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New Use For Old Stave Silos
An Iowa firm is doing a booming business turning old, unused concrete stave silos into underground tanks for manure storage.
"We can save you a lot of money if you already own an old, concrete stave silo, or know where you can buy one within a 10 mile radius of your farm," says Ray Bilyeu, Mason City, Iowa.
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New Use For Old Stave Silos CROP STORAGE Silos (50) 4-3-8 An Iowa firm is doing a booming business turning old, unused concrete stave silos into underground tanks for manure storage.
"We can save you a lot of money if you already own an old, concrete stave silo, or know where you can buy one within a 10 mile radius of your farm," says Ray Bilyeu, Mason City, Iowa.
A 16 by 50 ft. silo, for example, converts into a manure pit measuring about 40 ft. in dia. and 10 ft. high. "We use a chart to determine how many gallons of manure storage capacity are needed to handle a full year's accumulation from a given number of livestock," Bilyeu points out.
Height is generally limited to 10 ft. "If we go deeper into the ground, there is danger of underground water pressure heaving the concrete floor. And, we like to keep the walls below ground for sidewall support," Bilyeu explains. "Generally, the farmer takes care of digging the pit, making it about 6 ft. wider all the way around to give the construction crew plenty of elbow room. Then, when the manure ,torage tank is built - and hooped every 4 to 6 in. using hoops salvaged from the silo- dirt is filled in all the way around."
Generally, cost of turning an old silo nto a watertight 40 ft. dia. manure pit (10 ft. high), runs from $2,500 to $3,000, including a cement floor, cement top, plastering the inside and installing a chain link fence around the facility to keep out children and animals.
Bilyeu says the practical range for sending out his own crews for silo conversions is a 100 mile radius of Mason City in northern Iowa. Beyond this radius, he suggests checking with your nearest concrete stave silo builder. "Most any company that regularly puts up concrete stave silos would be able to give you a price on tearing down an old stave silo and rebuilding it into a manure storage tank, similar to what we're doing for livestock producers in this area," Bilyeu told FARM SHOW.
For more details, contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Roy Bilyeu, 20 9th Street, Box 363, Mason City, Iowa 50401 (ph 515 424-4611).
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