Rising up

Darren Olsen, ANM Editor

For Gary Breitlow of Algoma, Wisconsin, cows have always been a way of life. He started showing cows at the age of nine and he has been hooked ever since. As Gary put it, “I have never wanted to do anything else.” That lifestyle was challenged in 2000, however, when their freestall barn burned to the ground.

It was then that Gary decided to take a close look at the whole farm in general and set a new course for the next several decades. With over 200 acres of cropland in addition to the dairy facility, Gary decided to make alterations to his manure management system, as well.

“The barn fire in 2000 was the starting point for a different manure management system for us. We knew in the back of our minds we needed to go to some type of long-term storage solution. We had the idea of going with an above-ground or expanded lagoon system, so we laid a pipe with the new barn construction so we could just tap into it when the time was right.”

The next step was to make the decision about which way to take the problem of manure storage. Several environmental concerns had to be addressed in order to keep regulators happy. With a gravel-based subsoil and wetlands nearby, Gary finally made the decision to work with an above-ground storage system.

“We have a gravel bottom. The cost for us to put in a lagoon and haul in that much clay would have been as much to go with the option we did. With an above-ground system, we didn’t have to put up a fence or worry about cattle or people falling in. It just seemed like the best direction to go. It is clean and neat. There is a very minimal chance for any type of mishap, so for us it was as important as an insurance policy. We realized that clay and barriers are a good option and work for lots of people, but for our particular location, it was easier and safer to go with an above-ground system. It took us a while, but we were finally able to put in a Slurrystore® system in the fall of 2004.”

The installation brought about several other changes to the nutrient management plans at the Breitlow farm. “With this new system we decided to go with custom hauling so our funds were not tied up in equipment. Our financiers agreed with us, and so we have been hauling that way since then.”

Gary also noted, “We can now pinpoint where we want the manure to go and how much needs to be applied with soil tests. The speed at which we can now apply the manure allows us to get every field what it needs. In the past, closer fields were used more than those farther away for convenience.”

Gary added, “Because of our rolling hills, we use a low-till and no-till farming system. The custom application allows us to place smaller amounts in a split application so we can avoid runoff events and spread only when the weather is favorable. Our local land conservation officers are very happy with what we have been able to accomplish with the new system.”

The new system also meant working with the neighbors in a different way. As Gary stated, “Our neighbors like the idea that manure is hauled once a year over a few days, rather than a few weeks. We have a church next to us, so we try to avoid spreading manure on the weekends and only haul during good weather. We try to tell the neighbors when we will be hauling, and they appreciate the honesty.”

As far as the future for the facility goes, Gary notes things are definitely looking up. Without any kids to pass the farm on to, Gary has brought his nephew on to be able to keep things moving forward. “Right now, we are hoping to keep our nephew involved with the farm and have him buy into the operation and take it over. I really hope to keep it in the family for the next generation.” ANM