Wednesday, October 20th, 2010

Hog farmers turn out for meeting

Company wants to make asphalt-like product from swine manure

By Nancy Allen
Photo by Nancy Allen/The Daily Standard

Jim Sattler, owner of NuVention, holds up a piece of asphalt made with swine manure. Sattler met with farmers in Celina on Tuesday to discuss the technology.

About 50 people attended a meeting Tuesday in Celina to learn about a process that turns swine manure into an asphalt-like material, fertilizer coatings and other products traditionally petroleum-based.
Jim Sattler, owner of NuVention in Valley View, the Ohio company developing the process, told the group he wants to set up an operation in Mercer County within a year. He hopes to have 45 units operating in Ohio in the next five years.
Sattler wants to install portable units the size of a flatbed trailer at individual farms. The units would separate the manure solids and then "pressure cook" them in a reactor, producing a thick, black asphalt-type substance called bio oil. A gray water discharge from the process would be available for the farmers.
Sattler said each unit would be designed to handle manure from 5,000 to 10,000 hogs. The company would supply all the equipment, and the farmer would be paid about $9 per pig, per year for the manure.
Hog farmers Tuesday wanted to know the nutrient breakdown of the water discharge from the manure separator. Sattler said the water likely could be pumped into a manure storage structure and applied to fields as fertilizer. He did not have the nutrient breakdown available Tuesday.
A way to pump waste from pits under hog barns that would not agitate the manure would need to be used, farmers also said, because agitation could cause the release of deadly gases.
There also were questions about what types of pumps would be used and how fast they could pump.
Mercer County OSU Extension educator Jim Hoorman will plan another meeting to discuss the issue further. He said he would invite Harold Keener, an OSU Extension compost specialist.
Sattler said some companies partnering on the project include The Ohio State University, the University of Illinois, Sherwin-Williams, John Deere, Turf Grass, The Andersons, Ohio Department of Transportation, numerous roofing companies and others. The technology also has support from Ohio Pork Producers, NASA and Ohio Polymers.
"We've got a lot of questions yet, but at least they're making progress," Hoorman said. "What impressed me is they got a lot of good partners."
NuVention has a commercial demonstration unit under construction at a farm in Ashland County near the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center of Ohio State University, Wooster. It has a 20-year agreement with the 40,000-head Shoup Farm to use its manure for the demonstration.
NuVention completed its first test project using hog manure asphalt on an access road leading to Six Flags Amusement Park in May. Sattler said NuVention has an agreement with the Ohio Department of Transportation to lay a 10-mile test strip near Cincinnati in 2011. The company's product replaces 10 to 15 percent of the total petroleum-base in asphalt.
Hoorman said prior to Tuesday's meeting, he received calls from hog farmers in four counties interested in the technology.
Additional online stories on this date
Parkway
ROCKFORD - In the near future teachers at Parkway Local Schools will have a means to create their own websites.
At a school board meeting Tuesday, Martin Edwards from Infinite Cohesion Website gave a presentation on the new program Parkway technology teachers hope to implement. [More]
Division III Volleyball Van Wert Sectional
VAN WERT - The Fort Recovery Indians and the Coldwater Cavaliers overcame sluggish play to win their opening round matches in the Division III sectional Tuesday night at Van Wert High School. [More]
Subscriber and paid stories on this date
Mercer County still lowest of five in consortium
The cost to provide health insurance for Mercer County employees will rise 11.2 percent beginning in January.
The increase isn't exactly what local officials wanted to hear, but it's better than the news four neighboring counties received at an insurance consortium meeting Tuesday in Wapakoneta.
CELINA - Breakaway RecPlex owner Tom Case this morning said he plans to reopen under a new name his fitness facility, which has been closed for more than a year. The announcement comes after a sheriff's sale of the business scheduled for Thursday was canceled.
Election 2010: Rockford Library
ROCKFORD - The Rockford Carnegie Library is seeking a five-year, 1-mill operating levy in November from Parkway school district residents who live in Blackcreek, Dublin, Hopewell and Liberty townships.
Election 2010: Parkway
ROCKFORD - Voters in the Parkway school district will see on the Nov. 2 general election ballot a renewal levy to fund the school's operating expenses.
Two area companies are seeking a contract with Mercer County officials for an estimated $100,000 ditch project in Blackcreek Township.
County commissioners on Tuesday opened two bids for the work, an $87,518 offer by VTF Excavation of Celina and $92,282 from Tom's Construction of St. Henry.
MINSTER - Village council members agreed Tuesday night to hire a Columbus attorney for litigation over the installation of underground wiring related to the Fourth Street Reconstruction Project.
ROCKFORD - The state inspector will be conducting the final inspection of the village's new water treatment plant today, and village administrator Jeff Long believes everything is in order to pass.
CELINA - City council members next week may vote on whether to purchase needed additional electricity at a rate that is higher than current market levels, but would be locked in for five years.
Vehicle repair, movie rental, and gift store all in one location
FORT RECOVERY - A vehicle repair shop, movie rental and gift store have all opened in one Fort Recovery building.
Ted and Alison Homan of Fort Reco
Division II Volleyball Lima Senior Sectional
LIMA - The Western Buckeye League schedule was a breeze for the Celina volleyball team during the regular season, so playing league foes to start the postseason should be no problem for the Bulldogs, right?
So far so good.
Division II Boys Soccer Shawnee Sectional
SHAWNEE TOWNSHIP - Two goals by Cary Miller, the second coming with 101/2 minutes left in the match, allowed Celina to advance in the Division II boys soccer sectional tournament 2-1 over Elida on Tuesday night at Shawnee High School.
Division IV Volleyball New Bremen Sectional
Compiled by Gary R. Rasberry
Minster and New Knoxville advanced to Saturday's Division IV sectional volleyball finals with three-set sweeps of their opponents on Tuesday at Cardinal Gymnasium in New Bremen.