Dr. Del Bottcher has designed new dairies and upgraded waste management systems for existing dairies.  All of the new dairies have been rotationally grazed dairies, but major confinement dairy upgrade designs have also been done.  Assistance includes development of Nutrient Management Plan and permit application development, groundwater monitoring plans, renewal applications, and addressing compliance issues as they develop.

Dr. Bottcher with SWET has been actively involved in Animal Waste Management design and research for over thirty years.  Recent projects include:

1.  Design of two new rotationally grazed dairies in northern Florida.

2.  Waste water lagoon and spray field design for several dairies.

3.  Research project for determining manure deposition distribution throughout a dairy.

4.  Determination of nitrate leaching potential from under dairy spray fields for various management and cropping treatments.  Project uses underground solution-cup lysimeters to capture leaching water.

5.  Designed a irrigation scheduler program for a multiple pivot spray field.

6.  Redesigned several existing dairy HIA and waste management systems to meet current regulations.

7.  Provided expert testimony for dairy rulemaking and for several administrative hearings for dairy permits

SWET completed a comprehensive study on renewable energy alternatives for dairies in Florida for the Sunbelt Milk Producers.  The study evaluated methane and gasification systems.

SWET assisted Suwannee Farms with the design and permitting of the 5000 head cattle feeding operation which included a large methane digester with a 600 KW gen-set for electricity productions.  This was the first animal methane system in the state of Florida.  SWET has also been active in promoting and obtaining grants for solar energy systems on dairies.