In the plans for the new hospital, Kearney Regional Medical Center, doctors have proposed zoning for a new assisted living facility in addition to the hospital and its offices. However, Kearney already has at least six large assisted living facilities - including the two-story Northridge Senior Living Facility - as well as several smaller assisted living facilities. The forty doctors who want to build Kearney Regional are dissatisfied with the way Catholic Health Initiatives runs Good Samaritan, so I understand why they want to build a new hospital, but what reason do they have to build yet another assisted living facility?
Cardiologist Ahmed C. Kutty is satisfied working at Good Samaritan and he claims that these other doctors want to build a for-profit hospital because they are greedy. The fact that these doctors want to create a space for another assisted living facility that Kearney doesn't really need seems to support Kutty's claim; however, at this point, no one has asked the doctors for Kearney Regional how they feel about Good Samaritan's assisted living facility. Perhaps, the doctors who want to open Kearney Regional believe that those who run Good Sam are not respecting their elders.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Saturday, February 13, 2010
The Superbowl...super.
Some people would do just about anything to watch the Superbowl - I would do just about anything to avoid it. This year I actually did my homework while my boyfriend sat in the other room yelling at the TV and complaining about how weird some of the comercials were. I'm sorry, but I really don't see anything super about the Superbowl or football in general. Sure the uniforms make their butts look big, but I bet that even Sir Mix-A-Lot is bored with big butts by now...maybe...
Friday, February 12, 2010
Nebraska Could Run on Manure - Literally
All those who live in Nebraska, as well as many who live outside the Cornhusker state, know that Nebraska's economy relies on corn and cows. However, for a good number of Nebraskans, the smell of manure is not the smell of money. Unfortunately, those of us who do not receive a direct financial benefit from the cows in the state still have to deal with the smell of the more than one thousand feedlots on record with Nebraska's Department of Agriculture. Since farmers in the state are not likely to give up their feedlots any time in the foreseeable future, the Nebraska Public Power District should look into the potential for using manure-derived methane as an energy source.
Another general bit of knowledge about Nebraska is that we get our electricity from coal-burning power plants. Although the NPPD is slowly beginning to tap into wind power, Nebraska’s community-based power production system has overlooked another potentially endless source of energy in the state: manure. Under correct feedlot conditions, manure produces methane, which is both the major component of natural gas and a cleaner-burning fuel than coal according to NaturalGas.org.
In fact, one ethanol plant in Mead, Nebraska has begun to use the methane from some of Nebraska's manure in a unique way. The Genesis plant is actually an ethanol plant attached to a feed lot. Essentially, an article in The Farmer explains that the corn byproduct from ethanol production gets fed directly to the cows in the attached feedlot, the cow manure produces methane through an anaerobic process, and the methane powers the ethanol plant. In this system, the plant produces its own methane rather than buying natural gas.
Potentially, if all Nebraska feedlots were equipped to turn manure into methane, Nebraska could replace some or all of the energy produced from coal with cleaner energy produced from methane. Although the NPPD is developing wind energy, an article in the Omaha World Herald claims that we will be exporting at least some of this energy to "big-population centers." If the NPPD is going to market wind energy, they could potentially earn more money, and therefore decrease energy costs for Nebraskans, by utilizing energy from methane as well as from wind. If Nebraska receives power from feedlot-produced methane, the smell of the feedlots may be a little more tolerable for those of us who are not cattle farmers.
Another general bit of knowledge about Nebraska is that we get our electricity from coal-burning power plants. Although the NPPD is slowly beginning to tap into wind power, Nebraska’s community-based power production system has overlooked another potentially endless source of energy in the state: manure. Under correct feedlot conditions, manure produces methane, which is both the major component of natural gas and a cleaner-burning fuel than coal according to NaturalGas.org.
In fact, one ethanol plant in Mead, Nebraska has begun to use the methane from some of Nebraska's manure in a unique way. The Genesis plant is actually an ethanol plant attached to a feed lot. Essentially, an article in The Farmer explains that the corn byproduct from ethanol production gets fed directly to the cows in the attached feedlot, the cow manure produces methane through an anaerobic process, and the methane powers the ethanol plant. In this system, the plant produces its own methane rather than buying natural gas.
Potentially, if all Nebraska feedlots were equipped to turn manure into methane, Nebraska could replace some or all of the energy produced from coal with cleaner energy produced from methane. Although the NPPD is developing wind energy, an article in the Omaha World Herald claims that we will be exporting at least some of this energy to "big-population centers." If the NPPD is going to market wind energy, they could potentially earn more money, and therefore decrease energy costs for Nebraskans, by utilizing energy from methane as well as from wind. If Nebraska receives power from feedlot-produced methane, the smell of the feedlots may be a little more tolerable for those of us who are not cattle farmers.
Farms Could Be Environmentally Friendly Energy Producers
All those who live in Nebraska, as well as many who live outside the Cornhusker state, know that Nebraska's economy relies on corn and cows. Unfortunately, those of us who do not receive a direct financial benefit from the cows in the state still have to deal with the smell of the 1000+ feedlots on record with Nebraska's Department of Agriculture. For a good number of Nebraskans, the smell of manure is not the smell of money, but we are not likely to get rid of them any time in the foreseeable future.
Most Nebraskans also know that we get our electricity from coal-burning power plants. Although the Nebraska Public Power District, or NPPD, is slowly beginning to tap into wind power, NPPD has overlooked another potentially endless source of energy in the state - manure. Under the correct conditions, manure produces methane, which is both the major component of natural gas and a cleaner-burning fuel than coal according to NaturalGas.org.
In fact, one ethanol plant in Mead, Nebraska has begun to use the methane from some of Nebraska's manure in a unique way. The Genesis plant is actually an ethanol plant attached to a feed lot. Essentially, an article in The Farmer explains that the corn byproduct from ethanol production gets fed directly to the cows in the attached feedlot, the cow manure produces methane through an anaerobic process, and the methane powers the ethanol plant. In this system, the plant produces its own methane rather than buying natural gas.
Potentially, if all Nebraska feedlots were equipped to turn manure into methane, Nebraska could replace coal with methane. Although the NPPD is developing wind energy, an article in the Omaha World Herald claims that we will be exporting at least some of this energy to "big-population centers." If the NPPD is going to market wind energy, they could potentially earn more money for the state and decrease energy costs for Nebraskans by utilizing energy from methane as well as from wind. The NPPD should look into developing methane power in Nebraska.
Most Nebraskans also know that we get our electricity from coal-burning power plants. Although the Nebraska Public Power District, or NPPD, is slowly beginning to tap into wind power, NPPD has overlooked another potentially endless source of energy in the state - manure. Under the correct conditions, manure produces methane, which is both the major component of natural gas and a cleaner-burning fuel than coal according to NaturalGas.org.
In fact, one ethanol plant in Mead, Nebraska has begun to use the methane from some of Nebraska's manure in a unique way. The Genesis plant is actually an ethanol plant attached to a feed lot. Essentially, an article in The Farmer explains that the corn byproduct from ethanol production gets fed directly to the cows in the attached feedlot, the cow manure produces methane through an anaerobic process, and the methane powers the ethanol plant. In this system, the plant produces its own methane rather than buying natural gas.
Potentially, if all Nebraska feedlots were equipped to turn manure into methane, Nebraska could replace coal with methane. Although the NPPD is developing wind energy, an article in the Omaha World Herald claims that we will be exporting at least some of this energy to "big-population centers." If the NPPD is going to market wind energy, they could potentially earn more money for the state and decrease energy costs for Nebraskans by utilizing energy from methane as well as from wind. The NPPD should look into developing methane power in Nebraska.
Monday, February 8, 2010
A report from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln discusses the effects of using manure from feed lots to enrich compost. Apparently this process could be a very beneficial way to remove manure from feed lots. According to the report, composting removes some of the moisture, and therefore some of the weight from manure, which makes it more movable. This may open up new markets for selling manure-based compost rather than straight manure. The report also implies that turning manure into compost helps keep nitrogen out of the ground water because the nitrogen is bound to the compost more strongly than it is bonded to the manure itself. My favorite part of the report says that composting helps reduce the odor of the manure. I know that compost doesn't smell like perfume, but it's not as bad the smell that comes from feedlots.
This report also explains why composting feed lot manure is not an attractive option for all farmers. The main reason UNL researchers give is that manure-based compost has less nitrogen than straight manure, which makes it a less effective fertilizer. The process of making manure-based compost is strongly affected by weather and it appears that the weather may have skewed the results for the worse in this particular report.
This report also explains why composting feed lot manure is not an attractive option for all farmers. The main reason UNL researchers give is that manure-based compost has less nitrogen than straight manure, which makes it a less effective fertilizer. The process of making manure-based compost is strongly affected by weather and it appears that the weather may have skewed the results for the worse in this particular report.
How do feed lots use manure?
I was not previously aware that the Genesis ethanol plant in Mead, Nebraska has been using the methane from cow manure to distill ethanol, and in turn, feeding the leftover corn mush to the cows. ("Nebraska Ethanol Plants Will Run Without Fossil Fuels"). The use of methane actually allows the plant to run without using fossil fuels and the people at E3 Biofuels claim that is process is highly environmentally friendly because it keeps methane, a greenhouse gas, out of the atmosphere. However, when methane is burned as a fuel, it produces carbon dioxide, another greenhouse gas. I was shocked by that fact, so I dug a little further.
It turns out that, although carbon dioxide has given greenhouse gasses a bad name, "methane is over 20 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide" according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The symbiotic relationship between the Genesis ethanol plant and its attached feed lot isn't necessarily great for the environment, but it does reduce the impact of one feed lot.
While this new discovery of mine does not really redeem feed lots in my mind, I am growing more certain that feed lots are always going to be part of Nebraska's economy. Feed lots that serve a dual purpose like the one attached to the Genesis ethanol plant will come closer to maximizing their usefulness, but they will always smell like manure.
It turns out that, although carbon dioxide has given greenhouse gasses a bad name, "methane is over 20 times more effective at trapping heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide" according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The symbiotic relationship between the Genesis ethanol plant and its attached feed lot isn't necessarily great for the environment, but it does reduce the impact of one feed lot.
While this new discovery of mine does not really redeem feed lots in my mind, I am growing more certain that feed lots are always going to be part of Nebraska's economy. Feed lots that serve a dual purpose like the one attached to the Genesis ethanol plant will come closer to maximizing their usefulness, but they will always smell like manure.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Feed Lots...Yuck!
I'd like to start by saying I'm not a vegetarian. I don't have a problem with raising cows to eat them, I'm just not a huge fan of feed lots. I understand that feed lots are embedded in the economy of Nebraska. In fact, the Nebraska Department of Agriculture's web page states that "Nebraska's standard of living is more dependent on the cattle feeding industry [than Texas' and Iowa' standards of living]." The same web page also points out that Nebraska has more than 1000 feed lots. I happen to live in a town surrounded by feed lots and it is not a pleasant experience.
First of all, feed lots smell. Sometimes, the smell takes over the whole town, but it's always stronger as you get closer to the feed lot. Secondly, I find it disturbing to hear screaming cows when I walk to class. I keep wondering when someone in this town is going to write a script called Silence of the Cows. Thirdly, I know that feed lots have certain standards to meet when it comes to waste disposal and runoff, but most students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney as well as several UNK teachers will tell you that you don't drink unfiltered tap water in Kearney. Even if every single standard has been met, the water tastes awful. This may reflect a need for a re-evaluation of state standards, or it may branch into Nebraska's irrigation and corn-growing practices.
In regard to the first two issues I have mentioned, cattle farmers with grazing lands do not typically bring towns the same smell and sound pollution as feed lots because they are typically further from town. In terms of waste disposal, the grazing lands that I've seen are usually covered with cow pies, but grazing cattle have a much larger area in which to relieve themselves than feed lot cattle do. With the cow pies spread out, they can break down naturally rather than contributing to a giant cesspool. Overall, I think the grazing method causes fewer problems for people who live in towns in Nebraska. Even though feed lots are not likely to disappear from Nebraska, I would rather see more farmers with grazing cattle and fewer feed lots.
First of all, feed lots smell. Sometimes, the smell takes over the whole town, but it's always stronger as you get closer to the feed lot. Secondly, I find it disturbing to hear screaming cows when I walk to class. I keep wondering when someone in this town is going to write a script called Silence of the Cows. Thirdly, I know that feed lots have certain standards to meet when it comes to waste disposal and runoff, but most students at the University of Nebraska at Kearney as well as several UNK teachers will tell you that you don't drink unfiltered tap water in Kearney. Even if every single standard has been met, the water tastes awful. This may reflect a need for a re-evaluation of state standards, or it may branch into Nebraska's irrigation and corn-growing practices.
In regard to the first two issues I have mentioned, cattle farmers with grazing lands do not typically bring towns the same smell and sound pollution as feed lots because they are typically further from town. In terms of waste disposal, the grazing lands that I've seen are usually covered with cow pies, but grazing cattle have a much larger area in which to relieve themselves than feed lot cattle do. With the cow pies spread out, they can break down naturally rather than contributing to a giant cesspool. Overall, I think the grazing method causes fewer problems for people who live in towns in Nebraska. Even though feed lots are not likely to disappear from Nebraska, I would rather see more farmers with grazing cattle and fewer feed lots.
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