Farmer and 16 Cattle Die in Tragic Accident Caused by “Deadly Dome of Air” on Wisconsin Farm

A tragic accident has claimed the life of a young Wisconsin farmer and 16 of his cattle after a rare and deadly buildup of toxic gases formed in a manure holding tank.

According to WAOW, 29-year-old Michael Biadasz of Amherst, Wisconsin, died from gas poisoning on his family’s farm after being overcome by fumes—believed to be either methane or hydrogen sulfide. Initially, 13 cattle perished alongside him. Three more died later, bringing the total to 16.

Michael’s father, Bob Biadasz, co-owner of Biadasz Farms, explained that the tragedy was the result of a “perfect storm” of unexpected weather conditions. On the morning the tank was scheduled to be pumped, an unusual atmospheric inversion occurred. Warmer air trapped the toxic gases close to the ground, forming a deadly dome that suffocated Michael and the animals.

Michael was found deceased when fellow workers arrived to begin hauling manure from the tank.

“The family is devastated—absolutely devastated,” Portage County Coroner Scott Rifleman told WAOW.

Rifleman noted to WSAW that gas poisoning incidents typically happen in enclosed spaces, making this open-air occurrence particularly alarming. The coroner explained that abnormal atmospheric pressure had prevented the gases from dispersing naturally.

An official investigation is underway to determine the precise cause of Michael’s death. According to Rifleman, Michael had safely emptied the same manure tank hundreds of times in the past, which underscores the freak nature of the incident.

To honor Michael’s memory, the Biadasz family parked a line of tractors and farm equipment along the roadside near their farm. The display includes a blue tractor, several red trucks, and Michael’s black pickup truck.

One Facebook user commented on the tragedy: “As if there isn’t already enough danger in the lives of farmers, this family had to suffer this freak accident. So sad.”

In the wake of the incident, there are growing calls for stronger regulations on manure storage systems to prevent future tragedies. All That’s News cited the National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD), which recommends proper ventilation in livestock areas and clearly posted warning signs near manure storage sites.

“In addition to following sound construction and maintenance practices for liquid manure storage facilities, owners should also take precautionary steps to protect both workers and livestock from hazardous manure gases,” the NASD advises.

Sadly, this is not the first time such an accident has occurred. In 2007, a Virginia family suffered a similar tragedy when five family members died due to a blocked pipe that caused methane gas to accumulate fatally.