Released July 14, 2008

ST. PAUL, Minn. — As producers begin to prepare to empty manure pits and apply manure to fields this fall, one of the biggest concerns is ensuring that pit pumping procedures allow for adequate ventilation, ensuring pigs and people are not affected. Ideally, barns are empty when agitating and pumping pits, but in most cases, this is not practical.

University of Minnesota Extension’s Swine program and Minnesota Pork Board will sponsor a PorkCast webcast, "Emergency Ventilation and Properly Ventilating Barns When Emptying Manure Storage Pits," presented by Mike Brumm, Brumm Consulting, on Aug. 20 from 1 - 2 p.m. (CDT). Brumm will address a number of areas related to barn and ventilation management that can significantly reduce the risks of asphyxiation for pigs as well as workers. PorkCast is a quarterly online seminar series aimed to provide management level information in a timely and efficient manner.

There is no cost to take part in a PorkCast program. Information on connecting via the Internet to the upcoming PorkCast presentation, along with accessing past programs, is available at http://www.extension.umn.edu/swine/porkcast.

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http://www.extension.umn.edu/extensionnews/2008/emergencyventilation.html

Contacts: Mark Whitney, (507) 389-5541, whitn007@umn.edu

Catherine Dehdashti, (612) 625-0237, ced@umn.edu