CAFO side effect
 

In the past 6 months, there has been a marked increase in CAFO (concentrated animal feeding operation) liquid manure tractor/tank trains consisting of up to 10 rigs driving in the dark holding up 15 cars on different highways. Recently an 18 wheeler rear-ended one and the driver died on the scene. Where is the tipping point on this stuff?

Not sure of your question. Are you asking where do they dump for processing or when the system will be changed so processing happens closer to the point of origin?
Somebody has figured out how to make a buck on processing or spreading or dehydrating large quantities of the material. The best solution for the traveling public would be a digester at the point of origin which produced methane, which could fuel equipment on site. Then the reduced sludge could be used as fertilizer to grow animal feed.

CAFOs are growing in numbers. Unless directly invovled, it was mostly a water contamination issue for the general public. Now it's becoming a traffic hazard and I'd imagine it's also going to become an issue for road wear and tear issue. Not sure if these behemoths are running road tax free fuel but would imagine so. I'm quickly becoming more "interested" in CAFOs and would agree that a digester might help significantly. I wonder who makes those things as it might be a wise investment consideration.

You don't say where you are, but I have noticed the local slaughterhouses have wider distribution of the carcass manure. It used to get spread on a few local fields (possibly owned by the processor) and the remainder went through the rendering plant and water treatment.

Now more is going to farms as far as 15 miles away. Apparently there was some kind of ruling that loosened the farmers hands for spreading the stuff. (Note, this started while Biden was in office).

You know when you smell it - the stink is pretty bad.

Maybe unrelated to your issue, but if the plant can give it away to a farmer, it saves them money on water treatment.

I live in a pretty rural part of Wisconsin. Plenty of now bare crop land and it has been a bit dry so probably an optimal time to spread. Have never seen the trains of 8-10 rigs before this year.

I don't get it. Are they doing something illegal? Why on earth would an 18 wheeler rear end one of the rigs you're talking about? And why does driving in the dark make any difference? There's manure management. These CAFO's have strict regulation on manure management.

I’ve never heard of it and I’ve never seen it. 🤷🏽

I dunno. Have you ever been stuck behind 8-10 of these huge rigs rolling down the 2 lane highway at 30 mph in the dark for who knows how many miles? All the liquid waste isn't exactly helping the trailer lighting. Some are pulling a tank and what appears to be an auger--unlit. How is one supposed to pass when (surprise!) you can't see the front of the train and little to almost no spacing to pass incrementally? How are you supposed to know if the train is turning left or widely to the right with a million blinking lights on each tractor? What about mud and liquid manure flying off the tires? What about oncoming poorly lit Amish buggys? How about deer or dead deer or bear or dead bear? How much do you think they care about management regulations when they can't be bothered with transportation fundamentals before they get to their destination?

Maybe we could ask the semi driver how it happened--but he's dead now--Killed at an intersection after rear-ending a tractor-tank rig.

Sounds like a localized situation. I am aware that there is a global fertilizer shortage due to the ongoing Russia Ukraine conflict and so perhaps farmers are preparing their fields now with organic fertilizer. It takes time for this stuff to break down and become useful for crops and just before winter is probably a good time to turn it into the soil.

Here in Idaho we are surrounded by farming, dairies, and ranching. I know that many of the local farms are using organic (steer manure) fertilizer turned into the soil. We have seen no truck trains of the stuff though.

I hope it's localized because it's pretty ridiculous. No insight into the business details but these are modern tractors pulling big milk truck volume tanks.

Exactly.

WTF are you guys taking about?

Problem with CAFO's as I understand it in our area is foreign ownership. As with all markets the consolidation of sellers brings nothing good to the consumer.

examples of the tank trailers

https://www.tractorhouse.com/listings/houle-manure-spreaders-manure-handling-for-sale-in-iowa/?Category=300028&Manufacturer=HOULE&State=IOWA

I see! You're talking about these guys rolling in Fendt tractors with a spray tank behind them. You mention "a million blinking lights" so they're clearly running lights. I'm not seeing what "transportation fundamental" they're not abiding by. Maybe call the local sheriff if they aren't abiding by traffic law. I've never witnessed these trains of tanks. Most of the guys around here use miles of drag line to pump from the CAFO to the tractor in the field.

The very large, farm version, of a "Honey Wagon". You should see one during the day spraying manure. "Purple rain"? I think not.