Benchmark and TurnKey are providing "low tech", low cost, low maintenance solutions to non-point source pollution from agricultural facilities. Today’s farms are bigger and highly efficient producers of crops and livestock. With this industry trend comes greater environmental impacts on groundwater and surface waters from pesticide, herbicide, fertilizer use and livestock waste management. These environmental concerns promoted new regulations for confined animal feeding operations (CAFO). Farmers have neither the time or the money to invest in complex treatment systems. We tailor our approach to each individual farm using simple, natural systems with manual mechanizations that are proven to work.

Benchmark staff designed, installed and operated a waste treatment system at Dream Maker Dairy, in Cowlesville, New York. The system was designed to allow the dairy to expand its herd size while maintaining its existing land base. The system employs a constructed wetland process, which allows the 400-cow dairy to meet its nutrient management plan, naturally.

 

 

 

 

 

Benchmark designed the waste management process for Agway Agricultural Products North Country Heifer Facility in Hopkinton, New York. The new state-of-the-art dairy replacement facility utilizes a biosecure housing environment designed to reduce the animals exposure to disease- causing pathogens during this critical stage of development. The waste management system consists of multiple sedimentation ponds with provisions for solids removal and water reuse for floor washdown and manure conveyance.