Transferring Innovative Manure Management Technology in The Northeast

PENNSYLVANIA

Name of Institution: Pennsylvania State University , Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering

Contact: Robert Graves

Links:
http://www.abe.psu.edu/extension/factsheets/g/index.html
Biogas and Anaerobic Digestion. New! website from Penn State, April 2006.
http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/Publications.asp
Organic Materials Processing and Education Center (OMPEC) at Penn State University
Mid-Atlantic Regional Water Quality Program

Site Profile:

Fact Sheets:

Manure Handling:

• Dairy Manure Handling : The ultimate goal of a manure handling system should be to improve management, provide positive environmental protection, and allow maximum utilization of manure nutrients. The best manure handling systems are usually developed as part of an overall plan for new construction, renovation or expansion.
• Agricultural Waste Stacking and Handling Pad : This 4 page fact sheet describes a low cost method for the temporary storage and handling of solid and semi-solid animal manures or other organic wastes. An agricultural waste stacking and handling pad is a solid all weather working surface for storage and/or composting.
• Horse Stable Manure Management : Manure handling is a necessary evil of stable management with horse owners naturally preferring to ride rather than clean stalls.
• Manure Storage Hazards : Storage of animal manure is a common practice on Pennsylvania farms. Dairy, beef, swine, and veal producers use manure storage systems when wet or cold weather, and/or a lack of time for field application, prohibits spreading.

Anaerobic Digestion:

• Anaerobic Digestion: Biogas Production and Odor Reduction from Manure : Controlled anaerobic, or oxygen-free, digestion of animal manure is a way to treat manure to prevent foul odor production while generating a usable energy product. Under the right conditions, liquid manure will break down into biogas and a low odor effluent.
• Considering an Anaerobic Digester? Steps to Take and Contacts to Make : Anaerobic digestion of animal manure results in biogas and a liquefied, low-odor effluent (processed manure). In certain situations, it can be a cost effective, environment- and neighborhood-friendly treatment for manure and liquid waste. However, an anaerobic digestion system requires a rather large financial investment as well as a large management responsibility.
• Biological Manipulation of Manure: Getting What you Want from Animal Manure : The use of manure energy by microorganisms—microbial activity—is a natural process of decomposition. Except in extreme cases of cold, pH, or lack of water, biological decomposition is inevitable. Microbial activity can create a wide range of byproducts. By storing, handling, or treating manure in various ways, farmers can control the byproducts produced by this biological activity.

Odor Control:

• Odor Management in Agriculture and Food Processing: A Manual of Practice for Pennsylvania : As more non-farm residents move into rural areas, complaints over odors generated from animal production and food processing areas are increasing. This fact sheet summarizes odor control and management practices in the state of Pennsylvania .
• Odor Control for Animal Production Operations : As more non-farm residents move into rural areas, complaints about odors from animal production operations are increasing. The trend toward animal facility expansion can only intensify the problem.

Land Application / Nutrient Management:

• Irrigation of Liquid Manures : As liquid manure storages become larger, interest in using irrigation technology for land applying manure increases.
• Irrigation of Liquid Manures with a Traveling Gun : This fact sheet emphasizes how to check a traveling gun liquid manure system for appropriate application rates.
• Irrigation of Liquid Manures with Center-Pivot Irrigation Systems: This fact sheet emphasizes how to check a center pivot liquid manure system for appropriate application rates.
• Irrigation of Liquid Manures with Solid Set Systems : This fact sheet emphasizes how to check a solid set liquid manure system for appropriate application rates.
• Estimating Manure Application Rates : This eight-page fact sheet briefly outlines the approach used to determine manure application rates on farms and includes a simple worksheet for making the calculations. Management practices are included, as well as tables of application rates for some common manure types.
• Field Application of Manure : A very long fact sheet describing all aspects of manure management.

Environmental Regulations:

• Manure Management for Environmental Protection : This fact sheet focuses on the legal and management aspects of animal manure.

Composting:

• Marketing On-Farm Compost : This 11-page booklet provided tips for marketing compost, product registration, and profit potential. It also includes a 3-page on-farm compost budget sheet.
• Composting for Small Scale Livestock Operations : This fact sheet discusses the reason for installing compost bins and gives simple instructions for six different compost bin designs.
• Manure Management for Small Scale Livestock Operations : This fact sheet discusses methods of manure management for small farm operations.
• Composting : This chapter from the National Engineering Handbook goes into extensive detail about composting.
• Research in Bioconversion : This page contains an overview of the research done by Tom. L. Richard on applying engineering science to microbial ecosystems.

Technical Reports:

• Horse Stable Manure Management : This 16-page publication provides information to stable managers on horse manure characteristics and options for its movement and storage. Associated issues such as odor control, fly breeding, and environmental impact are addressed in relation to horse facilities.
• Composting Operations : This report describes the operation of a composting project carried out on pre-consumer food waste from university dining facilities.
• Alternative Disposal of Organic Residuals and a Means of Fulfilling Needs : This paper explains in detail about the composting project carried out by students at Penn State University with pre-consumer food waste from university dining facilities.