Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/13
Outputs
Target Audience: There are two major audiences for this work. The first is small-to-moderate-scale dairy farmers in the northeastern U.S., and others who may use bedded pack systems for housing animals and managing manure. The second is the growing number of composting operations in the region who want optimize the static-pile aerobic composting system for thermal energy gain. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Matt Smith, graduate student associated with this project, and funded through a USDA-SARE award, has received significant training in the design, construction and operation of both a wood shaving machine and a static pile aerobic composting system. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? We have presented to the NH Farm Bureau Federation, the Northeast Pasture Consortium Annual Conference, and the New York Certified Organic (NYCO)/ Cornell Organic Dairy and Field Crop Program Work Team Meeting. We have also presented in academic settings including at the Harvard Forest in Petersham, MA and at the Free University of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy. Visits to the facilty were also part of Founding Donors Day at the UNH Organic Dairy Research Farm, where the composting facility is located. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? We will publish a detailed guide to building a static pile aerobic composting facility through NH Cooperative Extension We will publish an analysis of costs of producing shavings for bedded pack operations using low quality softwoods and a shaving machine.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
In previous years we have concentrated on the potential to increase the value of low-quality softwood sources, and reduce the cost of bedding to dairy farmers, by developing and quantifying a system for converting wood to shavings. With a shaving machine now on site, we have been able to do some initial testing of time and effort required to run the machine, and a full cost model is underdevelopment. In this final year of the project, we turned our attention to the actual composting process. With a $550,000 donation from a private supporter, the University constructed a state-of-the-art static pile aerobic composting facility. This facility includes extra mechanical and physical components that will allow experiments on mixing rations, rate of aeration and other aspects of the composting process. Support from this project combined with additional resources from a USDA-SARE award, we have tested and fine-tuned this facility, and loaded it with the first full set of materials. Continuous measurements of pile and air-stream temperatures are now being made, with additional instrumentation on the way that will allow direct calculation of BTU yield from the system. The composting system has attracted quite a bit of attention at farm days and through other group visits to the Burley-Demeritt farm where it is located. We have also begun partnering with several local commercial composters, and continue our partnership with AgriLab Technologies, LLC.
Publications
- Type:
Websites
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2013
Citation:
www.aberlab.net
- Type:
Other
Status:
Under Review
Year Published:
2014
Citation:
Smith, M. in review. Heat Recovery from Compost: A step-by-step Guide on Building an Aerobic Static Pile Heat Recovery Compost Facility. To Be Published by NH Cooperative Extension.
- Type:
Theses/Dissertations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2011
Citation:
Ashley Green, Pasture Biomass Estimation and Growth Response to Intensive Rotational Grazing in Northeastern U.S. (M.S.)--University of New Hampshire (Dept. of Natural Resources), 2011, 60 pgs.
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Progress 10/01/11 to 09/30/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Over the past fiscal year, our research team has made significant steps toward establishing a more closed agroecosystem at the UNH Organic Dairy. Both the on-farm animal bedding production project and the heat-recovery composting project gained momentum and are within a few months of operation. For both of these projects, this past year has been focused on research & development. With regard to the on-farm animal bedding production project, we finalized which machines would be most suitable for our farm, and similarly-sized farms throughout the New England region. We analyzed industrial chippers with screens, tub grinders, and shaving machines. Part of our analysis involved going to the Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo in VT to see the various machines in action and to collect biomass samples to determine the overall quality of the material. Within this analysis, we looked at cost, ease of use, and time commitment to produce the material. For companies that were not present at the trade show, we obtained operational manuals, specs, and bedding samples via mail. In addition to an analysis on the machines available for the production of bedding, we also completed a one acre patch cut at the UNH Organic Dairy, to provide biomass needed for the bedding research project. A final output within this project was the development of the "on-farm animal bedding production model." The goal is to provide farmers with an easy to use model that will allow them to plug in their own farm variables and determine whether it is profitable to purchase a shaving machine. We are still testing the model and will refine it further following the running of the bedding machine. Outreach for this portion of the project has included discussions with local sawmills, which are the primary providers of woody animal bedding in the region. Output for the heat-recovery compost facility, has come in the form of developing the most economic method to build such a facility. As these facilities are in their infancy, our research team has spent the past year working closely with UNH engineers and those from Milestone Engineering and Construction Inc. to develop and design a facility that can be replicated by farmers and institutions alike. Facility completion is scheduled for February 2013. Output for this portion of the project has been in the form of initial guidance for the possible construction of a similarly-sized composting facility by a local composting business. Site visits and initial economic data have been provided to help this business reach their goal of building an aerated composting facility. PARTICIPANTS: Matt Smith, MS, UNH, is a Ph.D. student on this Project. Matt has a masters degree in Resource Economics and is carrying forward the work on the bedding production and composting experiments. Brian Jerose, of Waste Not Resource Solutions, Enosburg Falls, VT has been an active partner in the design of the composting facility. We have worked closely with the Department of Energy and Campus Development at UNH on the design and construction of a $550,000 composting facility that will be the centerpiece of this research. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences will include primarily animal operations that requiring bedding, generate substantial bedding/manure streams, and can use high quality heat as an energy resource for space heating or processing. Our facility is a bedded-pack organic dairy farm, and results will be especially relevant to this community. However, many animal facilities (e.g. equine) also use considerable amounts of bedding which may be provided more economically through the use of low quality, as studied in this project. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Following our initial findings on the various machines that produce animal bedding, we found that the most economical and best quality material came from shaving machines, and not chippers or grinders which can produce a "biosawdust" product for animal bedding purposes. This initial outcome led the research team to focus specifically on shaving machines and the construction of the "on-farm animal bedding production model," which specifically allows a farmer to compare multiple shaving machines to their available budget and bedding needs. A polished version of this model will come out shortly. Resources in the form of USDA grant money were used to fund these initial findings, and the eventual publication of our results/model. A final outcome generated from our initial data analysis has come from the design/build process for the heat-recovery composting facility. During this process, our research team carefully documented the various cost-reducing strategies we used, as we were intending on providing the information to the public once complete. Although the facility is still under construction, we have already been approached by a business intending on building a commercial-sized composting facility similar to the one being built at UNH. We are currently coordinating with this business, and providing detailed information and recommendations on the building process to save them cost. We also hope to form a partnership with this business, where we can provide them with the most up to date information on the type of compost technology we are both employing. As a research facility, we will be able to take the risks they cannot afford. Resources in the form of USDA grant money have helped support several aspects of this project, including the support of a graduate student who is working with the design/build team on developing a facility that is specifically geared for research experimentation.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/10 to 09/30/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: This goal of this project is to design and implement a method for reducing costs and environmental impacts, and enhancing the sustainability of small to medium-sized dairy farms by utilizing on-farm wood supplies for bedding, and composting the resulting mixutre aerobically for heat energy. This past year, a number of conversations were held with industry representatives, both potential suppliers of equipment, and processors of raw organic milk, to gather information on needs and possible processes. In-depth discussions were also held with a small number of practicing farmers who share an interest in this process. A general description of this process and its potential is part of every tour given at the demonstration site; the Burley-Demeritt farm. PARTICIPANTS: This project provided support for a doctoral student, Matt Smith, engaged with system design and economic analyses. Matt attended a number of regional meetings related to farm activities Partnering organizations have included Stonyfield and Organic Valley dairy processors. TARGET AUDIENCES: Primarily Dairy farmers but potentially other animal farmers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Results so far have been focused on refining the wood-bedding-compost process, and on designing a facility to house the composting segment. We are at the stage of design-build drawings for the facility and have performed significant cost-benefit and life-cycle cost analyses.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 10/01/09 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Presentations made to: Approximately 40 Agricultural Attaches arrange by Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Dr. Kathleen Merrigan Top management personnel from Stonyfield Farms, Horizon Organic Dairy, Aurora Organic Dairy and Organic Valley, attended also by Lorraine Merrill, State Commissioner of Agriculture. UNH Alumni Association (Site visit for annual meeting) USDA-SARE Northeast Executive Committee About 50 people from UNH and surrounding communities, including NH Secretary of Agriculture Lorraine Merrill, who attended the first Burley Demeritt/Organic Diary Field Day in August 2010 A number of local farmers, visiting Faculty, and community members who are always welcome at the Farm. Students in UNH classes, including: Dairy Management I and II "The Real Dirt" Introduction to Horticulture Forages Ecogastronomy Water - How Much is Enough Principles of Hydrology Students from pre K-12 schools, including Oyster River Preschool/Parents Phillips Exeter Academy Dairy Travel Course Students Trained include the following Masters students who have completed or are nearing completion of their thesis work (with thesis titles and date of completion): Jennifer Campbell (SARE) - Earth Science - Spatial and temporal groundwater recharge patterns in a temperate climate: An investigation at the Burley Demeritt Farm, Lee, New Hampshire - May 2010. Catherine Dunlap (SARE/NHAES) - Natural Resources and the Environment - Seasonal nitrate dynamics in an agriculturally influenced New Hampshire headwater stream - May 2010 Michelle Galvin (SARE) - Natural Resources and the Environment - Hydrologic and nutrient dynamics in an agriculturally influenced New England floodplain - May 2010 Ashley Green (NHAES/SARE) - Natural Resources and the Environment - Investigating optimal methods for measuring pasture productivity and grazing intensity under intensive rotational management - Degree expected December 2010. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
A new direction in experimental management for the Farm has been established partly to support the SARE project and has resulted in significant changes in facilities design. The newly (2009) constructed barn which houses stock in the winter was constructed as a bedded pack facility in cooperation with the composting and nutrient management goals of the SARE project. It also includes runoff reduction and sediment retention that should reduce N inputs to groundwater. Plans for a manure handling facility are going forward with the goal of incorporating information gained from the composting research objective of this project.
Publications
- None yet in 2010. Each masters thesis is anticipated to result in an article in a peer reviewed publication.
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