Issuu

Vol. IV No. 4

July / August 2010

Serving Soil, Mulch, Compost, & Biofuel Professionals

NEWS

Attention Readers ! Are you looking for Products, Equipment or Services for your business? If so, please check out these leading companies advertised in this issue: Bagging Systems Hamer LLC - pg 8 Premier Tech Chronos - pg 13 Rethceif Packaging - pg 10 Compost, Mulch & Wood Waste For Sale Litco International - pg 12 Nature’s Choice – pg 15 The Pallet Shop - pg 6 Compost Mixers & Spreaders Roto-Mix LLC - pg 5 Compost Cover Compostex – pg 17 Compost Turners HCL Machine Works – pg 16 Turn and Screen - pg 6 In-Vessel Compost System Farmer Automatic – pg 15 Plastic Removal System Airlift Separator – pg 13 Shredders, Grinders, Chippers & Screening Systems Allu Group Inc - pg 9 Earth Saver Equipment - pg 6 Hogzilla - pg 16 Morbark Inc. - pg 2 Peterson - pg 7 Rayco Mfg – pg 11 REMU - pg 20 (back cover) Screen USA - pg 5 Universal Equip. Mfg. - pg 16 Vermeer/Wildcat - pg 19 West Salem Machinery - pg 17 Transport Trailers Trinity Trailer Mfg - pg 14

A Terra-Gro employee mixes feedstock materials prior to constructing a new windrow. The desired ratio of carbon and nitrogen is attained by blending horse bedding/manure, dairy bedding/ manure and vegetative food residuals. Photo courtesy of Terra-Gro, Inc.

Manure Compost

A New Ca$h Crop W

By P.J. Heller

hen Mark Meyer refers to the “magic” at New Day Farms, he isn’t referring to the liquid egg products generated by more than 2.5 million laying hens. Rather, Meyer, the environmental manager at the Ohio facility, is talking about the nearly 38,000 tons of compost produced annually from poultry manure, which is then sold throughout North America, some of which he says has even landed on the lawn of the White House. “We are the only poultry facility on Ohio that is 100 percent composting,” Meyer boasts, adding that none of the compost is used on any of New Day Farms’ 450 acres of land. New Day Farms is among a growing number of livestock producers — whether dairy, swine, horse, poultry or others — that are discovering manure compost as a new cash crop. In some cases, farmers are using the manure compost on their own lands, drastically reducing the need — and substantially cutting the costs — for synthetic fertilizers. The compost can also be used for animal bedding material. Composting of manure may also be driven

by environmental concerns such as reducing waste runoff in surface and ground water, societal issues such as eliminating odors from the use of raw manure on farmland located near residential areas, or for economic reasons since it can be sold for such uses as farming, gardening or land reclamation projects. “Composted manure has many advantages over co nven tio na l m a nure ha ndl i ng ,” notes Charles Linderman, livestock waste management specialist at the Carrington Research Extension Center at North Dakota State University. “Compost is a finer-textured more uniform material which is easier to apply uniformly,” he explains. “It is easier to apply in no till situations. It is virtually odorless and may be free of pathogens and viable weed seeds. The weight and volume is much reduced so it is more economical to haul and spread. The nutrient value is largely preserved if the C:N (carbon:nitrogen) ratio is near 25:1. However, the nitrogen will be much more slowly available Continued on page 3

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Soil & Mulch Producer News July / August 2010

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Manure Compost

PUBLICATION STAFF Publisher / Editor Rick Downing Contributing Editors / Writers P.J. Heller Robert J. Rua Production & Layout Barb Fontanelle Christine Pavelka Advertising Sales Rick Downing Subscription / Circulation Donna Downing Editorial, Circulation & Advertising Office 6075 Hopkins Road Mentor, OH 44060 Ph: 440-257-6453 Fax: 440-257-6459 Email: downassoc2@oh.rr.com For subscription information, please call 440-257-6453. Soil & Mulch Producer News is published quarterly by Downing & A s s o c i a t e s. Re p r o d u c t i o n s or transmission of Soil & Mulch Producer News, in whole or in part, without written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Annual subscription rate U.S. is $19.95. Outside of the U.S. add $10.00 ($29.95). ontact our main office, or mail-in the subscription form with payment. ©

A New Ca$h Crop

Continued from page 1

compared to regular manure. As the technology Martin says. of composting becomes more widely known, it “The Oregon Dairy Organics composting will likely see increased use.” facility will play an important role in helping That’s not to say that composting manure Pennsylvania meet the co-equal goals of clean is a no-brainer. There are equipment and water and viable farms,” noted Russell C. labor costs that need to be considered, as well Redding, Pennsylvania’s agriculture secretary as available space and the time necessary to at ground-breaking ceremonies in April. produce the compost. “Knowing the important role Pennsylvania Further complicating the decision whether plays in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, we to compost manure is the growing popularity must find innovative ways to protect our of biomass plants, natural resources w h i c h h av e a and increase the voracious appetite profitability of for amendments our farms. The such as wood chips Oregon Dairy and straw that can Organics team has be composted with created a model manure. that will benefit “ T h e r e the community, is economic the farms and our opportunity but waterways.” it is a challenging That core business,” notes “team” includes Loren Martin, Terra-Gro; Oregon general manager Compost turner on rails move the windrow 15 feet with Dairy, a dairyo f Te r ra - G row, each pass. Raw manure deposited each day in the front beef far m (500 Inc., in Lancaster of the windrow, finished product removed each day from cows, 450 heifers) County, Pa. “You which will house a the back. Photo courtesy of New Day Farm. h av e t o h av e composting site on a commitment to the environment, take it five acres; the Environmental Defense Fund seriously and say you’re going to make it work which is overseeing the project; Chesapeake Bay and then find a way to make it work.” Funders Network; the non-profit Chesapeake Terra-Gro has done just that, partnering Bay Foundation, and TeamAg, Inc., an with business, government and nonprofits agricultural consulting firm. to develop a composting project aimed at The community-based cooperative project improving area waterways and the Chesapeake is being managed by Terra-Gro, which leases a Bay. In Montana, meanwhile, an innovative composting site at Graywood Farms, a dairy plan is under way by a third-party service in southern Lancaster County. Terra-Gro is a provider to offer area feedlots on-site manure sister company of Pine View Trucking, which composting, as well as contracts to sell any provides livestock bedding and manure hauling compost that the feedlots don’t use themselves. for dairy, equine and some poultry farms. Just as there are various reasons for “Over the years, many of the equine composting manure, there are different methods facilities have asked us to remove manure that businesses are employing to go about that as a service to them, as most of those types task. The following offers a glimpse at three of facilities do not have crop land to spread different scenarios across the U.S. manure,” Martin says. “That’s what originally got us into composting about 10 years ago, the need by many customers to have a viable regon Dairy Organics, expected to be up and environmentally stable responsible way to and running in August, is a $1.5 million process their manure.” composting project that involves the At the Graywood Farms site, horse manure business, government and the nonprofit sectors. and spent bedding is combined with separated It is believed to be the first such project in the solids from the Graywood dairy operation nation that combines composting livestock along with food wastes from several food manure from multiple farms with restaurant processing companies. and yard waste. That composting experience will now be “This unique farm-based and communityapplied to Oregon Dairy Organics. centered venture is truly visionary in terms of “The biggest difference at Oregon Dairy environmental sustainability and economic Organics is the facility will be built with some viability for farming in Lancaster County,” Continued on page 4

Oregon Dairy Organics

July / August 2010 Soil & Mulch Producer News

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Manure Compost A New Ca$h Crop

Continued from page 3

Windrows in those buildings are turned by extra capacity to service some other farms low in calcium, so including the egg shells in a front-end loader as the temperature of the in neighboring communities that may have the compost was an ideal solution. Other nutrient management concerns in breaking facilities dry, sterilize and coming years due to the Chesapeake incorporate the egg shells back Bay regulations,” Martin explains. into the feed as a calcium source. “We’re also incorporating more of a This involves costly equipment, push to the business community to the utilities and labor to operate it, do a higher level of food composting and the chance of biosecurity issues at Oregon Dairy Organics that we between farms. do at Graywood.” New Day has been recognized At Graywood, some 25,000 for its environmental activities, tons of manure are composted receiving the U.S. Poultry and annually, producing about 20,000 Egg’s Family Farm Environmental cubic yards of finished compost. Excellence Award. It was also Martin says he expects similar the recipient of the Ohio Poultry amounts will be handled at Oregon Association’s 2009 Environmental Dairy Organics. Stewardship Award. The active aerated windrow Beyond the awards, Meyer compost operation is all under roof, points to the compost, which he using hoop-type structures which describes as something special. The Terra-Gro’s Graywood Farms composting facility utilizes a series of hoop compost, without adding any other are approximately 60-by-400 feet. “Not only are we taking a lot structures to provide the ultimate site management for consistency and carbon source, has a 7:1 carbonquality control of finished product, as well as commitment to environmental nitrogen ratio. It also has 12 percent of manure off the farm and off the field where it could potentially sustainability and protection. This is a view of the composting facility from to 15 percent moisture. leach into streams and groundwater, the dairy barn at Graywood Farms. Photo courtesy of Terra-Gro, Inc. “Our compost process is when we move it to our composting something unique,” he says. “We windrows changes. facility we are doing the whole process under haven’t quite figured out what it is. All we know The smaller and older compost facilities roof so that we’re shedding only clean water is the turf guys love it and they’ve gone to other consist of 18 windrows that are 300 feet long from the site,” Martin says. “What it does is facilities and they can’t duplicate it. So whatever and three lanes that are 200 feet long. Both give us an incredible amount of quality-control it is we do it’s got something magic about it.” are designed the same, with aeration pipes capability . . . You can shed rain and snow New Day is considering replacing some of underneath perforated flooring to provide when you don’t want it and can add water when its older equipment, Meyer says. aeration to the windrows. Overhead, a turner you need it and control quite nicely a consistent “When you do that you have to be careful rides a rail down a track. A total of 7,800 tons finished product.” that you don’t make such a big change that of compost is produced here. you lose whatever magic that you’re creating,” All of the compost is sold to turf he says. poultry farm with more than 2.4 million groups and others throughout the U.S. and birds, New Day Farms of Raymond, Ohio, Canada. Annual revenue from those sales is airy farms in Tulare County, Calif., have has expanded the manure composting approximately $400,000, Meyer reports. a good friend in Doug Graham. So do that was started more than a decade ago by Prior to composting manure, Daylay would crop farmers in the region. That’s because its predecessor, Daylay Egg Farms. Today, 100 apply raw manure to its land year after year. Graham, co-owner of New Era Farm Service, percent of the poultry manure produced on the “Mega-doses,” Meyer says. “As a result, the purchases manure from several local dairies, farm is composted and sold. phosphorus levels got quite high, to 800 to 1,000 composts it, then sells it to area growers. Daylay, originally composed of 2,200 acres, parts per million, compared to the 150ppm “For over 35 years, we have been helping was split up and sold about three years ago, maximum level for manure applications. growers achieve sustainable and organic farming with New Day Farms purchasing one of the “We were far above that,” he says. “We’ve systems and goals,” the company notes. three entities that included a pullet operation got enough phosphorous in the soil to last a New Era Farm Service has since 1974 and composting facility. lifetime — and more.” been serving Tulare County, located in the San Daylay began composting in the late Around 2001, Daylay instituted a policy Joaquin Valley in central California, midway 1990s, creating some 7,000 tons of compost that no more manure be applied to its own land. between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The annually, according to Meyer, who joined the “From that point on, everything was sold county boasts that it is the second-leading farm in 2001. and hauled off site,” Meyer recalls. producer of agricultural commodities in the Since the New Day purchase, three Today, he says, “We’re 100 percent United States. separate facilities on the property now compost composting. We don’t have any manure Along with those commodities is more all of the poultry manure produced on the anymore. All of it is sold. None of it is being than 2.6 million tons of manure, according to 450-acre farm. All of the composting is done used on our own land.” the county agricultural commissioner. indoors. Only manure generated on the farm Among the changes with the New Day In the late 1970s and early 1980s, New is composted. Composting also is an integral acquisition was a shift from selling graded eggs Era Farm Service began concentrating on part of the farm’s insect and rodent control to selling liquid egg products. The resulting purchasing dairy manure and composting program. Composting eliminates flies and broken shells from that new process are run it on two 40-acre sites. With thousands of larvae as well as other insects and pests. through a centrifuge to remove the last traces dairies in the county — and with some of The newest compost facilities consist of of liquid egg product and now included in the them having limited land on which to spread two football-field size buildings that produce compost mix. a combined 30,000 tons of compost annually. Meyer notes that Ohio soils are typically Continued on next page

New Day Farms

Soil & Mulch Producer News July / August 2010

New Era Farm Service

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Continued from previous page

manure generated by their animals — New Era provided a much needed and valuable service. “We provide a good service for them,” Graham says modestly. New Era Farm Service today purchases anywhere from 65,000 tons to 120,000 tons of manure from several dairies. In most cases, it brings in front-loaders to the corrals to collect the manure; in other cases, the dairies may pile the manure outside for collection. The manure is composted outdoors in windrows that are about one-quarter mile long and are about 4.5 feet high. The windrows are aerated using self-propelled windrow turners. Actual composting time ranges from 90 to 120 days, Graham says. On average, New Era produces from 50,000 to 100,000 tons of compost annually. It averages a C:N ratio of about 10:1 or 11:1, he says. “We pretty much sell everything we make every year,” Graham says, noting that the company produces more than it can sell in a year so it can carry some over to the following year. “In the winter months, when it’s foggy and rainy you can’t compost,” he explains. “You have to try to get everything finished by the time the rainy season or the foggy season begins.” Compost buyers include tree farms growing walnuts, almonds and pistachios, growers of stone fruits such as peaches, plums, cherries and nectarines, citrus growers and growers who harvest grapes for table and wine and raisins. New Era delivers the compost to its customers, who typically are 25 to 85 miles away. In some cases, purchasers have been as far away as 180 miles. Graham says compost is not only less expensive than synthetic fertilizer, but provides additional benefits for the soil such as organic matter in a stable humus form as well as beneficial microbes. “It’s a little bit of both,” he says of the benefits of using the compost. “Definitely they get a decent amount of phosphorous and potassium from the compost. The nitrogen that’s there is not readily available; it’s slow release nitrogen so they’ll have to supplement it with something, whether it’s conventional or organic when they put on the compost.” Depending on the final use of the compost, New Era may add limestone or gypsum into the mix for custom applications, saving growers time and labor by not having to separately apply those nutrients to their soils. “As we’re getting ready to deliver compost to them, we can blend that in the compost formula so they only have to go across the fields once, not twice,” Graham says. Graham says he knows of only two other California companies that purchase manure from farms, convert it to compost and then sell the compost. He also says some dairy farms have begun composting their own manure to use on their fields or to use for bedding for their cattle.

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Brownfields Report Shows Untapped Potential for Redevelopment in the Nation’s Cities

he U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) released a national report on the status of Brownfield sites in 150 American cities. Brownfields are abandoned or underutilized properties where expansion or redevelopment is complicated by either real or perceived environmental contamination. As a result, Brownfields present a major challenge for both small and large cities – primarily due to the lack of funding necessary to redevelop and/or recycle these lands. This report is the eighth in a series of reports that documents the impediments to brownfields redevelopment faced by local communities throughout the United States, as well as identifies the opportunities lost when properties remain idle and abandoned. It also quantifies some of the benefits from brownfields redevelopment efforts across the country, with cities specifically citing their positive results from land recycling and the return of brownfields to productive uses. “The redevelopment of Brownfield’s is a key component to a sustainable community. Cities across the nation have learned to do more with less, but these difficult economic times have made new developments on brownfields even more challenging. Congress and EPA’s Brownfields Program has provided tools, but Mayors need

additional assistance with the redevelopment of these properties that will create new jobs and preserve city green space.” said Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster, Chair of the Conference’s Environmental Committee. This year’s results indicate that 136 cities estimated that they collectively had more than 22,537 Brownfield’s sites, with the average size of a brownfield site being approximately 8.6 acres. Cities also estimated that Brownfield properties comprised of 60,417 acres of land, representing potential new jobs and land tax revenue. More then 120 cities estimated that 3,035 sites have been “mothballed,” which is defined as sites where the current owner has no intention of redeveloping or selling due to environmental concerns. At mothballed sites, owners would prefer to have the land remain idle and unused rather than turn these sites over for development. Elizabeth (NJ) Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Co-Chair of the Conference’s Brownfield’s Task Force, commented on the benefits of brownfields development. “Cities who were experiencing a redevelopment renaissance and residential boom are now facing economic decline and an increase in foreclosed properties. There is still a renewed interest in developing city centers where residents can move closer to their jobs and reduce commuting costs. Brownfield properties are still a value in redevelopment, with an increase in green technology and the reduction of energy costs, cities are finding it easier to redevelop and remediate properties then start from scratch. I

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believe the program will benefit cities with jobs on land that is already close to the cities core. This is the only way to truly grow in a sustainable manner. To use previously used land and put it back into positive use.” Other highlights of the survey findings include: • Over 46 percent of the survey respondents stated that if Brownfield’s were redeveloped, they could realize nearly $688 million to $1.66 billion annually in additional tax revenues. • 106 cities responded that over 230,223 new jobs could be created on brownfields sites if their brownfield sites were redeveloped, an increase of 39,000 from last year’s report. • There were 59 cities that reported 75,000 new jobs have already been created from redeveloped Brownfield’s. These jobs include 19,761 pre-development and 55,085 jobs post development. More than one-half of the cities surveyed reported offering incentives to encourage brownfields redevelopment through tax credits, low interest loans, and infrastructure upgrades. Additionally, the Conference’s survey found that many states are working with cities on Brownfield issues, but few city-state partnerships deal with the issue of sprawl that could result from broad redevelopment. West Palm Beach (FL) Mayor Lois J. Frankel, Co-Chair of the United States Conference of Mayors Brownfield’s Task Force, explained how brownfields have been a very important part of the city’s growth. “Brownfield’s provide a wonderful tool for urban and city center redevelopment. In today’s economy the search for additional resources is imperative and through Brownfield redevelopment additional jobs and a growth in the tax base are two benefits cities can strive for. Communities are reborn and the environment is restored, in many cases, preserving precious green and open space,” she concluded. The entire brownfields report is posted on the Conference’s website at www.usmayors.org.

EPA Orders Toxic Waste Dump to Clean Up its Act

Info Request #156 6

Soil & Mulch Producer News July / August 2010

ederal authorities with the EPA have issued an order to Waste Management Inc. (WMI) to clean up its toxic waste dump in Central California’s Kettleman City within 60 days, reports latimes.com. The dump, which is located near a farming community, has been linked to birth defects associated with exposure to carcinogenic PCBs. If WMI does not comply within the 60-day period, it will lose its permit to receive toxic waste at the site.

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Demand for Lawn & Garden Consumables to Reach $9 Billion in 2014

S demand for packaged lawn and garden consumables, which include fertilizers, pesticides, growing media, seeds, mulch, and other related products, is forecast to increase 2.4 percent per year to $9.0 billion in 2014. The weak economy and food safety concerns have created a renewed interest in home gardening, a trend that will likely continue going forward, promoted by the introduction of new, easier to use gardening products. These and other trends are presented in Lawn & Garden Consumables, a new study from The Freedonia Group, Inc., a Cleveland based industry market research firm. The large residential market will benefit from s o l i d p a r t i c i p at i o n i n home gardening activity, including lawn care and food gardening, as well as the recovering housing market. The smaller nonresidential market will not fare as well due to a slowdown in the construction of nonresidential buildings, as well as a continuing weakness in the golf industry and reduced maintained turf acreage. Growth will be led by seeds and growing media, both of which will post above average gains through 2014. Growing media is benefiting from the expanding consumer trend favoring value-added products such as premium soils. Seed demand will benefit from accelerated use of grass seed as new

home construction rebounds. A renewed interest in food gardening will also provide opportunities for seeds. Across all product segments, organic formulations will experience more favorable increases over conventional formulations. Sales of organics will be spurred by substantial product improvements, a rising number of products, lower prices and more effective marketing, particularly as more leading lawn and garden consumables suppliers enter the market. In contrast, sales will be slower for fertilizers and pesticides, which together made up over 70 percent of the market in 2009. Value demand for these products will be limited as a result of a moderation in pricing after the highs of the 2004-2009 period. Increasing concern over the environmental and health effects of chemical use will dampen prospects for these products in volume terms. Attempts to control lawn maintenance costs will further depress gains. Lawn & Garden Consumables (published 05/2010, 323 pages) is available from The Freedonia Group, Inc., 767 Beta Drive, Cleveland, OH 44143-2326. For further details, please contact Corinne Gangloff by phone 440-684-9600, fax 440-646-0484 or e-mail pr@freedoniagroup.com. Information may also be obtained through www.freedoniagroup.com.

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Powerscreen Midwest Inc. and Dyno Processing Systems Join Forces

yno Processing Systems (DPS) is joining Powerscreen Midwest Inc. to give the combined organization 3 locations with facilities in St Louis, Lawrence, and Kansas City. According to company officials, the new organization will be able to better serve the region since the combined company will now include the Komptech, Trio Engineering, and Mateac equipment lines. Company officials also stated that due to the growth of the recycling industry, the Komptech lineup of recycling equipment will now offer customers more choices for their composting, shingle recycling, and C and D contracting needs. The Trio Engineering line offers quarry producers a complete line of crushing, screening and processing equipment for both new and existing operations. Trio Engineering’s custom-built stationary crushers and screeners are competitively priced to compete in the aggregate industry marketplace. The Matec product line features washing systems, filter presses and equipment designed to remove particulate material from aggregate wash water.

Mulch Producer NEWS

Morbark Expands East Coast Dealer Network

orbark recently announced it has signed a dealer agreement with Elliott & Frantz, Inc., based in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania. Elliott & Frantz, Inc. will sell and service Morbark’s recycling and forestry product lines in Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia, from their branch locations located in Jessup, Maryland and Delmar, Delaware. According to Morbark officials, Elliott & Frantz, Inc. has comprehensive experience in the construction equipment industry. They maintain a parts inventory in excess of 2 million dollars, a complete fleet of service vehicles and a service staff with the extensive knowledge and experience required to serve the industry. “We feel that aligning Morbark with a dealership as reputable as Elliott & Frantz will be a benefit for both companies and the customers being served,” remarks John Foote, VP of Sales and Marketing at Morbark. “Their years of experience and focus on the customer, coupled with the personnel they’re adding for our product line, should meet all of our customer’s needs.”

Gibson Machinery Joins DoppstadtUS Team

he DoppstadtUS dealer network recently expanded with the addition of Gibson Machinery. With offices in Oakwood Village, Ohio and Neville Island, Pennsylvania, Gibson Machinery will be representing Doppstadt equipment throughout Ohio and Western Pennsylvania. Based just outside of Cleveland, Ohio, Gibson Machinery is nationally recognized as a leading distributor of construction and material handling equipment, according to Doppstadt officials. Sean Carr, DoppstadtUS regional manager, is enthusiastic about their new partner. “Gibson is one of the most-respected equipment dealers in Ohio, and having them on the DoppstadtUS team is tremendous.” Gibson’s reputation for expertise, dependability and integrity aligns perfectly with the DoppstadtUS philosophy, and Lee Gibson, president of Gibson Machinery, recognizes that. “DoppstadtUS is exactly the kind of equipment partner we look for at Gibson, and their market niche complements our broader product offerings perfectly.”

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Manomet Study of Woody Biomass Energy Released

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he Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources (DOER) and Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences (Manomet) have released the results of a six month study that began last December to answer some critical questions about using forest wood for energy in Massachusetts. The Manomet-led study, commissioned by DOER last fall, was conducted by an eight-member team of policy and science experts from several organizations. Some of the major questions addressed by the study include: (1) How much wood is available from forestland for biomass energy in Massachusetts? (2) What might be the impacts of increased biomass harvests on forest ecosystems? and (3) What are the carbon accounting (climate science) implications of using forest biomass for energy? Many other U.S. states and countries around the world are promoting and investing in forest biomass energy because using wood for energy is commonly assumed to be “carbon neutral” and, therefore, good for mitigating climate change. The Manomet study, which is based on a comprehensive lifecycle carbon accounting framework, reveals a more complex picture. The study shows that using wood for energy can result in an initial “carbon debt” because burning wood releases more CO2 into the atmosphere per unit of energy than fossil fuels (oil, coal, or natural gas). But unlike fossil fuels, forests can grow back and recapture (or sequester) CO2 from the atmosphere. Over time, through accelerated forest growth, the carbon debt can be “paid off.” After the carbon debt is paid off, if the forest continues to grow, a “carbon dividend” is realized and the use of wood for energy then becomes increasingly beneficial for greenhouse gas mitigation. As a result, using wood for energy can lead to lower atmospheric greenhouse

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Continued on next page

Soil Continued from previous page

gas levels than fossil fuels, but only after the point in time when the carbon debt is paid off. Whether or not full carbon neutrality will be achieved in these circumstances will depend on if, when, and how the forest is harvested in the future. The most innovative and policy-relevant finding in the report is the “debt-then-dividend” model that shows using forest biomass for energy can increase greenhouse gases for a period of time before it reduces them. The length of time it takes to pay off the carbon debt and begin accruing carbon dividends (i.e., greenhouse gas benefits) can vary widely, from five years to many decades. The length of time depends on a complex interaction of (1) the type of biomass energy used (electricity, heat, or combined heat and electricity); (2) the fossil fuel that biomass energy replaces (coal, oil, or natural gas); and (3) the degree the growth potential of the forest is realized by the landowners’ forest management methods. As an example, with an electric power plant that relies on biomass using whole trees from natural forests in the Massachusetts region—and not waste wood from tree work and landscaping that has different carbon cycle impacts—the carbon debt period is likely to last for at least 20 or 30 years before carbon benefits begin to be realized. In contrast, using forest biomass in thermal applications, such as heating municipal buildings or schools, has lower carbon debts and can provide carbon dividends for the atmosphere sooner, generally within 10 to 20 years. The study also examined woody biomass energy policies from other states, federal agencies, and international agencies, which might help inform Massachusetts policy. The team modeled forest growth rates and examined the economics of supplying forest biomass for energy. At current electricity prices, biomass for electricity generation will remain a low-value product, with prices ($1-2 per green ton) that will not motivate forest landowners to increase harvest levels very much. However, the value of wood as a heating fuel is much higher. Increased development of small-scale thermal applications could provide landowners with greater financial incentives to harvest biomass. Thomas Walker, the study team leader, said, “Understanding the greenhouse gas impacts of woody biomass energy is extremely complex. We’ve come up with a comprehensive but relatively straightforward framework and methodology that can help policy makers in Massachusetts, or anywhere, better understand if and when any particular wood biomass energy scenario might be ‘climate friendly.’ Forests in other geographic areas can be evaluated similarly, but will yield context-specific results with respect to greenhouse gas costs and benefits.” Manomet President Dr. John Hagan adds, “Our interest is in getting the best, unbiased information in the hands of policy makers and the public so they can draw their own well informed conclusions about whether woody biomass energy makes sense. The team has cleared away a lot of the former confusion about wood energy.” Hagan says that although the study was conducted for Massachusetts, the team’s carbon accounting approach has worldwide relevance for informing biomass energy policies. “Massachusetts deserves a lot of credit for getting answers to some critical questions about biomass energy that people have been asking all around the world.” The Executive Summary and the Full Report can be downloaded from the Manomet website: www.manomet.org.

Mulch Producer NEWS

Horizontal Grinders Just Became Affordable

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RAYCO’s new line of compact, horizontal grinders creates an affordable solution to your waste-wood needs. The highly productive RH1754 introduces a new class of compact horizontal grinders that are truly mobile, compact machines designed to grind pallets, green-waste, lumber scraps, construction debris, and sawmill waste while minimizing the expense and hassle of large units. At only 14,500 lbs, the RH1754 can be easily moved with lighter trucking equipment and operated on smaller job sites, inaccessible to larger machines. Its low fuel consumption keeps operating costs at a minimum yet its high productivity rate will match that of machines costing nearly twice as much. Finally… there is a horizontal grinder within reach of the small contractor. Contact your authorized RAYCO dealer for more information or call 800.392.2686 for a dealer near you.

Info Request #160

attention readers!

Would you like more information about products and equipment advertised in this issue? If so, please complete the Equipment Locator Service form located between pages 10 & 11 and fax to 440-257-6459. July / August 2010 Soil & Mulch Producer News 11

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Compostable Packaging Boosts Food Composting Rates

ccording to a recently released survey conducted by the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), compostable packaging has provided a significant boost to overall food composting, reports environmentalleader.com. SPC surveyed 40 composting facilities on the effects of compostable consumer packaging. The coalition found that since Frito-Lay introduced a compostable potato chip bag last year, “green” packaging has exploded. Green Planet, Dell computers and Cereplast quickly followed suit. Market researchers are predicting that compostable packaging will gain 32 percent of the market by 2014. In Seattle, the local supermarket chain Metropolitan Market recently began using a new compostable meat tray made from corn-based bioplastic that was created by Pactiv, the makers of Hefty garbage bags. The trays will allow the chain to stay compliant with the city’s ban on Styrofoam, which went into effect in July. City officials hope to divert about 6,000 tons of waste from area landfills annually with the new law. More than 72 percent of respondents to the SPC survey said compostable packaging helped them increase their overall rate of food waste tonnage and increased hauling efficiencies. Ninety percent said they accepted compostable packaging, and more than 82 percent cited standardized labeling as the number one way compostable packaging could be improved.

Oregon Biomass Projects Receive $3 Million in Federal Funding Info Request #155

he US Department of Energy recently awarded $3 million in federal funds through a State Energy Program to three biomass projects in Oregon, reports djcoregon.com. Lakeview Cogeneration received $1.7 million to produce electricity and heat from wood waste in Lake County. Construction for the project, which is being developed by Iberdrola Renewables for Collins Companies’ Fremont Sawmill, is expected to begin this fall. Tillamook County received $1 million for a project to turn manure and other waste from dairy farms to generate electricity via a bio-digester that utilizes microorganisms to break down the waste into methane gas. The remaining $275,000 was awarded for the construction of a biomass facility at the Wallow County Wood Products Campus.

Composting Green Waste Saves as Much CO2 as Renewable Energy Applications

lickgreen.org.uk reports that composting green waste (i.e. grass clipping, leaves and other yard waste) could have the same environmental benefit of renewable energy applications. Green waste can be used to produce renewable energy in biomass power stations, thereby reducing carbon dioxide emissions. So too can composting. In fact, according to researchers, nearly two times more energy is saved by composting waste with a high percentage of herbaceous and grassy content than through energy recovery. This is likely due to low heating values and high water content. Overall, both energy recovery and composting perform similarly in terms of reducing CO2 emissions. However, biomass facilities get most of the attention when it comes to saving the environment, particularly in terms of grant funding. Some European researchers argue that energy recovery and composting should be judged as complementary processes and that composting and other recycling efforts should be awarded equivalent financial support. 12 Soil & Mulch Producer News July / August 2010

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

City of Durham, NC Cleared to Compost Again

fter four years of being shut down, the city of Durham, NC has been approved to restart its solid waste compost facility. According to newsobserver.com, the state recently issued the city a permit for a “Large, Type 1 Solid Waste Compost Facility.” Durham’s facility had been closed down since the former operation spontaneously caught fire and burned for two weeks in September 2006. Putting out the fire, cleaning up the resulting mess and disposing of unburned trash cost taxpayers more than $670,000. A subsequent investigation found that the city had been operating without the required permit for two years. State fines cost taxpayers an additional $7,750. Building the new, eco-friendly composting facility cost $673,182, according to city officials. However, solid waste director Donald Long who had been on the job just a month when the fire broke out - said the city should recoup the cost within three years by not having to pay fees to dump trash elsewhere.

Mulch & Soil Council Announces Plans for 38th Annual Meeting

he Mulch & Soil Council will hold its 38th Annual Meeting October 27-29, in Dallas, Texas. This year’s event will be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel at DFW Airport. Information regarding the meeting and membership are available at www.mulchandsoilcouncil.org or by calling 703-257-0111.

To Subscribe to Soil & Mulch Producer News, Call 440-257-6453.

Info Request #102

Info Request #119 July / August 2010 Soil & Mulch Producer News 13

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Plant Shutdown Forces City Officials to Waste to the Landfill

FNGLA Announces The 2010 Landscape Show

hen Orgaworld Canada Ltd. (OCL) announced it was going to shut down its organic waste processing plant for two months for renovation, officials with the City of Toronto found themselves faced with a difficult dilemma – having to find a home for nearly 100 tons of green bin waste, reports nationalpost.com. OCL currently processes one quarter of Toronto’s roughly 110,000 tons of green waste annually. City officials plan to divide OCL’s allotment of waste among its other facilities, but nearly 4,000 tons of material will likely end up in the landfill. Toronto’s general manager of solid waste management services says this problem is symptomatic of a shortage of green-bin processing capacity in the Greater Horseshoe Valley. To address this issue, the city council recently approved a $60 million project to build a new processing facility in Toronto. City officials hope to be completely self sufficient in processing green-bin materials within two years.

Campylobacter Bacteria May Survive Composting

ccording to a recently released study by researchers with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, campylobacter bacteria, which is commonly found in cattle manure, can survive the composting process and live on in compost for long periods of time, reports sciencedaily.com. Campylobacter bacteria are the most common cause of gastroenteritis. It has been widely held that composting is an effective way to reduce pathogen levels in manure, but researchers say that over a ten-month period of compost testing they observed no reductions in campylobacter bacteria. The research team examined the longevity of naturally occurring campylobacter bacteria in beef cattle manure-derived compost treated with AS700 antibiotics and in an untreated control group. Water content, total carbon, total nitrogen and electrical conductivity varied significantly between groups, but in both group’s bacteria populations.

he Florida Nursery Growers and Landscape Association will host The 2010 Landscape Show, September 23-25, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. The Landscape Show is the largest trade event for the nursery and landscape industry in the southeastern United States. With more than 7,000 industry members in attendance, The Landscape Show brings a wide cross section of potential clients, from landscape contractors, landscape architects and designers, landscape maintenance, resorts and theme parks, golf course operators, wholesale nurseries and more. The 2010 event will feature a special composting exhibit in the “Discover Area” located on the main show floor. Exhibitors are invited to participate in this educational exhibit, with the possibility of showcasing their composting related products. For more information contact Sabrina Haines at 800-375-3642 or reply by email at shaines@ fngla.org. You can also visit the show website at www.thelandscapeshow.org.

To Advertise in Soil & Mulch Producer News, Call 440-257-6453.

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Info Request #153 14 Soil & Mulch Producer News July / August 2010

Soil

Researchers Find New Method for Producing Fuel from Waste Wood

ciencedaily.com reports that researchers with Delft University of Technology (DUT) in the Netherlands have discovered a new and more environmentally friendly method for producing biofuels and biochemicals from waste wood. Using the bacterium known as Cupriavidus basilensis, DUT scientists have successfully broken down the harmful byproducts produced when sugars are released from waste wood, thus doing away with the need for costly, environmentally harmful production practices. When woody biomass is processed for biofuel, sugars in the wood are released in the form of lignocelluloses that are not easily digested by the micro-organisms used, for example, in the production of bioethanol. These sturdy sugars must first be broken down into digestible units, a process that releases furans and other harmful byproducts. Using Cupriavidus basilensis, the DUT research team can break down the furans into harmless waste products while leaving the sugars intact. This process could potentially save biofuel producers significant production costs and make the use of wood waste as a raw material for fuel production an even more attractive option.

Wood Pellet Association Urges Canada to Curb Exports

he Executive Director of the Wood Pellet Association of Canada (WPAC) recently urged Canadian officials to curtail the export of wood pellets at the annual Bioenergy Conference held in Prince George, British Columbia, reports opinion250.com. Currently, global wood pellet consumption is 10 million tons annually. European countries consume 8 million of overall production while Canada, a major producer of wood pellets, consumes a mere 100,000 tons – about one percent of global consumption. WPAC is calling for Canada to begin using its wood pellets to generate electricity. Canada currently only trails the US at producing greenhouse gases. Wood pellets, WPAC officials say, could partially replace coal to supply the country’s energy needs. With the cooperation of power companies and changes in government policy, they claim, the transition could be accomplished quickly and inexpensively.

Mulch Producer NEWS

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Info Request #161

Food Safety Group Calls for Ban on the Use of Animal Manure to Fertilize Leafy Greens

fficials with a United Nations (UN) food safety group are calling for a moratorium on the use of animal manure to fertilize lettuce, cabbage, spinach and other leafy green vegetables to prevent E. coli and other forms of contaminations, reports thepacker. com. The group contends that if not properly treated, animal manure can harbor pathogens for weeks or even months. Untreated manure, they add, should not be applied to leafy vegetables unless it can be demonstrated that contamination will not occur. The UN has proposed a set of rules to govern the use of animal manure as fertilizer. These rules are not likely to have a major impact on US growers as most do not use untreated animal manure to fertilize their crops. In Arizona and California growers are already prohibited from using untreated animal manure on their crops under a Leafy Greens Marketing Agreement established in 2007 after a series of widely reported fatalities linked to E. coli contaminated spinach. E. coli can be found in the digestive systems of cattle. If not fully composted or heat-treated, E. coli can persist in cow manure for long periods and contaminate crops.

Info Request #138 July / August 2010 Soil & Mulch Producer News 15

Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Researchers Say Treated Wooden Playground Structures are Safe

ccording to a new study released by the University of Alberta (UA), playground structures made from wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) are not harmful to children as has been widely believed, reports medicalnewstoday.com. Roughly 70 percent of all playground structures in North America are made from CCA treated wood. The study compared the arsenic levels in urine and saliva samples of children that played in eight playgrounds with and eight playgrounds without pressure treated wooden structures. No significant difference was found in either group, prompting UA scientists to conclude that contact with CCA treated wood is not likely to lead to arsenic exposure in children.

No-Till Soil More Stable than Plowed Soil Info Request #136

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720 Hornett Trommel Screen for High Capacity Screening

o-till soil stores more carbon and is two to seven times less vulnerable to erosion than plowed soil. That’s according to a 19-year study conducted by the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) of various tillage practices across four sites in the central Great Plains, reports esciencenews.com. They found that tillage makes soil susceptible to being broken up by rainfall which causes clumping and, consequently, leads to a loss of organic matter through oxidation as soil particles are exposed to the air. No-till soils, on the other hand, bind soil particles together, making the first inch of topsoil less likely to clump. The ARS recommends no-till practices in semiarid regions like the Great Plains where low precipitation and high evaporation can alter aggregate properties and soil organic matter content in tilled soil.

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Info Request #152 16 Soil & Mulch Producer News July / August 2010

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Soil

Mulch Producer NEWS

Loblolly Pine Bark Shortage has Researchers Searching for Alternatives

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he bark of the loblolly pine is the primary component of nursery container substrates in much of the US, but decreases in forest products output and increased use of bark as fuel have created a shortage of loblolly pine bark for horticultural use, reports ashs.org. As demand for wood-based ethanol increases, the availability of loblolly pine bark will only lessen. According to the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS) at the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, nursery container substrate producers have no need for alarm. Switchgrass, they say, is an effective substitute for short productioncycle woody crops when processed to an appropriate particulate size and amended with typical nursery materials. Containerized nursery and greenhouse crops tend to be grown in soil-less substrate composed of softwood barks amended with either peat moss, sand, perlite, compost, pumice or other materials. Nursery growers typically use locally sourced softwood bark and, thus, are generally dependent on local inventories. Along the East Coast, in the Midwest and in the southern US, the majority of nurseries use the bark of the loblolly pine. ARS scientists say switchgrass can be an especially attractive alternative to loblolly pine bark for nurseries in the northeastern and midwestern US where there are relatively few forestry operations to supply pine wood materials (pine wood materials have been a successful substitute for pine bark in the southeastern US where paper and lumber mills are commonplace). Switchgrass amended with 30 to 50 percent peat moss and fertilized with 250 to 400 mg/liter of nitrogen from ammonium nitrate produced high yields when used to grow containerized roses. The ARS concludes that when finely milled, switchgrass demonstrates physical properties consistent with what is considered normal for nursery container substrates.

Info Request #158

Orange Peels and Old Newspapers Could Power the Cars of the Future

enry Daniell, a scientist and professor with the University of Central Florida, has developed an innovative process for producing ethanol from garbage, one that could make fuel production cheaper and greener, reports usnews.com. Using a plantderived cocktail of enzymes, Daniell’s process break downs orange peels, old newspapers, switchgrass, straw, sugarcane and other materials into sugars which are then fermented into ethanol. Currently, corn starch is the most commonly used raw material in ethanol production. But ethanol derived from corn starch actually released more greenhouse gases (GHGs) than fossil fuels. Ethanol created using Daniell’s process reportedly produces less GHGs than gasoline or even electricity. “This could be a turning point where vehicles could use this fuel as the norm for protecting our air and environment for future generations,” says Daniell. An added advantage of his process, Daniell adds, is that because it taps into an abundance of waste products, it will not drive up food prices or threaten food supplies. In Florida, he claims, discarded orange peels alone could generate roughly 200 million gallons of ethanol annually. There is still plenty of work to be done before Daniell’s process is commercially viable, but many scientists working in the field of biofuels production have called it promising for the future. Daniell’s research team worked with cloned genes from wood-rotting fungi and bacteria to produce enzymes in tobacco plants. Producing the enzymes in tobacco plants costs a thousand times less than creating synthetic enzymes – a savings that could also drive down the overall cost of ethanol production.

Info Request #151 July / August 2010 Soil & Mulch Producer News 17

Product/Equipment Profiles

Peterson Introduces the 4310 Drum Chipper

Screen USA Inc’s New Horizontal Grinder

he 4310 drum chipper is the latest in a long line of chipping and grinding machines produced by Peterson. The 4310 drum chipper is suited for high volume biomass producers who have a wide variety of feed material, from logs up to 26 inches (66 cm) in diameter, to brush and small feed stock. The 4310 is powered by a 765 HP (570 kW) C18 Caterpillar engine. At 52,000 lbs (23,586 kg), the 4310 was designed for operations requiring high production and tracks for frequent moves between jobs. The chipper utilizes a 36 inch (914 mm) diameter by 40 inch (102 mm) wide drum. Other key features include a sloped feed deck for ease of feeding the chipper and wear resistant AR 400 wear surfaces on the drum pockets and shell. Optional material sizing grates minimize oversize twigs and branches in the chips, and an optional chip accelerator helps with loading.

C REE N U S A INC. recently announced the release of their Hammerhead™ Horizontal Grinder. This mid sized grinder is the economical solution for grinding landscape debris, brush, pallets, sheetrock, roofing shingles, and more. SCREEN USA’s president, Rick Cohen, said “Our dealers have been asking for a medium sized wood grinder for years, and we have delivered an awesome machine for an unbelievable price.” SCREEN USA INC. is headquartered in Smyrna, GA. and is recognized as one of the leading U.S. manufacturer of portable screening plants including portable shaker screens, trommel screens, starscreeners, and box screens.

For more information contact Michael Spreadbury at 541-607-7911 or michael.spreadbury@petersoncorp.com or visit www.petersoncorp.com.

For further information on SCREEN USA’s full line of screening equipment, feel free to look at the company’s website www.screenusa.net or call the factory at 770-433-2440.

Rayco Horizontal Grinder With 240 hp

Morbark Adds 25/36 Whole Tree Chipper

ayco recently introduced a horizontal grinder that makes processing wood chips,lumber scraps, pallets, logging slash and green waste easier and faster. The RH1754-240 boasts a powerful 240 hp Cummins 6.7 L diesel engine, a longer discharge conveyor, and other enhancements to maximize throughput while keeping operating costs at a minimum. Pile chips higher, or fill open-top trailers, with a discharge conveyor that reaches over 12 feet high. Screens can be changed in minutes allowing the operator to size product to his exact specifications. Variable speed control on both infeed and discharge conveyors can be tailored to virtually any grinding application. And best of all, it’s priced thousands less than the competition. • Radio Remote Controls • Magnetic Head Pulley to Separate Nails and Light Metals • Swing-Away Fuel Tank Allows for Easy Screen Changes in Less Than 10 Min • Large Radiator with Removable Debris Screen and Reversing Fan • Available On Tracks

orbark®, Inc. has added the compact 25/36 Whole Tree Chipper to its line-up of heavy-duty whole tree chippers. The Morbark 25/36 uses the proven design and technologies of its big brothers, the Morbark 30/36 and 40/36 models, but with a more compact profile. Aimed at the in-woods chipping market, the Morbark 25/36 Whole Tree Chipper is an ideal unit for those processing moderate volumes. Equipped with a 25” x 22” infeed opening and horsepower options ranging from 325 – 400 HP, this chipper is compact but is still highly efficient and productive. Standard equipment on the Morbark 25/36 Whole Tree Chipper includes the Morbark Integrated Control System, a diagnostic system that monitors hydraulic pressures, temperatures, clutch systems and engine efficiency while automatically adjusting to maximize performance. This compact whole tree chipper is also easily moveable in the woods and requires no extra permits for transport.

For more information contact Erika Harwood at 800-392-2686 or erika@raycomfg.com or visit www.raycomfg.com.

For more information contact Morbark at 800-831-0042 or visit www.morbark.com.

Automation for Large-Scale Dust Control

ust Control Technology recently announced a strategic collaboration to apply computer-controlled automation for monitoring and managing dust suppression equipment. Driven by proprietary software, the resulting “intelligent” systems can be programmed to manage start/stop cycles based on dust monitor readings, motion sensors, weather input or operator remote control. The technology allows users of DustBoss® equipment to automatically adjust elevation, oscillation range and other features on any number of machines to improve suppression performance and free up manpower for other tasks. Designed to deliver greater control and efficiency to dust management systems in bulk material handling operations, these advanced systems give users the capability to efficiently track wind direction, speed, temperature, humidity and even visible emissions data. The automated networks can be programmed to factor any or all of those elements together and determine what combination of conditions will trigger specific system responses. For more information contact Dust Control Technology at 800-707-2204 or info@dustboss.com or visit www.dustboss.com.

18 Soil & Mulch Producer News July / August 2010

Powerful Pouches: Compost Tea Gives Plants a Boost

he Good Humus Man™ Compost Tea Company has captured the nutritional boost of organic compost in easy-to-use teabags for the home and garden. Available through the website, www.thegoodhumusman. com, the ready-made teabags provide a simple solution to home brewing compost tea. To brew, teabags are placed in one gallon of water. When the water turns a tea-like color, the solution is ready for your plants. The compost teabags are ideal for gardeners who lack the time or space to home-brew compost tea. “They are perfect for urban gardeners who may not have access to areas for composting, but enjoy balcony or container gardens,” explained Landry. The teabags are also favored by plant enthusiasts who want no-mess, instant access to beneficial compost tea. Watering with compost tea improves soil structure and helps prevent disease. Each cotton muslin tea bag is filled with organic compost produced from 100% recycled materials. For more information contact Lissa Landry at 80-688-3926 or visit www.thegoodhumusman.com.

WE’RE WILDLY CONSISTENT. Wildcat trommel screens and compost turners can help you produce a consistent end product. For nearly 40 years, Wildcat Manufacturing has been helping operators exceed their wildest expectations. Our products are powerful, productive, and backed by an industry-leading dealer network committed to your satisfaction. From trommel screens to compost turners, we design and build equipment you can count on day after day. It’s easy to operate, easy to service, and the easy choice when you need high performance and consistent end product.

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The WILDCAT LOGO is a trademark of Wildcat Mfg. Co, Inc. VERMEER is a trademark of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the United States and / or other countries. © 2010 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Info Request #141 July / August 2010 Soil & Mulch Producer News 19

6075 Hopkins Road • Mentor, OH 44060 Ph: 440-257-6453 • Fax: 440-257-6459 Email: downassoc2@oh.rr.com VOL. IV NO. 4

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Inside This Issue Manure Compost A New Cash Crop PAGE 1

Demand for Lawn & Garden Consumables to Reach $9 Billion in 2014 PAGE 8 Manomet Study of Woody Biomass Energy Released PAGE 10 Researchers More Effective Method for Producing Fuel from Waste Wood PAGE 15 Loblolly Pine Bark Shortage has Researchers Searching for Alternatives PAGE 17

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