Manure Manager

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On track: May-June 2011


May 13, 2011  by On Track

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New Jamesway Verti-Pump
Jamesway Farm Equipment recently introduced a new family of PTO Vertical Pumps.

The new trailer mounting provides easy entry of the pump through the small access areas commonly found in covered manure storages.  The full-length trailer and two-stage PTO shaft make set-up or takedown fast and easy. Both the six-inch and eight-inch discharge models are available with manual controls, hydraulic controls or the unique “under-floor” controls kit designed for precise control in slatted floor barns.

Much of the manure handled in today’s operations contains calcium, sand or other forms of grit so the Jamesway Verti-Pump features a new lower seal assembly specifically designed to work in these conditions. Operations handling grit-laden manure will also benefit from the Hardox-450™ Abrasion Resistant Impeller option.

The Jamesway Verti-Pump is available for pit depths from six to 14 feet.
www.jameswayfarmeq.com

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Simple calculation reveals soil phosphorus, potassium removal
With the growing season approaching quickly, soil nutrient programs will soon be put to the test. These programs should be carefully developed with input from an agronomist or fertilizer dealer because fertility is responsible for as much as 40 percent of crop yield. As growers see their investments pay off and yields increase, it’s important to remember that high-yielding crops remove proportionally more nutrients such as phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) from the soil. Nutrient application must keep pace with crop removal.

Progressive growers monitor soil fertility using soil tests, but also closely manage fertility programs by predicting future crop nutrient needs. This is especially important in years when ideal growing conditions result in yields that go beyond yield goals and the corresponding nutrition program designed to reach that yield goal.

One way to get an idea of future fertility needs is to calculate the difference in crop removal rate between the yield goal and actual yield harvested.

For example, if a soil fertility program is designed to produce a 180-bushel-per-acre corn yield, the crop P removal rate will be 63. (180 yield bu. x .35 [P2O5/bu. removal constant] = 63 removal rate). If growing conditions are positive and crop yield increases to 220 bushels per acre, the crop P removal rate increases to 77 (220 yield bu. x .35 = 77). This difference of 14 is taken from the soil by the crop, reducing soil test phosphorus and potentially creating a negative balance for soil phosphorus levels.

For more information about crop nutrient removal, soil test trends and managing soil fertility to maximize crop yields, visit http://www.mosaicco.com/resources.htm, an agronomy resource The Mosaic Company offers to growers. For more production information, visit Back-to-Basics.net .


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FAN Separator Bedding Recovery Unit
Woodchips, sawdust and sand are major expenses for dairy farmers, who depend on a steady supply of quality, affordable bedding material for their cows. To save money and ensure a fresh supply, farmers are turning to technology from the Bauer Group affiliate FAN Separator, called the Bedding Recovery Unit (BRU). The BRU processes cow manure into clean, dry bedding – and provides other benefits.

The Bedding Recovery Unit lets dairy farmers reclaim 25 to 30 cubic yards per day or more of high-quality bedding material from the undigested fibers in cattle manure. The machine separates, dries and treats the fibers in an aerobic process, resulting in a self-contained cycle that reduces manure management costs, improves cow comfort and boosts milk output.

According to the company, farmers find the BRU easy to use, requiring minimal maintenance such as changing oil, greasing and cleaning screens once a month. The BRU works by pumping the raw manure from the collection pit into the press screw separator, technology from Bauer’s affiliate company FAN. There, undigested fibers are separated from the liquid. The separated solids are then fed into a 30-foot-long rotating drum by way of a patented conveyor system.

It takes the material about 12 to 18 hours to pass through the drum, where micro-organisms act on the material. The temperature inside the drum rises to about 150 F, hot enough to kill pathogens that cause mastitis and other costly diseases.

The dry bedding material is then moved by an auger or conveyor to an intermediate storage area.
www.bauer-at.com


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JOZ Claw Clean System
JOZ, barn-cleaning specialists for cattle farms, recently introduced a fully automated and integrated claw cleaning and disinfection system. The Claw Clean System (CCS) was developed in collaboration with the Dutch engineering firm Heemskerk. The system is animal-friendly and suitable for all barn types. It consists of a central control unit and one or two spray units. The easy-to-operate system works preventively and replaces the process of foot bathing that is both time-consuming and unpleasant for cattle.

Until now, foot baths have become rapidly soiled by manure introduced on the animals’ hooves, as a result of which the disinfectant has only a short effective life and can indeed even have negative consequences. Cleaning was a time-consuming and difficult process. On larger farms, it often had to be undertaken during milking. This clearly led to considerable stress for the animals and the milker.

CCS cleans and disinfects the claws hygienically and fully automatically. The spray causes no discomfort to the cattle. CCS is a continuous, preventive approach. As a result, claw problems remain under control, savings are achieved in both time and money, and the cows maintain production levels and live longer.

The central unit is connected to the main water and electricity supply. A dosing unit guarantees the correct mix of disinfectant and water. A high-pressure pump carries the solution to the spray nozzles.

Following assembly, it is simply a question of placing a section of hose in a container of disinfectant, and activating the system by turning a knob. From that time on, CCS will treat the claws of every cow detected by the sensor. The spray units are positioned in the return alley of the milking parlor or at the exit of the milking robot.
www.jozgroep.nl


Trimble releases new DCM-300 modem
Trimble recently announced the release of its new DCM-300™ modem.

The multi-use modem provides access to VRS™ Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) corrections and handles wireless data transfer to deliver information to and from the field or track assets.

The new modem can be used to access Trimble® VRS Now™ Ag RTK correction service and to enable Connected Farm™ wireless field data transfer. The DCM-300 modem is also compatible with the new Farm Works® Dispatch™ asset tracking software, an expansion of the Connected Farm solution. Dispatch software uses wireless communications and Global Positioning System (GPS) to manage vehicle movement and productivity.

The DCM-300 modem is available in two models for use on Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) cellular networks, such as AT&T, or Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular networks, such as Verizon. The modem is available with a single data plan subscription, which will be provided by Trimble, offering farmers a cost-saving solution to consolidate data plans under one subscription.

The DCM-300 offers efficient access to both Connected Farm and VRS Now RTK sub-inch accurate correction service.  Job orders, coverage maps and A-B lines may be transferred wirelessly to multiple vehicles in different locations for follow-up operations, or within the same field for accurate overlap protection. Farmers can save time without the need to hand-deliver electronic data cards or jump drives from the farm office.
www.trimble.com/agriculture

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