On 5/18/05 3:57 PM, "John Rodgers" <inua@CHARTER.NET> wrote:

> CF/PP fuels should be a reall possibility if it is done right. ( I drove
> across Montana one time and for three hundred miles could hardly breathe
> because of the amount of cow flow odor in the air .... and I didn't see
> a single cow!!!!!"  The cattle industry in this country is huge, and so
> is the pig parlor business. If production of cattle and pigs was
> increased, meat prices would come down, and we would see a very positive
> impact on air quality as the CF and PP was collected and processed into
> liquified methane, which could be the basis  of bio-diesel conversions
> as well as meeting other clean fuel needs. The processed CF/PP could
> then be bagged and used to fertilize the fields to increase agricultrual
> yields for both humans and livestock. This could be a serious
> win-win-win solution. No more CF/PP odors, clean air from burning clean
> methanne, increased meat production which meaning lower prices and  an
> increase in available and necessary protein for the teaming masses.
>
> Hallelujah!!!  The answer is so simple!! LOL!!
>
> Regards,
>
> John Rodgers
> 88  GL Driver
>
>

Several dairy ranchers and small feed operations are using methane
digesters.  It basically is a big balloon/tent with the droppings in it and
a suction pump that pulls the methane out through a scrubber and compresses
it into tanks.  That stored methane is then used to either provide heat for
the operation in the winter or even to run small generators to provide
power.  The initial investment is hefty but can pay off in 5 to 7 years.  A
relative with dairy cows is using theirs for heat in the winter and is going
to have a payback early next year after only 4 years of operation.  Their
coop subsidized part of the operation and they got a hefty chunk from the
state as well.

http://www.eco-farm.org/sa/sa_dairy_synopsis_digester.html

For more info see above link.

Jimt