As fertilizer input costs continue to rise, farmers are looking for alternatives ways to cut their costs. A recent article in “Manure Manager” magazine titled “Valuing Manure Nutrient Resources” explains the benefits of maximizing the nutrient content of the manure you apply to your fields.
Doing soil analysis will tell you what your nutrient requirements are. Once you know the requirement for the crop you plan to plant, the manure needs to be analyzed for nutrient values. Manure analysis focuses on analyzing the plant-available nutrients, mainly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
In this organic form, the nutrients phosphorus and potassium are as available to the plants as in most commercial fertilizers. However, the nitrogen in manure is found in the form of organic nitrogen and ammonia (also known as Ammonia - N). It needs to go through a biological break-down to make it available to the crop. This nitrogen is usually available to the next crop.
The organic matter is also an important component of manure, but it is difficult to place an accurate dollar value to this. Manure is considered a complete nutrient for the plant as it has all the necessary components for a plant to grow.
It is important to do a nutrient analysis of the manure because of the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is not balanced as it is in commercial fertilizers. Because of this, your application of manure for nitrogen benefits may be limited by the amount of phosphorus your land can handle. However, this will still reduce the amount of commercial fertilizer required at time of planting.
Using manure to supply your crop with the nutrients needed for the crop is an efficient and an environmental way to maximize profits and crop yields. Businesses like Bartels Environmental Services Inc. provide these analyses to farmers to help them utilize the manure to its maximum effectiveness for the crops. As they also use GPS (tracking) to apply the manure, Bartels Environmental Services Inc. are fully equipped to help you maximize all the benefits your farm’s manure has to offer.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Regulation in Ontario
In Ontario, most municipalities land apply their biosolids. Other municipalities burn it to create energy or just reduce the quantities of waste sent to landfills. Finally, some municipalities just send their biosolids to landfills. However, biosolids are great for adding macro and micro nutrients and organic matter which are crucial for the development of crop plants. Therefore, sending biosolids to a landfill is a waste of nutrients which would be better used in land application for crops.
Prior to January 1 2011, the land application of biosolids was regulated by the Ministry of Environment. Since January 1 2011, the application of biosolids is regulated by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), with the Ministry of Environment enforcing the policies set out in Ontario Regulation 267/03 - the Nutrient Management Act.
The Ontario Regulation 267/03 is intended to protect our water supply. At the same time, it strives to optimize field inputs, by reducing field input costs and maximizing crop yields. Under this Act, biosolids are regulated as a beneficial nutrient for soil conditioning and improvement. Specifically, this Act controls the amount of nutrients added to the soil via the application of biosolids. It looks at the macro nutrients (which are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) as well as eleven micro nutrients (which are Arsenic, Cadmium, Cobalt, Chromium, Copper, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Lead, Selenium, and Zinc). These are considered to be necessary to the growth of crop plants.
The amount of biosolids allowed to be applied to the farmer’s field is calculated by developing a Non Ag-Source Material (NASM) plan. This is done using a program called NMAN3. (The NMAN3 program replaces the Certificate of Approval for application of biosolids after Jan 1, 2011.) The NMAN3 software stipulates required data, such as the soil test results, biosolids analysis reports, cropping practices of the farmer, size of the field, and required setbacks. The amount of macro and micro nutrients in the biosolids analysis and the soil analysis will dictate the application rate on the farmer’s field.
Bartels Environmental Services’ application technicians have NASM and NMAN3 training, as well as the associated certificates. They are more than willing to assist farmers with these programs.
Prior to January 1 2011, the land application of biosolids was regulated by the Ministry of Environment. Since January 1 2011, the application of biosolids is regulated by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), with the Ministry of Environment enforcing the policies set out in Ontario Regulation 267/03 - the Nutrient Management Act.
The Ontario Regulation 267/03 is intended to protect our water supply. At the same time, it strives to optimize field inputs, by reducing field input costs and maximizing crop yields. Under this Act, biosolids are regulated as a beneficial nutrient for soil conditioning and improvement. Specifically, this Act controls the amount of nutrients added to the soil via the application of biosolids. It looks at the macro nutrients (which are Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium) as well as eleven micro nutrients (which are Arsenic, Cadmium, Cobalt, Chromium, Copper, Mercury, Molybdenum, Nickel, Lead, Selenium, and Zinc). These are considered to be necessary to the growth of crop plants.
The amount of biosolids allowed to be applied to the farmer’s field is calculated by developing a Non Ag-Source Material (NASM) plan. This is done using a program called NMAN3. (The NMAN3 program replaces the Certificate of Approval for application of biosolids after Jan 1, 2011.) The NMAN3 software stipulates required data, such as the soil test results, biosolids analysis reports, cropping practices of the farmer, size of the field, and required setbacks. The amount of macro and micro nutrients in the biosolids analysis and the soil analysis will dictate the application rate on the farmer’s field.
Bartels Environmental Services’ application technicians have NASM and NMAN3 training, as well as the associated certificates. They are more than willing to assist farmers with these programs.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Services offered by Bartels
At Bartels Environmental Services, we have a broad variety of services available to choose from for both farmers and municipalities. With crop inputs rising, the use of manure is becoming a more economical and environmentally attractive way to provide nutrients to crops grown. Our employees are constantly upgrading their skills and knowledge of the industry standards, to stay up to date with the latest regulations and technology. We can handle all your manure needs! Our services include pumping out manure pits, lagoons and digesters, and either transferring waste to different holding space or applying it to land. We can pump and agitate your manure, and land-apply with either dragline or our Nuhn 12,000 gallon quad train with injector. For those farmers with fields that are some distance to the home farm we offer our tanker services; our tankers have a capacity of 9100 gallons and are a fast way to transport manure. We are also able to clean out digesters, storage tanks, and pits with our hydro vac trucks.
We recently provided our services to the MacDougall area sewage treatment facilities. Three of the four lagoons ruptured the liner on the bottom of the lagoon. These three lagoons were agitated so that the solids ranged from 3-10% solids (at some points solids even reached 19%). The waste was then pumped into geotubes for drying and temporary storage. For a visual idea of what happened, look at our youtube video.
We recently provided our services to the MacDougall area sewage treatment facilities. Three of the four lagoons ruptured the liner on the bottom of the lagoon. These three lagoons were agitated so that the solids ranged from 3-10% solids (at some points solids even reached 19%). The waste was then pumped into geotubes for drying and temporary storage. For a visual idea of what happened, look at our youtube video.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Using manure to its maximum value for crops
As fertilizer input costs continue to rise, farmers are looking for alternatives ways to cut their costs. A recent article in the magazine, Manure Manager, titled “Valuing Manure Nutrient Resources” explains the benefits of maximizing the nutrient content of the manure you apply to your fields.
Doing soil analysis will tell you what your nutrient requirements are. Once you know the requirement for the crop you plan to plant, the manure needs to be analyzed for nutrient values. Manure analysis focuses on analyzing the plant-available nutrients, mainly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
In this organic form, the nutrients phosphorus and potassium are as available to the plants as in most commercial fertilizers. However, the nitrogen in manure is found in the form of organic nitrogen and ammonia (also known as Ammonia - N). It needs to go through a biological break-down to make it available to the crop. This nitrogen is usually available to the next crop.
The organic matter is also an important component of manure, but it is difficult to place an accurate dollar value to this. Manure is considered a complete nutrient for the plant as it has all the necessary components for a plant to grow.
It is important to do a nutrient analysis of the manure because of the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is not balanced as it is in commercial fertilizers. Because of this, your application of manure for nitrogen benefits may be limited by the amount of phosphorus your land can handle. However, this will still reduce the amount of commercial fertilizer required at time of planting.
Using manure to supply your crop with the nutrients needed for the crop is an efficient and an environmental way to maximize profits and crop yields. Businesses like Bartels Environmental Services Inc. provide these analyses to farmers to help them utilize the manure to its maximum effectiveness for the crops. As they also use GPS (tracking) to apply the manure, Bartels Environmental Services Inc. are fully equipped to help you maximize all the benefits your farm’s manure has to offer.
Doing soil analysis will tell you what your nutrient requirements are. Once you know the requirement for the crop you plan to plant, the manure needs to be analyzed for nutrient values. Manure analysis focuses on analyzing the plant-available nutrients, mainly nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium.
In this organic form, the nutrients phosphorus and potassium are as available to the plants as in most commercial fertilizers. However, the nitrogen in manure is found in the form of organic nitrogen and ammonia (also known as Ammonia - N). It needs to go through a biological break-down to make it available to the crop. This nitrogen is usually available to the next crop.
The organic matter is also an important component of manure, but it is difficult to place an accurate dollar value to this. Manure is considered a complete nutrient for the plant as it has all the necessary components for a plant to grow.
It is important to do a nutrient analysis of the manure because of the ratio of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium is not balanced as it is in commercial fertilizers. Because of this, your application of manure for nitrogen benefits may be limited by the amount of phosphorus your land can handle. However, this will still reduce the amount of commercial fertilizer required at time of planting.
Using manure to supply your crop with the nutrients needed for the crop is an efficient and an environmental way to maximize profits and crop yields. Businesses like Bartels Environmental Services Inc. provide these analyses to farmers to help them utilize the manure to its maximum effectiveness for the crops. As they also use GPS (tracking) to apply the manure, Bartels Environmental Services Inc. are fully equipped to help you maximize all the benefits your farm’s manure has to offer.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Biosolids: Not just for farmers
As the human population grows and produces more waste, engineers need more and more to look for safe and healthy ways to get human waste back into nature where it belongs, to protect the health of our children and their children.
Sludge has been treated for a fair number of years now, in particular since the Clean Water Act came out. Before that, a lot of sewage sludge was actually dumped straight into our water (or into the ocean). And industries thought nothing about dumping heavy metals and toxic waste with their other sewage waste. But now industrial companies are monitored to ensure they don’t dump toxic waste in with their sewage waste, and sewage waste is treated. Everything released from sewage treatment plants as safe-to-use is strictly regulated, and so is the land application of the biosolids.
The most viable use of biosolids is land applications. Most valuable for its organic matter, it can be used not only by farmers to improve their crops, but also by land rehabilitators who reclaim land damaged by mining.
Other uses involve further processing of the biosolids. Most biosolids are currently released as “cake”, however, this can be further processed into compost, or dried into pellets. These can then be marketed. Pellets can also be used to generate electricity. When used in this way by the waste water treatment plant, the plant can be self-sufficient in terms of energy required.
For more details on composting with biosolids, please read the following article "Why I love biosolids".
When none of these options are utilized, biosolids are dumped into landfills with the rest of our garbage.
What do you think should be done with biosolids?
Sludge has been treated for a fair number of years now, in particular since the Clean Water Act came out. Before that, a lot of sewage sludge was actually dumped straight into our water (or into the ocean). And industries thought nothing about dumping heavy metals and toxic waste with their other sewage waste. But now industrial companies are monitored to ensure they don’t dump toxic waste in with their sewage waste, and sewage waste is treated. Everything released from sewage treatment plants as safe-to-use is strictly regulated, and so is the land application of the biosolids.
The most viable use of biosolids is land applications. Most valuable for its organic matter, it can be used not only by farmers to improve their crops, but also by land rehabilitators who reclaim land damaged by mining.
Other uses involve further processing of the biosolids. Most biosolids are currently released as “cake”, however, this can be further processed into compost, or dried into pellets. These can then be marketed. Pellets can also be used to generate electricity. When used in this way by the waste water treatment plant, the plant can be self-sufficient in terms of energy required.
For more details on composting with biosolids, please read the following article "Why I love biosolids".
When none of these options are utilized, biosolids are dumped into landfills with the rest of our garbage.
What do you think should be done with biosolids?
Friday, May 14, 2010
The value of applied manure
Manure used properly can save you a lot of money on fertilizer and can raise your profitability by as much as 15%. However, a study in Missouri found that many farmers were over applying and not utilizing the full benefits of the manure available. Over applying manure causes the crop to lose some of the benefits of the manure in the same way that over applying chemical fertilizers can adversely affect the crops.
When compared to chemical fertilizer, manure’s fertilizer content is not as readily available and concentrated to the crop. Therefore, to maximize the benefit of the manure
it is better to inject it, and the timing of the application is crucial to the planted crop’s ability to utilize the full benefit of the manure. Injecting and proper timing allows for the mineralization process of the nutrients, which is what makes the nutrients available for the plants to use. Since the different crops need the different nutrients at different times, the amount of manure applied and the timing of the application will vary with the field and the crop.
As part of your Nutrient Management System, accurate soil and manure analysis will help develop the full benefit of manure to the crop planted. Bartels Environmental Services has a full line of modern equipment to help you make the most of your manure. They will help you save money through proper management, by the use of their GPS metering and field mapping equipment.
Do you think that you could get more benefits from your manure application? Have you been disappointed with the results of your manure usage?
When compared to chemical fertilizer, manure’s fertilizer content is not as readily available and concentrated to the crop. Therefore, to maximize the benefit of the manure
it is better to inject it, and the timing of the application is crucial to the planted crop’s ability to utilize the full benefit of the manure. Injecting and proper timing allows for the mineralization process of the nutrients, which is what makes the nutrients available for the plants to use. Since the different crops need the different nutrients at different times, the amount of manure applied and the timing of the application will vary with the field and the crop.
As part of your Nutrient Management System, accurate soil and manure analysis will help develop the full benefit of manure to the crop planted. Bartels Environmental Services has a full line of modern equipment to help you make the most of your manure. They will help you save money through proper management, by the use of their GPS metering and field mapping equipment.
Do you think that you could get more benefits from your manure application? Have you been disappointed with the results of your manure usage?
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Introduction to Biosolids
Farm practices have changed dramatically over the last five to 10 years. The government is enforcing better nutrient management practices to protect the soil and water quality without giving up productivity for the farmer. At Bartels Environmental Services, we strongly believe in protecting our environment. We are committed to providing a service that will merge the use of biosolids and farm manures with the latest technologies such as GPS metering of inputs to the soil. This is beneficial because it allows the farmer to accurately know what is applied to the land. In turn, the farmer can effectively optimize the biosolids and farm manure nutrients and reduce the cost of fertilizers.
About Biosolids
What are biosolids?
Biosolids are domestic wastewater sludge that has been treated and tested to meet standards that allow it to legally be used as fertilizer. This process is regulated by the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 (NMA) and the Environmental Protection Act (EPA).
Use of Biosolids
The use of biosolids is not a new concept; it has been around for hundreds of years around the world. Spreading biosolids on agricultural land is very popular in many industrialized nations. In fact, in countries such as Germany and The Netherlands, nearly all biosolids are applied to agricultural land.
The Benefits of Biosolids
Through testing over many years by various countries, several benefits of biosolids have been identified. In the short term, they add plant essential nutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), a wide variety of trace minerals, and a small amount of organic matter. These result in significant yield increases. A long-term benefit of biosolids is that they improve soil structure. This will help maximize your land potential.
About Biosolids
What are biosolids?
Biosolids are domestic wastewater sludge that has been treated and tested to meet standards that allow it to legally be used as fertilizer. This process is regulated by the Nutrient Management Act, 2002 (NMA) and the Environmental Protection Act (EPA).
Use of Biosolids
The use of biosolids is not a new concept; it has been around for hundreds of years around the world. Spreading biosolids on agricultural land is very popular in many industrialized nations. In fact, in countries such as Germany and The Netherlands, nearly all biosolids are applied to agricultural land.
The Benefits of Biosolids
Through testing over many years by various countries, several benefits of biosolids have been identified. In the short term, they add plant essential nutrients (such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), a wide variety of trace minerals, and a small amount of organic matter. These result in significant yield increases. A long-term benefit of biosolids is that they improve soil structure. This will help maximize your land potential.
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