Farmer and 16 Cows Found Dead — Cause of the Tragedy Finally Revealed

A heartbreaking incident in Wisconsin has taken the life of a young farmer and sixteen of his cattle after a rare and catastrophic buildup of toxic gases formed on the farm.

According to reports from WAOW, 29-year-old Michael Biadasz of Amherst died from exposure to hazardous fumes that accumulated near a manure storage tank on his family’s property. Officials believe the gases were methane or hydrogen sulfide — both extremely dangerous in high concentrations. Thirteen cows died at the scene, and three more passed away shortly afterward, bringing the total to sixteen.

Michael’s father, Bob Biadasz, co-owner of Biadasz Farms, explained that an unusual combination of weather conditions contributed to the accident. On the morning crews were scheduled to pump the tank, an atmospheric inversion occurred — a layer of warmer air trapped cooler air near the ground. This created what the family described as a “deadly dome,” preventing the toxic gases from dispersing and causing them to settle at ground level.

Workers arriving to begin hauling manure discovered Michael collapsed near the tank.

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

Rifleman added in an interview with WSAW that incidents like this typically occur in enclosed barns or small spaces, making this open-air event especially disturbing. The unusual air pressure that morning prevented the gases from spreading as they normally would.

A formal investigation is ongoing to pinpoint the exact cause and confirm the gas involved. Rifleman emphasized that Michael had emptied the same manure tank safely hundreds of times before, highlighting just how unexpected and freakish the circumstances were.

To pay tribute to Michael, the Biadasz family lined tractors, trucks, and farm equipment along the road near their property. The memorial included a blue tractor, red farm trucks, and Michael’s black pickup — a visual reminder of the hard-working young farmer lost far too soon.

One Facebook user expressed what many felt:
“As if farming isn’t dangerous enough already, this family had to face such a tragic and unpredictable accident. Heartbreaking.”

In the aftermath, there have been renewed calls for improved safety measures around manure storage systems. All That’s News referenced the National Agriculture Safety Database (NASD), which stresses the importance of proper ventilation, clear warning signs, and strict safety procedures around manure pits and tanks.

NASD advises:
“Along with solid construction and maintenance of liquid manure storage facilities, owners should take additional protective steps to safeguard both workers and livestock from toxic manure gases.”

This tragedy is not isolated. In 2007, a Virginia family endured a similar loss when a blocked pipe caused methane gas to accumulate, resulting in five fatalities.