high value in helping farmers create a compost product as a fertility boost,” says Anthony Good of Cedar Crest. “As one of the most respected names in the composting business, Midwest is a natural choice to join with us in coming to the aid of the producer.”

www.midwestbiosystems.com

Kenworth extends PremierCare package to new medium duty trucks
Already available on its Class 8 on highway trucks, the Kenworth PremierCare Freedom Package is now available for new Kenworth medium-duty conventional trucks. The Kenworth PremierCare Freedom Package is a combination of an extended basic vehicle warranty and preventive maintenance program with a two to five year term that can be purchased with a new Kenworth medium-duty truck and wrapped into a finance package.

By selecting the care package, customers have all proper maintenance via S-level service (lube, oil/filter and 75 point safety inspection) and C-level service (comprehensive service with 147 point inspection), which qualifies for the annual DOT and one California quarterly inspection. A B-level service (comprehensive service with 120 point inspection) replaces the C-level service in years two through five.

As part of the package, new Kenworth medium-duty conventionals with the PACCAR PX-6 and PX-8 receive two services annually at 15,000 mile intervals. The program allows customers to schedule vehicle maintenance at any Kenworth dealership in the U.S. and Canada, plus U.S. customers receive Bridgestone’s tire discount program.

www.kenworth.com

John Deere announces two new skidsteer models
Two new additions to the John Deere skidsteer family, the 313 and 315, feature the same unified design as the rest of the line and continue the 300 series advantages of stability, visibility and serviceability.

A key feature of the 313 and 315 is the radial lift boom, a design preferred by customers who work in enclosed areas. The bucket rests close to the machine when in the down position and swings forward for great reach in the four to five foot ‘work zone’ range. Cushioned bucket and lift cylinders provide smooth deceleration at the end of the boom lower position, also cushioning the bucket when curling and dumping a load.

The 60:40 weight distribution provides great balance of power and maneuverability, while the 360 degree visibility offers uninterrupted views to the sides, both above and below the lift arms, so the operator can see the tires and ground around the machine with the boom in the rest position. The operator station is designed with the operator in mind. A wide opening makes it easy to enter and exit. Standard features include a high back ergonomic and adjustable seat with armrests, a digital hour meter, glove-friendly rocker switches, cargo storage for a cell phone and other small items, an interior dome lighting, a 12 volt receptacle and a cup holder. The standard monitor includes an anti-theft system and backlit gauges, switches and LED warning lights. For extra comfort, an optional heated cab is available.

Several design features keep costs low by ensuring fast and easy machine service. The oil cooler swings out with the hinged rear door for full, easy inspection or cleaning. Engine oil changes are simplified with extended, 500 hour oil change intervals. Both models are equipped with visual hydraulic fluid level checks, resulting in fast, easy and no-mess daily checks.

www.deere.com

Panda Ethanol receives air permit for Muleshoe refinery
Panda Ethanol Incorporated recently received an air permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for the company’s planned 115 million gallon per year ethanol refinery in Muleshoe, Texas.

The facility will be engineered to gasify up to one billion pounds of cattle manure per year to generate the steam used to refine an annual estimate of 38 million bushels of feedstock grade corn into biofuel. By using bio-gas to fuel the plant, Panda is both conserving the energy equivalent of 1000 barrels of oil a day and helping to address a significant environmental problem for the Texas Panhandle.

Once built, the Muleshoe refinery should be equal in size to Panda’s Hereford, Texas, facility, which is considered the largest biomass fueled ethanol plant in the U.S. with one of the lowest carbon footprints of any similar sized ethanol facility in the nation.

The Muleshoe facility, to be located about eight miles northwest of the town, is the fourth 115 million gallon per year ethanol project announced by Panda to receive air permits. Construction is dependent upon financing, additional regulatory approvals and other conditions.

Pro-Act Microbial receives patent
A key component of Pro-Act Microbial’s biotech waste treatment system, the surface air diffuser, has been granted a U.S. patent. The newly patented diffuser adds oxygen to create a limited aerobic environment on the surface of a waste lagoon. This aeration supplies the required oxygen to the aerobic micro-organisms to convert volatile fatty acids to odorless carbon dioxide and water, while leaving most of the waste lagoon anaerobic so anaerobic waste treatment can proceed undisturbed.

A healthy waste lagoon or wastewater storage tank will naturally stratify in layers, with the bottom layer remaining anaerobic (without oxygen). According to Pro-Act Microbial, the company’s surface air diffuser is the only one on the market that can retain the stratified layers. By doing so, the system allows the anaerobic microbial waste treatment to proceed while adding an odor cap to minimize odors commonly associated with anaerobic treatment.

Pro-Act Microbial provides waste treatment systems for concentrated animal feeding operations (CAFOs) and other high strength wastewater.

www.proactmicrobial.com

Valley‚ Single Span Engine Drive meets needs for small fields
Valmont Irrigation introduces its Valley Single Span Engine Drive, a solution for small fields under 10 acres. This low pressure system needs no electricity, offering growers significant savings in infrastructure, pumping and energy costs.

The Single Span Engine Drive from Valley can be operated on slopes of up to 10 percent. Mounted directly to the pivot’s base beam, the engine drive operates in forward and reverse modes for maximum flexibility in crop management. No tools are needed because a simple over-center lever allows you to quickly switch the belt direction to run in reverse.

Equipped with a reliable Honda 5.5 horsepower engine, the unit is enclosed for weather protection and can use an auxiliary 19 gallon fuel tank option for extended operation between refills. With standard speed pulleys, the machine can complete a circle in four to nine hours, depending on tire size and engine speed. The high speed pulley option can cover your acreage in half that time. The system can also be moved to different field locations using the optional skid two or four wheel EZ tow.