MANURE

With nutrient pollution and water quality issues gaining attention in the media, as well as rising costs of fertilizers, retaining nutrients from fall manure is both economically advantageous and environmentally imperative.

Plenty of things have changed in the world of dairy farming. Advancements in milking systems mean that robots, not people, can perform the several-times-per-day task of milking cows.

Manure management are buzzwords that often bring a scowl to the face of a dairyman. It is often due to the huge costs of maintaining a manure system on a dairy, including equipment, personnel, regulatory costs, custom services, nutrient management plans, neighbour relations, odour control, sampling, maintenance, etc.

It would seem fair to say that dairy farms are beneficial to their local communities. Not only do they provide a nutritious food source, but they have contributed nearly 900,000 jobs nationwide.

Operating a biogas plant is a big commitment, but the work comes with a sizable reward. Unlike other renewable energy sources, biogas is largely independent of external influences such as wind or sunlight.

Dairy farming is a risky business on many levels. With almost every decision, a dairyman must weigh the personal, societal, environmental and financial risks. Not to mention all the potential impacts the decisions may have on the well-being of workers, neighbours and animals.