August is here.  The Poop Days of Summer

August 9, 2021

Manure slathered on the ground during the day, rain falls at night. The collective Hershey squirts from the 13 CAFOs we monitor always ramps up this time of year, with the big dump peaking in late fall. You can smell “dairy air” stench from Adrian to west of the Hillsdale county line. Wind was blowing from the southwest. If you’re downwind of these barns and fields right now, it’s miserable. A few examples, from just one day.

Hartland Farms, spewing liquid manure with no applicator August 9, 2021,.  Agronomic rate, anyone?  Northeast corner of Hughes Hwy. and Beecher Rd., Hudson Township.  Rain fell on the evening of August 9, after this unincorporated application.  Henning Tile/Bear Creek/Black Creek/Raisin main branch.

Hoffland Dairy, empty cow barn after fire, taken August 9, 2021.  Non-milkers still on-site.

New Flevo dump box and dragline setup, southwest corner of Knight Hwy. and Shepherd Rd., Adrian Township, August 9, 2021.  Knight Tile, Fisk Creek, Black Creek, Wolf Creek, Raisin south branch.   E. coli TMDL watershed.

Warner tanker liquid manure application on cut wheat field, Adrian Twp., August 9, 2021.  Bailey Tile, Black Creek, Wolf Creek, Raisin south branch.   E. coli TMDL watershed.