March 22, 2011 • Page 15 shop online at www.missourivalleyshopper.com Harvesting the power of ‘poop’ (MS) -- Farms and ranches are the lifeblood of America's heartland. They provide food for people all across the country while supplying jobs to millions of those very same people. Farmers may have a thousand or more head of cattle on their lands. While that can add up to a lot of revenue, another thing can add up from the livestock: manure. A dairy cow typically produces 150 pounds (54 kilograms) of manure per day. Multiply those 150 pounds by the scores of cattle, and that equals one large -- and odoriferous -waste situation. With concerns about groundwater contamination and fecalborne diseases passed through contact with animal waste, farmers are continually on the lookout for ways to stay safe and make the clean-up job easier. Methane digesters are based on old technology and do a remarkably good job at handling manure cleanup. In addition to getting rid of the waste, the methane digesters offer an added bonus. The methane can be used to produce electric energy, which in turn can help save farmers money. According to Sustainable Conservation, Methane emitted from cow manure can be harvested and turned into energy. a methane digester is a wastewater and solids treatment technology. When used on a farm, it processes animal waste under anaerobic conditions, yielding methane gas and reducing the volume of solids and treated liquids. The methane can be sold or used to generate electricity on the farm; the solid matter left behind is a valuable soil amendment; and the liquids become an easily applied fertilizer, with plant available nutrients and low pathogen levels. Typically, large farms will store liquid and solid manure produced by livestock in large waste ponds. The manure is later pumped back onto fields as a source of fertilizer. But this type of storage scenario poses a host of problems, including strong odors, pathogens in the manure, and the fact that heavy rains or storms can flood the ponds and land where manure has been spread, allowing manure to reach local water sources. Using a methane digester is a workaround and a viable solution. Plus, methane is a greenhouse gas much more powerful than carbon Looking for the best deal in town? Check the CLASSIFIEDS! dioxide. So harnessing the methane -- rather than have it simply rise up into the atmosphere -- is another benefit for the farmer and environment. The U.S. government has started to hand out subsidies to farmers to install methane digesters to offset costs. Something to consider about the digesters is that they do not simply make manure and other waste vanish. The digested manure will still need to be applied as fertilizer to mitigate the amount of waste. Digesters may not be the best solution for a small farm and are better left for a larger operation. Also it's important to note that some communities fight the installation of largescale methane digesters because of their industrial appearance and because they attract added traffic by waste haulers. Still, many environmentalists say the positives far outweigh the negatives in this situation. 605-665-9012 toll free 1-877-ferdigs (337-3447) N EW ON! ATI LOC 220 East 3rd St., Yankton, SD 57078 (Former Expert Tire Building) Drivers & Owner s Operators Wanted s Premium Best Transport What a sharp deal!! SHOPPER MISSOURI VALLEY Cimpl Meats 1000 Cattle Dr., Yankton, SD • 665-1665 COMPLETE TRUCK REPAIR • FARM TRUCKS - ALL SIZES • SEMI TRUCKS & TRAILERS Friendly, Honest Repair TOP QUALITY SERVICE Over 35 Years Experience VARILEK TRUCK REPAIR, INC. 3507 East Hwy. 50, Yankton, SD 1-605-665-1447 or Toll Free: 1-888-665-1447 319 Walnut St. Yankton, SD 57078 1501 Wek Road Yankton, SD 57078 605-665-5884 605-665-5884 Toll-Free: (800) 359-4084 605-665-9202 • Fax 605-665-0162 MIDWEST OIL 55 or 30 Gallon Drum 5 Gallon Pail $8.54/gal. $47.00 $8.54/gal. $47.00 $8.54/gal. $47.00 $8.48/gal. $46.70 $7.64/gal. $41.60 $7.46/gal. $44.80 $7.94/gal. $47.20 30 Gallon Drum 5 Gallon Pail Gearlube 80-90 $9.14/gal. $53.20 Gearlube 85-140 $9.50/gal. $55.00 ATF Dexrom III $8.04/gal. $47.70 PRICES EFFECTIVE THRU MAY 31, 2011 XHD 30W XHD 10-30 XHD 15-40 XHD 10W Heavy Med. Hyd. Med. Hyd. Oil UTF Fluid SHD II 15-40 or FLEET 15-40 55 Gal. Drum $10.52/gal. FLEET 30W 30 Gal. Drum $11.02/gal. 55 Gal. Drum $10.29/gal. 5 Gal. Pail $11.56/gal. 30 Gal. Drum $11.44/gal. 12 Qt. Case $11.76/gal. 5 Gal. Pail $11.70/gal. POWER TRAN 12 Qt. Case $11.96/gal. 55 Gal. Drum $9.68/gal. HG FLUID 30 Gal. Drum $10.63/gal. 55 Gal. Drum $9.68/gal. 5 Gal. Pail $10.72/gal. 30 Gal. Drum $10.63/gal. 5 Gal. Pail $10.22/gal. PRICES EFFECTIVE SUPER STA GREASE 10 Pack Tubes 5 Gal. Pail $23.30/pk. $82.25/pail THRU MAY 31, 2011 Mobil Lubricants Also On Sale! We Also Carry Drip Oil, Anti-Freeze & Shell Rotella IF YOU NEED IT, WE’VE GOT IT OR WE WILL ORDER IT FOR YOU! CENEX OIL 30 Gal. Drum Superlube 518 30W 30 Gal. Drum Superlube TMS 15-40 30 Gal. Drum Qwiklift HTB Case 4-10 Packs Bluegard Grease 10-Pack Bluegard Grease 2 x 2 1?2 Container 518 30W 2 x 2 1?2 Container TMS 15-40 $11.82/gal. $12.52/gal. $11.60/gal. $114.00/case $28.50/pk. $12.10/gal. $12.98/gal. PRICES EFFECTIVE THRU MAY 31, 2011 BULK LUBRICANTS Universal Tractor Fluid $8.15/gal. 15-40 CJ 4 $8.68/gal. 15-40 CI 4 $8.51/gal. All Season 5-30 $8.08/gal. All Season 10-30 $8.08/gal. Drum Charge - $25.00 • 5 Gal. Pail Charge - $8.00 (You may bring in your own clean container.) G ERSILCTN ER O O. PRICES EFFECTIVE THRU MAY 31, 2011 Store Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat. 7 a.m.-12 p.m. 3004 E. Hwy. • Yankton, SD 1-800-456-0744 Darren: 857-0433 • 665-5568