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Larsen Farms expands waste storage facility
Story and photos by Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief
VICTORY TOWNSHIP — Concrete work is taking place today on a waste storage facility at Larsen Farms on Sugar Grove Road. The holding pond, which will hold 4 million gallons, is the third one built on the dairy farm.
“This waste storage facility is designed to hold all animal waste that is produced on the farm and hold it for up to nine months,” said Seth Earl, district conservationist with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation District. “State law requires a facility that can hold waste for up to six months. I have been a proponent of nine months, which allows for much more flexibility with variable weather conditions.
“This is a good example of what a structural conservation practice looks like,” Earl said. “This facility is part of Larsen Farms’ commitment to continuing to be good stewards to the land and creating a ecological friendly farm.”
Owner Burke Larsen said he and his family are committed to following best practices to assure his farm is productive and ecological friendly for generations to come.
“This facility is phase three of a project that began in 2013,” Larsen said. “This facility allows us to be more flexible on when we can deplete the waste, which ultimately is fertilizer for our fields and fields of other farmers throughout Mason County.”
Larsen said the pond is approximately 280 feet by 150 feet and includes over 780 yards of concrete.
“This project is an example of how farmers continually plan for the future and the economic investment it takes to assure their farms continue to operate to the best of their abilities,” Earl said.
Crews working on the project today included Peterson & Sons, Ruggles Masonry and SRM Concrete.
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