Green Waste Management Systems For Farmers

Today, it is important for farmers to have a waste management system in order to properly dispose of farm waste. This is in an effort to meet the required environmental standards and more importantly, sustain the environment for generations to come.

This includes pesticides, animal carcasses, slurry, organic manure, fertilizers, run off from washing pens and sewage sludge. Unfortunately, most of the waste products listed previously find their way into our main water ways threatening the lives of many communities and the environment within the proximity of the farm.

To build and manage farm waste may seem costly and tedious, but if not implemented you may risk closure of your farming operations. This article introduces some methods that one may find cost effective as well as show an organic approach to waste disposal. It does so by integrating waste from one part of your farm to another or by turning your waste into a commodity. Therefore, it will reduce the stress of disposing farm waste.

In this article, the focus will be imposed on composting and manure. These two approaches manage waste in a cost effective way and the output can be turned into a commodity or re-used on the farm.

Composting

Compost is decomposed plant matter that can be recycled and used for fertilizing and improving the soil. The key word in this method is organic as there are no added chemicals to aid in the breakdown of the material. Compost is a natural pesticide and is rich in nutrients which can be used in landscaping, gardens, agriculture and horticulture.

On farms where forage is grown and used to feed livestock, composting can be implemented to manage the remains of forage. The farmer has two options where he/she can either package the compost to be sold or reuse it when planting forages. In this way, the farmer can turn waste into something of value or even use it to lower his farm's operational cost. In some instances he/she can do both simultaneously.

Using compost and its byproduct, compost tea which is the liquid run off from the compost after watering, we can directly cut costs and use it as a commercial pesticide and fertilizer. Selling this compost can also bring profit to the farm which can lead to improvements and/or expansion of the business.

The key here is to see this as a cost effective alternative to managing waste on a farm in order to practice sustainable farming. This will ensure that our future generations can enjoy the fruits of the land and the fruits of our foresight.

Manure is basically organic matter which is incorporated into the soil because it is rich in nutrients and also acts as an organic fertilizer which also improves the aggregation of the soil. The main type of manure that will be discussed in this article is animal manure. This type is mainly made up of animal feces which are obtained when the animal pens are scraped. This solid and other waste matter can be used to make manure. The concept is similar to composting as bacteria will break the manure down over a period of about three months.

If you have concrete slats so the pens could be washed instead of using bedding, then the run off can be collected in holding tanks. The liquid manure which can be made from the run-off is called slurry. The manufacture of slurry can reduce the use of commercial fertilizers and it is organic so it also reduces environmental strain. Manure can be used in the fields on the farm or even sold. Again, it is noted that there are many benefits of implementing this practice on a farm which results in monetary gain or lower operational costs while being completely eco-friendly.

Not only are these two methods cost effective but they are also sustainable in the long term. With little effort you can turn waste into a commodity and generate additional income. It is definitely food for thought especially when designing an effective waste management system for your farm.

Biofuel Resources
• *Sustainable Ethanol: Biofuels, Biorefineries, Cellulosic Biomass, Flex-fuel Vehicles, and Sustainable Farming for Energy Independence
• *Cellulosic Ethanol - Biomass to Biofuels, Wood Chips, Stalks, Switchgrass, Plant Products, Feedstocks, Cellulose Conversion Processes, Research Plans (CD-ROM)
• *21st Century Ethanol, Gasohol, and Renewable Fuels Digest ¿ Fuel Ethanol, E85 Fuel, Bioethanol, Dry-Mill Production, Grain and Cellulosic Sources, Agricultural Issues, Energy Department Alternative Fuels Information, Agriculture Department on Corn Ethanol ¿ Series on Renewable Energy, Biofuels, Bioenergy, and Biobased Products

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