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Home My WebLink AboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-09-09, Page 26PAGE 10AGODERICH SIGNALSTAR, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 9.1981 Research silo gas As silo filling season ap- proaches, Agriculture Canada researchers, after nearly two years' of study are still unable to recom- mend 'fail safe' procedures for potentially lethal silo gas. Silo gas or 'nitrogen diox- ide has caused a number of deaths in Ontario in the last few years and many more farmers have suffered ir- reparable lung damage as a result of being exposed to small concentrations of the gas. The gas is produced as a by-product of the fermenta- tion process that takes place once haylage or corn en- silage is placed in the silo. Often the gascan be detected by its acrid, acidic odour and may be visible as yellowish -brown fumes. Car- bon dioxide is another gas given off during fermenta- tion. Owing to the fact that silo gas is 50 percent heavier than air, it will settle on the ensilage surface. There is also a danger of the gas contaminating feed rooms and barn areas. The basic design of the tower silo increases the hazards posed by the gas, under ideal conditions it is often difficult for a person to enter or exit from a silo. This accessability factor in- terferes with safety pro- cedures that would normally apply. • Agriculture Canada's researchers are presently studying two areas that may help remove much of the danger associated with the gas. Studies are now being conducted into the feasibility of using the ensilage blower as a means of ventilating the silo's interior.. Preliminary studies into the use of a flexi- ble tube on the end of the blower pipe appears to be en- couraging. Gas detection equipment is another area that is being studied. While detection equipment is available for nitrogen dioxide, owing to the diversity of gases given off during the. Fermentation process and ' -Inger pos- ed to anyorr. .Tying .to retrieve samples from the silo environment, resear- chers are reluctant to recomrnend the use of such equipment without further study. As .more information on silo gas becomes available, researchers are slowly put- ting the pieces together for the complex puzzle created by the gas. It now appears that there is no one simple solution to the problem, in- stead it' appears that a farmer's only protection from the toxic gas is to follow a series of safety pro- cedures and to make certain that he always errs on the safe side. Researchers offer the following suggestions to reduce and -or eliminate the danger of silo gas: 1. Silo gas can form within hours of the silo being filled, if at all possible keep everyone clear of the silo for at least three weeks after filling. After. this period of time, run the ensilage blower for 20 to 30 minutes prior to entry. 2. Silo feed rooms should. be sealed off and ventilated for the three week period. 3. Avoid harvesting crops immediately after a rain fall. Crops damaged by hall or frost should be harvested as quickly as possible. 4. To reduce the amount of nitrates -in the silage, cut the plant material higher than normal. Excess nitrates are stored in the lower stalk area. 5. A properly adjusted silo distributor will ensure uniform distribution and eliminates the need for anyone to enter the silo after filling. 6. Silo gas may be visible as a yellowish -brown gas and have a bleach like odor. Throat irritation and coughing are a physical reaction to the gas. 7. If for any reason so- meone has to enter the silo during the three week danger period, an approved self contained breathing ap- paratus must be worn. In ad- dition, the silo must be ven- tilated for 20 to 30 minutes prior to entry. A life line at- tached to someone outside of the area of dangeer-is- essen- tial. T-BONE OR WING r FROM THE HIP - FULL CUT CUT FROM THE LOIN CANADA 'A' GRADE BEEF CUT FROM THE LOIN - CANADA 'A' GRADE BEEF • • SCHNEIDERS FULLY COOKED SMOKED PICNIC LB. 59 PORK SHOULDER . PRIDE OF CANADA VISKING BONELESS -EYE REMOVED BOLOGNA LB. .. or- . SNOPSYS PREPARED POTATO & EGG *f59 SALAD LB. • UTILITY GRADE YOUNG URKEYS FROZEN 6-12 LB. SIZE WITH ZEHRS SPECIAL TRIM FOR VALUE FRESHLY MADE MEDIUM GROUND BEEF 23% OR LESS FAT CUT FROM THE HIP FROM THE HIP -INSIDE RUMP ROUND ROAST STEAK BONELESS BONELESS S SCHNEIDERS PORTION SIZE 175 g. HAM .69 STEAK . .SCHNEIDERS COOKED MEATS 250 g. MINI DELI'S . sst67 SCHNEIDERS REGULAR OR. CHEESE SMOKIES 300 g. *1.59 SCHNEIDERS 500 g. PKG.. TRY OUR OWN BRAND ZEHRS SLICED SALAMI 175g. 89' ZEHRS SLICED . SUMMER STYLE SAUSAGE ZEHRS BRAND SLICED BOLOGNA „=9;1, 19 ,7:o s1.39 SKILLET STRIPS1881 MAPLE LEAF Sol_r_ta SLICED CORNED BEEFl.�S LB. MAPLE LEAF PART SKINNED PORTION PACK -Vs COOKED .HAMA 98 LINK STYLE 112 LB. CASE $16.501 DEVON BRAND SAUSAGE,.&BEEF 11. LB. IN-STORE BAKE SHOP PRIDE OF CANADA SWEET PICKLED BONELESS PORK BUTT LB COTTAGE ROCLI9S FRESH SEAFOOD TIN ALL STOR. ES NOT AVAILABLE IN ALL ZEHRS STORES RAISIN OR FRUIT BREAD OAF #% f9 1 . CLEAN WASIID ONTARIO NO. 1 POTATOES LICIT, DARK OR CARAWAY RYE BREAD 1®AF PRODUCT OF CANADA FINE WHITE MUSHROOMS 10 Ib. BAG PRODUCT OF CANADA POUND J CANADA NO. 1 QUALITY CELERY S�f STALKS PRODUCT OF SOUTH AFRICA FANCY GRANNY SMITH APPLES .b aouc OF SOUTH AFRICA OF U.S.A.ox. NO. 1 4 lb BAG OUTSPAN $4 L RED TOKAY 900 ORANGES f. OYIGRAPES PRODUCT OF CANADA ONTARIO GROWN PRODUCT OF CANADA ONTARIO GROWN SPROUTS 4rib MINI - CARROTS 69, PRODUCT OF CANADA ONTARIO NO. 1 RED SWEET e/) PEPPERS p 7 31/2" ASSORTED GREEN TROPICAL PLANTS POTS 2II.49 A S B BRAND POTTING SOIL 20 L. 1.29