Paul Neeb raises beef cattle and laying hens in New Hamburg
By Diego Flammini
Assistant Editor, North American Content
Farms.com
A farmer from New Hamburg, Ont., made the 979 km motorcycle ride to Arlington, Wis. to attend the 2017 North American Manure Expo.
The two-day event, which took place Aug. 22 and 23, included more than 50 machinery exhibitors and guest speakers.
But for Paul Neeb, a beef cattle and laying hen producer and owner of Neeb Haven Farms, the field demonstrations are what peaked his interest.
“They’re talking about the same things we talk about up here,” he told Farms.com today. “Winter spreading, phosphorus runoff, application rates, things like that.”
The phosphorus runoff demonstration explored how manure application timing impacted phosphorous loss.
“There were pits dug with controlled runoff to measure runoff, frost depth, temperature and other elements.”
The demonstration [AG1] showed that shifting manure applications to low runoff seasons and fields can reduce dissolved phosphorus loss.
Neeb may consider a new equipment investment after witnessing a dry manure spreading demonstration, he said.
“The equipment had different spread patterns,” he said. “I might include it in my farm (operation) but I’m not too sure yet.”
During his time at the show, Neeb also educated some attendees about manure from different livestock.
“They were talking about what the best manure is, and (that) chicken manure would be on the higher end in terms of nutrient value,” he said. “I explained that it’s because the chicken uses whatever it eats more efficiently when compared to a cow or other animal, where not everything is totally digested.”
The 2018 North American Manure Expo is scheduled for Aug. 15 and 16 in Brookings, S.D.
Does Neeb plan on attending that one, too?
“That’s a nice motorcycle ride, isn’t it?,” he asked. “For me, it’s more about the journey than the actual show.”
Brookings would be a 16 hour and 1,660 km motorcycle ride for Paul.