DATE:     9/1/98
CONTACT:  Dr. John Chastain, (864) 656-3160
WRITER:   Tom Lollis, (803) 284-3343

Seminars Will Show New Ways
to Handle Animal Waste

     CLEMSON -- Clemson University scientists have been studying
technologies for handling manure that will reduce odor and
protect water quality on swine and dairy farms.
     The Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service and the
South Carolina Energy Office are ready to show swine and dairy
farmers just what they have found out.
     "We will offer two seminars for anyone interested in new
manure handling technologies," said John Chastain, Clemson
Extension agricultural engineer. A Sept. 23 seminar at the Pee
Dee Research and Education Center at Florence will focus on swine
farms. A Sept. 24 seminar at the South Carolina Farm Bureau
building in Columbia will cover handling and treatment for both
dairy and swine farms.
     Chastain said speakers will discuss anaerobic digestion of
swine and dairy manure for both odor control and production of
bio-gas. Part of the process involves use of equipment to
separate liquids and solids, which helps reduce sludge build-up
problems for covered lagoon digesters and traditional lagoons.
     "Liquid-solid separation techniques can be combined with
anaerobic digestion to develop manure handling systems that do 
not require a traditional lagoon," Chastain said.
     He said speakers will also talk about the cost of producing
bio-gas on the farm and how to use it.
     Registration begins at 9:30 a.m. at each location. The
seminars will last from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and lunch will be
provided. Call Clemson's Agricultural and Biological Engineering
Department at (864) 656-3160 to reserve a space for lunch or for
more information.
     To get to the Pee Dee REC take the TV Road exit from
Interstate 95 north of Florence. Turn left on TV Road, follow it
to the dead end and turn left on Pocket Road. The Pee Dee REC is
on the right.
     The Farm Bureau building is at 724 Knox Abbott Drive in West
Columbia.
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