Farmer And 16 Cows Found Dead, Cause Of Death Finally Discovered
Note: We are republishing this story to raise awareness for the Mike Biadasz Farm Safety and Education Memorial Fund.
A devastating accident claimed the life of 29-year-old farmer Michael Biadasz and 16 of his cattle on the family farm in Amherst, Wisconsin. The tragedy occurred when toxic gases, likely methane or sulfur oxide, built up in the farm’s manure holding tank, creating what officials described as a “deadly dome of air.”
Michael, who had safely handled the tank countless times before, was overcome by the fumes while preparing the system to be pumped. The unusual conditions not only took his life but also killed livestock that were nearby. His father, Bob Biadasz, co-owner of Biadasz Farms, described the event as the result of a “perfect storm” of weather factors, with warm upper air trapping the gases and preventing them from dispersing.
Workers arriving later discovered the young farmer unresponsive alongside the loss of the herd. Portage County Coroner Scott Rifleman noted that deaths from manure gas are typically confined to closed spaces, making this open-air incident especially shocking. He explained that atmospheric pressure played a key role in keeping the gases concentrated near the ground.