Massive cow manure mound burns for third month

|Zach| · 01-28-2005, 03:37 PM

MILFORD, Nebraska (AP) -- Urban dwellers who enjoy dining on filet mignon at five-star restaurants would probably just as soon not know about David Dickinson's dilemma.

Bad for the appetite, you know.

But Dickinson, who makes his living in the cattle business, has an environmental problem on his hands that is vexing state officials: a 2,000-ton pile of burning cow manure.

Dickinson owns and manages Midwest Feeding Co. about 20 miles west of Lincoln, which takes in as many as 12,000 cows at a time from farmers and ranchers and fattens them for market.

Byproducts from the massive operation resulted in a dung pile measuring 100 feet long, 30 feet high and 50 feet wide that began burning about two months ago and continues to smolder despite Herculean attempts to douse it.

While city folks might have trouble imagining a dung pile of such proportions, they are common sites in rural states.

In July, crews fighting a blaze in a three-acre manure lagoon at a dairy farm in Washington smothered the flames with more of the same -- a blanket of wet cow manure.

In December, Montana officials ordered the owner of a horse feedlot to extinguish a large manure fire that sent a stench over a nearby town.

The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has informed Dickinson that his smoldering dung pile violates clean-air laws and is working with him to find the best solution to extinguish it, said agency spokesman Rich Webster.

Simply dumping water on the heap is not the answer, Webster said, because of concerns about runoff to any nearby water source.

Dickinson first tried using heavy equipment to spread out the smoldering pile and extinguish the fire.

"But the problem was, it started in another spot," he said. "We've also had the fire department out a couple of times."

And still it burns.

No one is sure how the fire started, but a common theory is that heat from the decomposing manure deep inside the pile eventually ignited the manure.

Wilma Roth, who manages a restaurant along Interstate 80 about a mile north of the feedlot, said her customers have complained about the smoke, which wafts for miles.

"I'd just as soon forget about it," she said.

Dickinson said the smoke is not particularly malodorous -- although that comes from a man who works full-time around manure.

"I guess it's just all perspective," he said. "To me, it just smells like smoke. I really don't know how to describe it."

Decades ago, most farmers and ranchers kept their own cows and pigs until they were shipped to market and slaughtered into filet mignon, hamburger, pork chops and bacon.

And with all those animals spread far apart at thousands of farms, it was easier to dispose of the manure.

But huge feedlots -- where animals are shipped to fatten on a high-grain diet for their last several months -- have become commonplace.

Dickinson has an average of 12,000 animals on hand, each eating about 25 pounds of feed daily, resulting in as much as nine pounds of manure a day per animal -- some 54 tons every 24 hours.

Most big feedlots spread the manure over farm fields or compost it to spread later or sell commercially to gardeners.

Farmers in several states are experimenting with using the methane gas from livestock manure to produce electricity. The manure is heated and produces methane gas as it breaks down. The gas is collected and used to power a generator, which sends electricity onto a power grid.

Dickinson acknowledged that while some folks see the humor in his predicament, he takes the fire seriously.

"It's a nuisance, and obviously we are trying to get it resolved," he said. "Everybody's been really patient."

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/28/cow.fire.ap/index.html

mikey23545 · 01-28-2005, 03:39 PM

You know, I don't always agree with Whitlock either, but burning him in effigy seems a bit harsh....

|Zach| · 01-28-2005, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikey23545

You know, I don't always agree with Whitlock either, but burning him in effigy seems a bit harsh....

People really have a hard on for JW around here.

Herzig · 01-28-2005, 03:44 PM

Man, that's a lot of cowshit.

**Saulbadguy** · 01-28-2005, 03:45 PM

2,000 ton pile of shit on fire? They better get the firetrucks there to save the students at NU...

**Lzen** · 01-28-2005, 03:46 PM

I know when I sometimes have to travel out to wester Kansas, I see many feedlots. And the smell always fills the vehicle as you drive by. Pig farms or trucks are the worst.

Calcountry · 01-28-2005, 04:20 PM

Wholly shit.

**Rain Man** · 01-28-2005, 04:22 PM

The person who develops a manure-powered car will take the world by storm.

(Hmm. I just had a vision. If you had manure-powered cars, would you eventually carry a horse in the car to help power it, bringing back the horse and buggy days, but this time with the horse as a passenger? It's this kind of stuff that really makes a person think.)

**Lzen** · 01-28-2005, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

The person who develops a manure-powered car will take the world by storm.

(Hmm. I just had a vision. If you had manure-powered cars, would you eventually carry a horse in the car to help power it, bringing back the horse and buggy days, but this time with the horse as a passenger? It's this kind of stuff that really makes a person think.)

You really are a strange dude.

Hoover · 01-28-2005, 04:26 PM

Why did he let it pile up like that, spread it man

01-28-2005, 04:27 PM

Mad Max Escape from Thunderdome.

PIG SHIT !!

Run Milford on PIG SHIT !!

Hoover · 01-28-2005, 04:30 PM

So they can't dump water on it because of a nearby water source, but having 2000 ton of shit next to the water source is no problem

Herzig · 01-29-2005, 08:04 AM

I sent a link to this thread to my girlfriend's Dad and here was his reply

"Uh huh, naturally. I wouldn't expect an article about a pile of burning shit from anyone other than a Chief's fan. Kinda reminds you of the past season huh?"

Ding, Ding....we have a winner.

Ultra Peanut · 01-29-2005, 08:20 AM

FloridaChief · 01-29-2005, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Herzig

"Uh huh, naturally. I wouldn't expect an article about a pile of burning shit from anyone other than a Chief's fan. Kinda reminds you of the past season huh?"

Yup. Your g/f's dad seems to have his finger on the trigger of the NFL and in particular, the current state of the Kansas City Chiefs...

01-28-2005, 03:37 PM
\|Zach\| For The Glory Of The City Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Kansas City Casino cash: $3026768	Massive cow manure mound burns for third month MILFORD, Nebraska (AP) -- Urban dwellers who enjoy dining on filet mignon at five-star restaurants would probably just as soon not know about David Dickinson's dilemma. Bad for the appetite, you know. But Dickinson, who makes his living in the cattle business, has an environmental problem on his hands that is vexing state officials: a 2,000-ton pile of burning cow manure. Dickinson owns and manages Midwest Feeding Co. about 20 miles west of Lincoln, which takes in as many as 12,000 cows at a time from farmers and ranchers and fattens them for market. Byproducts from the massive operation resulted in a dung pile measuring 100 feet long, 30 feet high and 50 feet wide that began burning about two months ago and continues to smolder despite Herculean attempts to douse it. While city folks might have trouble imagining a dung pile of such proportions, they are common sites in rural states. In July, crews fighting a blaze in a three-acre manure lagoon at a dairy farm in Washington smothered the flames with more of the same -- a blanket of wet cow manure. In December, Montana officials ordered the owner of a horse feedlot to extinguish a large manure fire that sent a stench over a nearby town. The Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality has informed Dickinson that his smoldering dung pile violates clean-air laws and is working with him to find the best solution to extinguish it, said agency spokesman Rich Webster. Simply dumping water on the heap is not the answer, Webster said, because of concerns about runoff to any nearby water source. Dickinson first tried using heavy equipment to spread out the smoldering pile and extinguish the fire. "But the problem was, it started in another spot," he said. "We've also had the fire department out a couple of times." And still it burns. No one is sure how the fire started, but a common theory is that heat from the decomposing manure deep inside the pile eventually ignited the manure. Wilma Roth, who manages a restaurant along Interstate 80 about a mile north of the feedlot, said her customers have complained about the smoke, which wafts for miles. "I'd just as soon forget about it," she said. Dickinson said the smoke is not particularly malodorous -- although that comes from a man who works full-time around manure. "I guess it's just all perspective," he said. "To me, it just smells like smoke. I really don't know how to describe it." Decades ago, most farmers and ranchers kept their own cows and pigs until they were shipped to market and slaughtered into filet mignon, hamburger, pork chops and bacon. And with all those animals spread far apart at thousands of farms, it was easier to dispose of the manure. But huge feedlots -- where animals are shipped to fatten on a high-grain diet for their last several months -- have become commonplace. Dickinson has an average of 12,000 animals on hand, each eating about 25 pounds of feed daily, resulting in as much as nine pounds of manure a day per animal -- some 54 tons every 24 hours. Most big feedlots spread the manure over farm fields or compost it to spread later or sell commercially to gardeners. Farmers in several states are experimenting with using the methane gas from livestock manure to produce electricity. The manure is heated and produces methane gas as it breaks down. The gas is collected and used to power a generator, which sends electricity onto a power grid. Dickinson acknowledged that while some folks see the humor in his predicament, he takes the fire seriously. "It's a nuisance, and obviously we are trying to get it resolved," he said. "Everybody's been really patient." http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/01/28/cow.fire.ap/index.html
Posts: 54,737

01-28-2005, 03:39 PM	#2
mikey23545 MVP Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $10015321	You know, I don't always agree with Whitlock either, but burning him in effigy seems a bit harsh....
Posts: 12,314

01-28-2005, 03:44 PM	#4
Herzig Wooooooo Pig Soooooiiiie!!! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Northwest Arkansas Casino cash: $9984900	Man, that's a lot of cowshit. __________________
Posts: 2,554

01-28-2005, 03:45 PM	#5
Saulbadguy When a nightmare becomes real Join Date: Nov 2003 Casino cash: $736966	2,000 ton pile of shit on fire? They better get the firetrucks there to save the students at NU... __________________ http://www.goemaw.com
Posts: 47,020

01-28-2005, 03:46 PM	#6
Lzen Banded Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Oz Casino cash: $-669308	I know when I sometimes have to travel out to wester Kansas, I see many feedlots. And the smell always fills the vehicle as you drive by. Pig farms or trucks are the worst. __________________ Conversation would be vastly improved by the constant use of four simple words: I do not know.
Posts: 42,484

01-28-2005, 04:20 PM	#7
Calcountry Shoot the tube Join Date: Oct 2003 Casino cash: $7527870	Wholly shit.
Posts: 29,488

01-28-2005, 04:22 PM	#8
Rain Man Seize life. Be an ermine. Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: My house Casino cash: $-672449 VARSITY	The person who develops a manure-powered car will take the world by storm. (Hmm. I just had a vision. If you had manure-powered cars, would you eventually carry a horse in the car to help power it, bringing back the horse and buggy days, but this time with the horse as a passenger? It's this kind of stuff that really makes a person think.) __________________ Active fan of the greatest team in NFL history.
Posts: 145,505

01-28-2005, 04:26 PM	#10
Hoover Rufus Dawes Jr. Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-2141821	Why did he let it pile up like that, spread it man
Posts: 18,023

01-28-2005, 04:27 PM	#11
warpaint99 Guest Casino cash: $	Mad Max Escape from Thunderdome. PIG SHIT !! Run Milford on PIG SHIT !!
Posts: n/a

01-28-2005, 04:30 PM	#12
Hoover Rufus Dawes Jr. Join Date: Aug 2000 Casino cash: $-2141821	So they can't dump water on it because of a nearby water source, but having 2000 ton of shit next to the water source is no problem
Posts: 18,023

01-29-2005, 08:04 AM	#13
Herzig Wooooooo Pig Soooooiiiie!!! Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Northwest Arkansas Casino cash: $9984900	I sent a link to this thread to my girlfriend's Dad and here was his reply "Uh huh, naturally. I wouldn't expect an article about a pile of burning shit from anyone other than a Chief's fan. Kinda reminds you of the past season huh?" Ding, Ding....we have a winner. __________________
Posts: 2,554

01-29-2005, 08:20 AM	#14
Ultra Peanut v^V^v^V^v^V^ Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Holland* Casino cash: $10005177	__________________
Posts: 39,518