Thursday, December 15th, 2016
Manure technology tested
Photo by Nancy Allen/The Daily Standard
About 40 farmers viewed a pilot test Tuesday and Wednesday at the Brad Schwieterman farm on Clover Four Road of new technology designed to remove phosphorous from swine manure. The event was arranged by Theresa Dirksen, coordinator of Ag Solutions, a group trying to find ways to lessen nutrient runoff from farms blamed for toxic algal blooms in Grand Lake. The process performed on 100 gallons of swine manure resulted in 10 gallons of a phosphorous-rich concentrate designed to capture 95 percent of the manure phosphorous and 90 gallons of a tea-colored liquid. Organizers plan to run dairy manure through the system today. Test results showing the actual phosphorous removal levels from the swine and dairy manure will be ready in a few weeks, Dirksen said.