Progress 06/01/05 to 01/31/07
Outputs
The anticipated results of the Phase 1 SBIR project proposed by RTS included; the professional detailed engineering design, cost analysis and construction of a state-of-the-art agricultural waste management facility integrated into an existing mid-sized dairy operation. The facility was designed with the capacity to accept, compost, vermicompost and market 10 tons/day of dairy manure into value-added consumer friendly organic products. Ahead of schedule, RTS completed the site design, processing methodology and initial cost estimates for the vermicomposting facility in January of 2005. Subsequently, construction began and was completed in November of the same year. The facility construction included the following five structures, each key to the vermicomposting operation: Manure separator building, Raw material storage building, Conditioning/composting building, Processing/vermicomposting building and Final product storage building. During the active facility
construction phase, RTS began and completed the design and installation of the vermicomposting process system. Key components of the system included: Integrating a manure separator facility into the existing Coyne Farm dairy operation; The custom fabrication of specialized vermicomposting equipment (flow-through digesters); and the integration of this equipment within newly constructed infrastructure and utilities (power, water, air). Select portions of the production process were also begun during this construction period. RTS began accepting and actively pre-composting approximately five tons of separated dairy manure solids and off-specification dairy-cow feed (hay and corn silage) per day. A small population of the vermicomposting worms (species E. fetida) was introduced to the vermicomposting systems flow-through digesters during the late summer and fall of 2005. RTS considers the facility as having begun fully operating all aspects of the vermicomposting operation from this time
forward. Harvesting of vermicomposted material occurred approximately 75-days afterwards and has progressed on a regular basis. To further commison the production process, RTS finished the construction of the facilities screening plant in January 2006. The screening equipment allows RTS to produce up to four different vermicompost value-added products. Recognizing that the need to develop a marketing strategy to sell the facilitys vermicompost products is a key component to the success of the proposed project, RTS hired Ron Alexander and Associates (RAA) to assist with marketing efforts. As a result, RTS has completed a market analysis report that is representative of local and regional marketing targets. Another key component to the marketing strategy includes material analysis and certification. RTS submitted vermicompost product for microbial and chemical analysis testing through Cornell and Penn State Universities. This information is currently being used to obtain material
certification through organic certifying and review agencies. Initial marketing efforts have resulting in sales of vermicompost material to three gold courses, seven local vineyards, two nurseries and one vegetable producer.
Impacts
Federal nutrient management regulations have recently been enacted that will greatly alter current manure management practices for a large segment of animal agriculture. One result of these regulations is that many mid- to large-sized animal operations will be forced to undergo significant changes in the methods and costs associated with manure handling. In order to offset these additional manure processing and transportation costs (thus allowing excess nutrients from dairy operations to be moved out of agriculturally intensive watersheds) animal producers are searching for a technology that will allow them to process their excess manure/nutrients into an alternative "value-added" product. To produce this value-added product RTS proposes a hybrid of traditional composting and an innovative vermicomposting process. Vermicomposting/Composting transforms the undesirable physical characteristics of raw manure into a value-added consumer friendly product that has a value
capable of offsetting nutrient transport costs. RT Solutions (RTS) proposes an innovative process-controlled technology, know as vermicomposting that employs earthworms to accelerate and improve upon the traditional composting process. The findings of the project will demonstrate that a state of the art vermicomposting facility can be a win-win-win scenario for the animal producer (dairy), small-business vermicomposting facility (owner), and the consumers of the value-added organic earthworm soil conditioner/fertilizer products.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 06/01/05 to 05/31/06
Outputs
As proposed by RT Solutions, the anticipated results of the Phase 1 SBIR project included; a professional detailed engineering design, cost analysis and construction of a fully integrated agricultural waste management vermicomposting facility. At the mid-point of the project, RTS completed the detailed engineering design for the vermicomposting facility. The design included: an overall site design and building layout, a site topographic survey, a processing scheme (layout) and initial facility cost estimates. Facility construction began immediately once these initial design elements were completed. Construction included the following five (5) enclosed structures, each key to the vermicomposting operation and process flow path: Manure separator building, Raw material storage building, Conditioning / composting building, Processing / vermicomposting building, and Final product storage building. During the active facility construction phase, RTS began and completed the
design, layout and installation of the vermicomposting process system. Key components of the system included: 1. Integration of the manure separator facility into the existing Coyne Farm dairy operation; 2. The design and fabrication of specialized equipment (flow-through digesters) for the vermicomposting operation and; 3. The Integration of the vermicomposting equipment within newly constructed infrastructure and utilities (power, water, air). Select portions of the production process were also begun during this construction period. RTS began accepting and actively pre-composting approximately five tons of separated dairy manure solids and off-specification dairy-cow feed (hay and corn silage) per day. A small population of the vermicomposting worms (species E. fetida) was introduced to the vermicomposting system's flow-through digesters during the late summer and fall of 2005. Harvesting of vermicomposted material occurred approximately 75-days afterwards and has progressed on a
regular basis through the use of the digester harvesting system.
Impacts
Federal nutrient management regulations have recently been enacted that will greatly alter current manure management practices for a large segment of animal agriculture. One result of these regulations is that many mid- to large-sized animal operations will be forced to undergo significant changes in the methods and costs associated with manure handling. In order to offset these additional manure processing and transportation costs (thus allowing excess nutrients from dairy operations to be moved out of agriculturally intensive watersheds) animal producers are searching for a technology that will allow them to process their excess manure/nutrients into an alternative "value-added" product. To produce this value-added product RTS proposes a hybrid of traditional composting and an innovative vermicomposting process. Vermicomposting/Composting transforms the undesirable physical characteristics of raw manure into a value-added consumer friendly product that has a value
capable of offsetting nutrient transport costs. RT Solutions (RTS) proposes an innovative process-controlled technology, know as vermicomposting that employs earthworms to accelerate and improve upon the traditional composting process. The findings of the project will demonstrate that a state of the art vermicomposting facility can be a win-win-win scenario for the animal producer (dairy), small-business vermicomposting facility (owner), and the consumers of the value-added organic earthworm soil conditioner/fertilizer products.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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