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Times-Advocate, 1983-12-07, Page 18Digester can reduce manure odor problem A digester that turns manure into biogas is one answer to controlling odors in a livestock operation, accor- ding to University of Guelph engineering professor Jack Pos. Microbial action in the digester produces biogas, a mixture of methane and car- bon dioxide, that can be used as fuel on the farm. "I wouldn't suggest biogas digester to a farmer who simply wanted to save money on fuel," say Prof. Pos, "because the capital invest- ment is prohibitive, but a digester can solve a manure management problem." Stif- fer environmental legislation and increased rural popula- tion are forcing farmers to more carefully control odors from their operations. In a long-running research project. Prof. Pos has built several experimental and farm scale digesters for hog operations at the Arkell Research Station. The biogas produced runs a generator that supplies some of the farm's electricity. He also in- vestigating the use of biogas to heat farm buildings and run farm equipment such as diesel motors. • "One thing Canadian farmers tend to overlook." says Prof. Pos, "is that a fuel such as biogas can also be us- ed for cooling. Research has demonstrated that farm animals suffer much more from summer heat than from winter cold. The biogas could be used all year Tor temperature control in farm buildings." A major objective of the biogas research at Guelph is to design a digester that minimizes capital costs. Although the initial cost of a digester is high, Prof. Pos says that recovering valuable by-products in addition to the biogas can offset some of these costs. Large particles from the initial separation can be composted. Many recommend that the solids left after the digestion process be recycled as feed, and the liquid effluent be used as fer• - tilizer. However, since the li- quid effluent contains a much greater portion of the digesti- ble nutrients, Prof. Pos recommends it be recycled as liquid feed and the solid frac- tion combined with the initial solids for composting or land - spreading. This research is part of a larger project on Renewable Energy Applications, funded by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food, the On- tario Ministry of Energy, and the Ontario Pork Producers Marketing Board. , THE RAGGEDYS WERE HERE — Appearing as Raggedy Ann and Andy during Saturday's Santa Claus parade were Deb Drake and Denise Dunlop. T -A photo Times -Advocate, December 7, 1983 Page 17 bne foot 1,, the furrow' ti l CONSERVATION GROUP WINNER — The Huron Soil and Crop Improvement Association won the first annual group Conservation award presented by the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority. Above, Carl Bryson of the land manage- ment advisory board and chairman John Tinney present the award to Soil and Crop president Bruce Shillinglaw. Two veteran breeders feted by Holsteln club Two 40 year pins were presented at the Huron Coun- ty Holstein Club's annual meeting held on November 22 at the Brussels Legion. Alvin Betties and Harvey Daniels received the awards for holding membersip and show- ing great dedication to the Holstein Club over the years. Ross Marshall, past Na- tional President, made the presentation to the two reci- pients and recalled the pioneer days of the club to the audience. The club thanked President Wilbert Freeman and the Wylie family for this research in a new venture, locating all the excellent animals bred and nwnen in Huron County over the last 30 to 40 years. David Marshall and William Gibbings presented over 60 certificates to 26 breeders. Congratulations were given to all who were honoured and who received certificates for their achievements. On November 1, 1984, the new proposed amendment to the constitution will go into af- fect; reducing the number of directors. Executive for 1984 are; past president, Wilbert Freeman; president, Keith Johnston; first vice-president, David Marshall; and second vice- president Ken Ramsey.he directors are Glen Hodgins, Bob Hayter, Geff Brand, Mur- ray Donaldson, Lyle Martin, Fred Meier (Jr.), Murray Howatt, Jim McGee, Harold Menary, Joe Van Osch, Al Feddes and Allan Carter. The CLEAR UP TO A TON OF SNOW PER MINUTE WITH 1 JOHN DEERE 8- AND file..P l 10 -HP SNOW BLOWERS You know you're going to wake tip one winter morning to piles of snow on the ground. So get a head start now! Get a big -capacity, two-stage John Deere snow blower with 8 or 10 horsepower Both models have live forwArd speeds and reverse. extra -large tires for good traction. and conveniently located controls. You'll appreciate the built-in safety features like handgrip safety levers. If both are released. the engine stops. For your comfort and protection: a walk -under cab is available. Act now. Get a John Deere snow blower before you wake up 10 three feet of snow on the ground joiL JONN OF FRF See us today for a John Deere IL!IHUNON TRACTOR EXETER 235-1115 RLYTH 523-4244 secretary treasurer is Don Watson. A hot meal was held prior to the meeting and members thanked the Legion Ladies Auxiliary for serving dinner to 170 people. There were three door prizes donated by L. McKague and Ken Jackson, Surge dealer. Winners were Thelma Broadfoot, Lorraine Hallahan, Murray Gaunt and Thelma Van Osch. Don Pullen made the presentation of a plaque from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food to Ethel Ball for her 21 years of service. Don Wat- son presented a silk ivy hang- ing to Ethel for her work in the Holstein Club office. National Director, Jim Needham, gave greetings from the association. Ontario Director, Bob McNeil also brought greetings from the assocation. He mentioned all the activities that would be covered for the centennial celebrations at the Stratford fair grounds on July 11, 1984. The annual meeting will be held on February 8, 1984, in Peterborough. The national meeting will be in Ottawa on March 11 to 16, 1984. Dennis Martin brought everyone up to date on the ac- tivities planned for the fall and winter months. He presented Honor List Cer- tificates to winners over 200 BCA compositie in their class. Winners were, in the two- year-old division, John Wiersma and second, Hol Den Farm; three-year-old divi- sion, Harvey Daniels and se- cond Echerlea Acres; in the four-year-old division, Ernie Sherwood and second Echerlea Acres; the mature division, Glen McNeil and se- cond, Ernie Sherwood. Gordon Bell congratulated Sandwich walls tested Today's high costs demand energy efficiency in livestock buildings. Researchers at the • University of Guelph School of Engineering believe that concrete sandwich walls can provide this energy efficiency. Damage by rodents and livestock, and from moisture, is a constant problem with in- sulation in farm buildings. The concrete sandwich method, which encapsulates insulation between two layers of concrete, prevents that damage. Professor Jan Jofriet of the School of Engineering points out that the durable surfaces inside and out protect the insulation from rodent damage, fire and direct wetting. An added benefit, according to Pro- fessor Jofriet, is that temperature fluctuations within the insulation space are minimized. Concrete sandwich walls were first developed in 1942 for commercial huildings in the United States, but they have been investigated for Ontario farm buildings only over the past ten years. Pro lessor Jofriet and his learn have been investigating where to locale the insula tion for optimum benefit. Don't Pay till Spring Clean your seed oafs Norley soya beans and mixed groin now. No payment till March 21, 1984. Your seed is cleaned, treated, bagged or bulk on your form. 519-289-3602 for appointment Casodlau Mobile feed Chasing Limited Huron County for the good showing of cattle at the Clin- ton Spring Show, the London Fair and Tri County Show. Mr. Bell presented superior production certificates to Allan Wylie, Echerlea Acres, Harvey Daniels and Glen McNeil. The highest BCA herd average composite for milk and fat for 1982 went to Ernie Shewood with a score of 174, Robmarann Farms with 172, Allan Wylie with 171, Lyle Martin with 170, and Glen McNeil with 163. The Clinton Spring Show premier breeder was Cliff McNeil. The premier ex- hibitor for the show was Glen McNeil. 4 Weeks and months of parliamentary haggling and partisan lobbying and the Crow's Nest Pass freight legislature has finally been passed. Few people outside of agriculture in Canada have a ghost of an idea what the legislation will mean. Even some people who are opposed to the bill are fuzzy about what will happen. Even some members of the government that sponsored the changes do not know the ramifications. I have been an observer of - and sometimes a partici- pant - in the farm scene for 35 years and I'm still perplexed. All I know for sure is that some changes were necessary. Even many Western farmers agreed changes were needed. 1 am convinced that the changes will mean a greater shift away from livestock far- ming in the West which will mean they will be even more dependent on grain markets and foreign sales. Whether this is good or bad remains in the hands of the rest of the world and the demand for grain. If world grain prices fall, they could all go bankrupt. The new legislation is ex- ceedingly complex and much of the complexity has come from sentiment, special in- fluence and lobbying. To at- tempt an explanation of the whole package is beyond my abilities but it seems to me the clear winners in the package are the railroads. Western grain farmers may get better service from .the major cities in the West. Bulk shippers of coal, potash, sulphur and forest products will rejoice because they will also get better service. Or the railways have promised bet- ter service. There is a dif- ference. Certainly, manufac- turers of goods in the east will get a better break. The emphasis on improving rail service will definitely not help those hundreds of grain farmers who are off the beaten track, the little guys and the big guys who live miles from the main line. The railways have constantly em- phasized the double -tracking projects that will be com- pleted if they can charge more. You know and I know these double lines will not be placed into small farming communities, some of which have been abandoned by the railways for five or 10 or 15 years. These smaller communities will have to pay truckers to get the grain to the larger centres. And there goes the profit. When these branch lines were left to rot, promises were made that the roads would be upgraded. Those farmers surrounding the now - isolated towns are not holding their breath waiting for im- proved roads. The fight is not over. In April, a commission of in- terested representatives will study the method of payment of the hundreds of million Alta boas a,r aop,rc acrd OF Bot, r,oti,, EIaa4 Rd Elm.,a Om NJB 2C7 dollars of federal subsidies. It seems to me that the railways will have their wa' again and the farmers will be left whistling in the cold prairie winds. Big business, big corpora- tions have again won the bat- tle and the human aspect has been forgotten. The aforementioned com- mission is supposed to deter- mine whether the subsidies will be paid direct to railways or to the grain farmers. The report is supposed to be tabl- ed by April, 1965, in time for a promised review of the Crow rate under the new rules. Farm organizations will continue the battle at that time. Because farmers lost this battle, they should not be discouraged because the war is not over. I would be willing to bet that big business, big corpora- tions and big government will again become victorious. Ain't it a shame? STARLIKE INVENTORY REDUCTION ON SILO UNLOADERS CONVEYORS EXAMPLE: 20' Ring Drive Silo Unloader Complete w/7V2 H.P. Motor, Hexpod, Suspenion Cables 8 Winch $5 55O For more Information call =21 Hwy. N of Grand Bend RR 1, DASHWOOD 1.519.238.2301 SEND YOUR 'CHRISTMAS GREETINGS THE EASY WAY Let over 18,000 readers see your Christmas Greeting. All you have to do is complete the handy coupon below and make sure it reaches us by Monday, Dec. 19 lilt♦IIIINIINIII 1111INIII 111 ti♦1111INIINIII IN INIII MI IN IN IIII IN IN IN NI 111 11 Mail to: My Christmas Greeting is Times -Advocate, Box 850, Exeter, Ont. Name 1 'Address 1 'Cheque Enclosed 0 1 23 words - $3.00 Additional Words 10 each 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 III III III 1111 III III III III III 101 III III III III III IN III ION III III III III III III III III1 Note • All Greetings Myst 0e Received by Monday, Dec. 19 • r •