Assessing Self-reported Occupational Hazards of Manure Applicators in the Upper Midwest.

Manure management on farms presents potential risks to human health and safety, including infectious, chemical, and physical exposures that may result in injury or fatality. Toxic gases and confined spaces are among the most common hazards. These hazards are especially salient for the Upper Midwest of the United States.

Housing and management characteristics of calf automated feeding systems in the Upper Midwest of the United States.

Automated milk feeders are used by dairy producers to manage preweaned calves in group housing, but little is known about how these feeding systems are being used in the United States. To better understand how US dairy producers are operating these systems, this study investigated characteristics of barn design, environment, and management practices on 38 farms in the Upper Midwest of the United States via a questionnaire and on-farm measurements. Farms using automated feeders ranged in size from 7 to 300 calves on site.

Management and characteristics of recycled manure solids used for bedding in Midwest freestall dairy herds.

Interest in using recycled manure solids (RMS) as a bedding material for dairy cows has grown in the US Midwest. Cost of common bedding materials has increased in recent years and availability has decreased. Information regarding the composition of RMS and its use as a bedding material for dairy cows in the Midwest is very limited.

Full-scale biofilter reduction efficiencies assessed using portable 24-hour sampling units.

Portable 24-hr sampling units were used to collect air samples from eight biofilters on four animal feeding operations. The biofilters were located on a dairy, a swine nursery, and two swine finishing farms. Biofilter media characteristics (age, porosity, density, particle size, water absorption capacity, pressure drop) and ammonia (NH3), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), sulfur dioxide (SO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) reduction efficiencies of the biofilters were assessed.

Biofilter performance of pine nuggets and lava rock as media.

Wood chips and bark mulch are commonly used biofilter media because they are generally locally available and inexpensive. Nevertheless, these organic materials degrade and require replacement every 2-5 years. In this study, airflow characteristics and gas reduction efficiencies of two alternative biofilter media (pine nuggets and lava rock) with high porosity and potentially longer service lives were evaluated at three empty bed contact times (1, 3, and 5s) and two moisture levels (82% and 90% relative humidity).