Composting is under way on nearly all of the poultry farms in Minnesota affected by the avian influenza outbreak. Guidelines for disposal of livestock mortalities resulting from disaster are listed in a 2012 memorandum of understanding among the Board of Animal Health, Department of Agriculture, and Pollution Control Agency. Composting is very effective for carcass disposal. It kills viruses and breaks down carcasses into nutrient-rich compost that can be applied to crop land, or burial if necessary. Guidelines have been established to prevent outdoor composting from affecting surface and ground water. A step-by-step guide for composting is located on the BAH website. BAH and USDA technicians are testing compost piles after the first heat cycle to ensure the virus has been destroyed. Photo: Composting example from Hanson Silo Company website.

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A group of about 20 newer feedlot staff from delegated counties gathered in Willmar April 28-30 for training on the various aspects of the state's feedlot rules (7020). Under a delegation agreement with the state, 53 counties administer the rule for feedlots below the threshold for the federal and state operating permits for large feedlots. Delegated counties conduct feedlot registration, inspections, issue construction and interim permits, producer assistance, and maintain records.

Training topics included program requirements, permitting, inspections, manure management plans, land application of manure, and emergency response. More information is available on the MPCA county feedlot program webpage. County feedlot officers also have organized the Minnesota Association of County Feedlot Officers, an official affiliate organization with the Association of Minnesota Counties. Photo: Doug Bos, right, of Rock County, presented the session on manure management plan review.

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Baers Poultry Company is in the process of proactively upgrading much of the barns and manure management systems at its farms near Lake Park, Minnesota. They started in 2013 by renovating an existing chicken barn, replacing outdated equipment, and converting from liquid manure to a newer, state-of-the-art dry system.

The new technology consists of a covered conveyor that transports dry manure to a separate covered barn, where it is stored in rows and ultimately sold to other area farms to be used as crop fertilizer. "It's a better way to manage, store and transport manure," said Amos Baer. "We're hauling less moisture on area roads, and our customers are much happier with the dry product."

A similar project is scheduled this year at another barn site. While working through the permitting process for this new project, the Baers decided to conduct a voluntary environmental assessment at the same time. According to Amos, "we wanted to cover our bases up front with everyone involved so we could address any issues along the way, and keep the project moving forward." The environmental assessment is complete, permits are in place, and construction is set to begin this spring.

Installation of the dry conveyor systems allows the Baers to discontinue use of outdoor manure composting and use of liquid manure. For its proactive and responsible vision, the MPCA thanks Baers Poultry Company for going above and beyond and for making the most of manure. Photo: The new covered conveyer system: 1) transports manure from the chicken barn, into the storage barn, 2) on a conveyer belt that brings it to the barn’s rafters, where it 3) goes down another conveyer that spans the length of the building where a small plow-type mechanism, 4) distributes dry manure in rows along the concrete floor.

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Register for upcoming webcasts, and view archived webcasts on the Livestock and Poultry Learning Center webcast page.

May 15 webcast: 1:30 p.m. Highlights from the waste to worth conference.

April: Manure application over tile drainage. Management and fate of manure and nutrients in tile drained agricultural landscapes, with speakers: Jeff Strock, University of Minnesota; Larry Brown, Ohio State; Peter Kleinman, USDA ARS; James Hoorman, Ohio State; and Tim Harrigan, Michigan State. More...

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