A Closed-System, Energy Independent Organic Dairy Farm for the Northeastern U.S. Principal Investigator: John Aber Co-Principals: Matt Smith, Allison Leach Bill McDowell, Matt Davis Funded 2008 – 2018 by: Agroecosystem Research at the University of New Hampshire Department of Natural Resources and Environment NH Agricultural Experiment Station
30
Embed
Agroecosystem Research at the University of New Hampshire ... · Agroecosystem Research at the University of New Hampshire Department of Natural Resources and Environment NH Agricultural
This document is posted to help you gain knowledge. Please leave a comment to let me know what you think about it! Share it to your friends and learn new things together.
Transcript
A Closed-System, Energy Independent Organic Dairy Farm for the Northeastern U.S.
Principal Investigator:John Aber
Co-Principals: Matt Smith, Allison LeachBill McDowell, Matt Davis
Funded 2008 – 2018 by:
Agroecosystem Research at the University of New Hampshire
• Support: four largest US organic dairy producers• Stonyfield• Aurora• Horizon• Organic Valley
• Inspiration• Chuck Schwab• Rick Kersbergen• Tom Kelly• John Carroll
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
NH Agricultural Experiment Station
The Farm and Forest Resource
100 acres (~40 ha) certified organic pasture
160 acres (~64 ha) of typical old-Field New England woodland
- White Pine - Red Maple - Black Birch- Red Oak - Hemlock
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
NH Agricultural Experiment Station
Lead Donor
“This could not come at a better time, as the organic dairy market in general and New England in particular is in need of more organic farmers. We believe organic dairy farming has the promise of saving New Hampshire and New England family farmers,”
~Gary Hirshberg,
- President and CEO, Stonyfield Farm
- Co-founder, New Alchemy Institute (1970s)
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
NH Agricultural Experiment Station
• Financial Viability
- Imported Commodities- Bedding- Energy- Grains
- Most Successful Farms HaveDiversified Income and/orValue Added Processing
What are the Biggest Challenges to Organic Milk Providers In New England?
• Environmental Impact
- GHG emissions- Runoff and Water Quality- Manure Management
CompostingSpreading
Role of Land-grant Institutions
We Got to Ask the Question:
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
NH Agricultural Experiment Station
A Closed-System, Energy Independent Organic Dairy Farm for the Northeastern U.S.
Principal Investigator:John Aber
Co-Principals: Matt Smith, Allison LeachBill McDowell, Matt Davis
Funded 2008 – 2018 by:
Leading to: Agroecosystem Research at the University of New Hampshire
First Step: Sustainable Harvesting of Low Quality Softwoods
Measured Productivity and Biomass - About 40 hectares of manageable, low-quality old field woods- Need to harvest .4 hectare/year or 1/6th of total annual wood
production
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
NH Agricultural Experiment Station
Second Step: Producing Bedding from Harvested Wood
Data show yield of 3 “cords” of shavings for 1 “cord” of wood(1 cord = ~ 4 m )3
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
NH Agricultural Experiment Station
Third Step: Bedding use in the Barn
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
NH Agricultural Experiment Station
Fourth Step: Composting the Bedding/Manure Mixture:A High-End Research Facility
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
NH Agricultural Experiment Station
The Joshua Nelson Energy Recovery Compost Facility
Department of Natural Resources and Environment
NH Agricultural Experiment Station
UNH Names Innovative Composting Facility after Sustainable Agriculture Pioneer
Technology Advanced by Josh Nelson Used at UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm
New laws in MA and VT prohibit disposal of organic wastesComposting as a growth industrySPAC as least labor intensiveCould become the standard (City Soil)What do you do with the heat, C and N?