Progress 05/01/17 to 04/30/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Development of a 200-level dual-credit aquaculture course specifically targets high school students who expect to continue their education at a college or university. A secondary audience is the high school instructors and administrators working in support of higher education. Evaluation of floating raceway designs targets small-scale farmers who wish to produce live fish, Extension personnel working with these farmers, vendors serving the producers, and the customers purchasing locally produced fish. Locating floating raceway facilities on the KYSU research farm provides a venue for the public to see the systems in operation and learn about fish farming methods. Changes/Problems:Dr. Sid Dasgupta, the faculty on the project responsible for economics and marketing, left Kentucky State University prior to the 2021 production season. For this reason, an economic analysis of 2021 catfish production for the KSU floating raceways was not conducted as planned. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Investigators, students and staff have participated in meetings of the Kentucky Academy of Sciences, the Annual International Meeting of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, and several meetings of the World Aquaculture Society from 2019 to 2022. This project has been central to the successful completion of two Master's degrees, one at Kentucky State University, and another at the University of Kentucky. Brown, James, 2022. Evaluation of Three Types of Devices to Induce Water Flow and the Effect of Screen Mesh Size on Flow in Floating Raceways. M.S. Thesis, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY. Smith, Bo H., 2021. Modeling Energy Flows in Floating In-Pond Raceways Utilizing Solar Power Backup. M.S. Thesis, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Obj 4. This project assembled a unique team creating ties between growers, high school instructors and their students, a raceway manufacturer, as well as extension and research personnel at UK and KSU. It brought agricultural engineering expertise to our research farm and our students. The research and demonstration facilities at KSU have become a featured location for numerous tours by farmers, school groups, and other visitors attending activities at the farm. Workshops have been held to feature demonstration on the selected farms. Practical feasibility of the technology to grow and market catfish, trout, and tilapia has also been demonstrated Ulrich's in London, KY. A time lapse video showing construction of a pilot scale floating nursery unit using the suspended design was created. Staff have assisted a local grower with construction of a floating raceway on his farm. Presentations have been made at grower meetings in Kentucky and Ohio, professional associations like the World Aquaculture Society and Kentucky Academy of Sciences, and featured in other extension programming. Investigators were featured in a virtual panel of an international webinar sponsored by the Soy Aquaculture Alliance. Material generated has been featured in the KSU Aquativities newsletter, and on the KSU Aquaculture Division web site. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Obj 1. AQU 201 (Fisheries for an Educated Consumer) curriculum was improved and developed as an online course. It was taught as a dual credit course in high schools during spring 2020, 2021, and 2022. The AQU 201 course is now a required part of the curriculum for an undergraduate degree in Agriculture, Food and the Environment (AFE) at Kentucky State University. Obj 2. Design of a viable solar powered floating raceway faces numerous challenges. Demand created by electric motor to operate a grid airlift continuously is significant. The limitation for capturing and storing energy to meet the demand with adequate safety factor is also significant. Investigators developed a computer based selection model for sizing of solar panels and battery back-up systems for use in a floating raceway. Power requirements vary based on water moving device type. Slow moving paddle wheels are the most efficient and the traditional airlift is the least efficient. The required solar system sizes to support off-grid solar power to operate an in-pond raceway (IPR) all-year are substantial for even small continuous electrical loads. Required system sizes vary by location but supporting a small 250 W continuous load in London, KY, would require 15 kW of solar panels and a 50 kWh battery capacity. Since major energy depletion events are clustered in winter months, the system sizes get smaller and larger loads can be considered if raceways are only operated between March and October. At the London, KY location with a 250 W load, the required system would decrease to 4 kW of solar and 30 kWh of batteries. Overall, the batteries experience very low depths of discharge in the average cycle, so battery life should be excellent. Further research is necessary to determine how supplemental non-solar energy could be used to support the rare major energy depletion events and to quantify the effect replacing the constant motor loads with a variable speed motor control system would have on cumulative raceway energy demand for a growing season. This research would involve adjusting the model to support additional power sources and creating logic to determine when a propane generator would be activated to provide that power. Adjusting the model to incorporate variable electrical loads from variable flow rates based on fish demand would require significant additional study to characterize the loading patterns based on weather condition. While the required solar system sizes reported in this project are large, these future developments could reduce system sizes to make them more attainable and provide more aquaculture producers with reliable off-grid power for their in-pond raceway operations. A new floating raceway design suitable for the small farm was created featuring a frame with floatation at the water surface and the raceway suspended from it. Following proof of concept in 2021, one unit with the suspended design was scaled up over 300%. Though the entire unit is 9.8 m long, fish are confined in a 9 m3 chamber about 6 m long. It was equipped with a grid style airlift inducing flow at about 20 exchanges/minute. In this configuration, the device is capable of supporting 460 kg at a loading rate of 48 kg/m3 (3 lb/ft3). This represents about 3,500 phase II largemouth bass at harvest, or the equivalent yield from a 0.5-acre pond. Preliminary result with phase II largemouth bass in a single unit during 2021 yielded 22.7 kg/m3 with a survival rate of 85%. This design may be constructed on the farm with material costs for the raceway, floatation, air blower, screens, and grid airlift estimated at approximately $2,500/unit. The modest investment/unit and the capacity to increase stability and versatility by rafting units together in a single pond brings options to managers who wish integrate aquaculture enterprises into their operation. Obj 3. Channel catfish were grown in floating raceways (each 41 m3) with three different configurations. The first device was a grid style airlift supplied with a 1 hp regenerative blower. This design is the most common way to aerate and push water through a floating raceway. The second device was a ½ hp aerator motor with propeller oriented horizontally to push water through the raceway. The third device was a 0.25 hp aerator with propeller of a size suitable for solar power. Evaluation of the three systems was based on fish growth, survival, and flow rate from stocking on June 4 through November 18, 2021. Each raceway was stocked with 106 fish/m3 at 9.3 kg/m3. Respective average gain/fish associated with device 1, 2, and 3 was 409, 371, and 192 g/fish. Respective survival was 99.4%, 97.6% and 83.1% associated with device 1, 2, and 3. Respective flow through each raceway was 12.4, 6.1 and 4.3 m3/min corresponding to a rate of 17.9, 8.9, and 6.2 exchanges/hour associated with device 1,2, and 3. Yield from the three systems in the 0.65 ha pond was 9,451 kg/ha. Late in the growing season water quality deteriorated and it became necessary to install a 0.25 hp aerator in systems with devices 2 and 3. Though device 1 required a motor with capacity twice device two and four time device 3, it clearly performed better and required no additional aeration. Motor size of device 3 made it a viable candidate for solar power, but the flow induced was insufficient resulting in lower growth rate and survival than devices 1 and 2.
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Bo Smith, Joseph Dvorak, Ken Semmens, and Donald Colliver, 2022. Using a computer based selection model for sizing of solar panels and battery back-up systems for use in a floating in-pond raceway. Aquacultural Engineering 97 (2022) 102238, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaeng.2022.102238
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Brown, James, Ken Semmens, and Joseph Dvorak, 2022. Evaluation of Three Devices to Induce Water Flow and the Effect of Screen Mesh Size on Flow in Floating Raceways, Abstract and presentation. Aquaculture America, 2022, Feb 28 March 4, 2022, San Diego, CA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Armstrong, Dawson, and Kenneth Semmens, 2022. Modest Suspended Floating Raceway Design, Assembly, and Preliminary Evaluation, Abstract and presentation. Aquaculture America, 2022, Feb 28 March 4, 2022, San Diego, CA.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Brown, James, and Ken Semmens, 2021. Evaluating Screen Mesh Size and Grid Depth on Flow Rate of a Floating Raceway. Abstract and presentation. Aquaculture America, 2021, August 11-14, San Antonio, TX.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Armstrong, Dawson, and Kenneth Semmens, 2021. Floating Nursery Raceway Proof-of-Concept for Production of Phase I Fingerling Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides). Abstract and poster. Aquaculture America, 2021, August 11-14, San Antonio, TX.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Semmens, Kenneth J, 2021. Floating raceways for the small farm with comments on recent research. Third Thursday Thing, July 15, 2021. Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm, Kentucky State University, Frankfort, KY.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Semmens, Kenneth, 12/4/21. Floating Raceways for the small farm with comments on recent research. Presentation, Kentucky Aquaculture Association, Elizabethtown, KY.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2022
Citation:
Semmens, Kenneth, 1/28/22 Design, Construction, & Performance of a Modest Floating Raceway using a Suspended Design, Invited presentation, Ohio Aquaculture Association, Columbus, Ohio.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2021
Citation:
Semmens, Kenneth, 12/15/21. Floating Raceways for the Small Farm. Soy Aquaculture Alliance Virtual Forum: Aquaculture Systems and Soy Inclusion Rates. https://www.soyaquaculture.com/feeding-new-opportunities-event
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Progress 05/01/20 to 04/30/21
Outputs
Target Audience:Development of a 200-level dual-credit aquaculture course specifically targets high school students who expect to continue their education at a college or university. A secondary audience is the high school instructors and administrators working in support of higher education. Evaluation of floating raceway designs targets small-scale farmers who wish to produce live fish, Extension personnel working with these farmers, vendors serving the producers, and the customers purchasing locally produced fish. Locating floating raceway facilities on the KYSU research farm provides a venue for the public to see the systems in operation and learn about fish farming methods. Changes/Problems:We are grateful for the no cost extension and expect to meet the objectives of the grant when it ends in April of 2022. COVID policies have influenced our ability to engage farmers and host a workshop on floating raceways as planned. It has also influenced our ability to attend professional meetings to engage other investigators and present our results. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?An abstract for the annual meeting of the World Aquaculture Society was submitted and accepted, but the meeting was postponed due to COVID. The information will be presented at the meeting when it is held in San Antonio, TX later in 2021. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Presentations were made to the "Third Thursday Thing" with KSU Extension, and at the Kentucky Academy of Sciences. Both presentations were recorded for virtual use and distribution. Presentations and the time lapse video showing construction of a floating nursery has been shared directly with farmers in contact with aquaculture extension and research investigators. Due to COVID, it has not been possible to hold a workshop at the research farm which utilizes the floating raceways as a demonstration facility. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?In 2021, we will offer the AQU 201 course again as a dual credit course and to KSU students in the AFE program. The AQU 201 course is now a required part of the curriculum for an undergraduate degree in Agriculture, Food and the Enviornment (AFE) at Kentucky State University. We will grow channel catfish in floating raceways with three different configurations in 2021. The first device is a grid style airlift, the most common way to aerate and push water through a floating raceway. A second device using a propeller device pushing water horizontally through the raceway will have oxygen sensors and controls to turn on an aerator as needed. The third device is a smaller solar powered propeller unit with controls to turn on an aerator as needed. Performance of the three systems will be assessed through the growing season. In spring 2022, we expect to hold a floating raceway workshop for interested fish farmers in the region. We seek to build on success of the floating nursery for production of phase I largemouth bass.We will also construct three floating raceway units using thesuspended design developed initially in the floating nursery. We will use materials thatare locally available and assembly methods suitable for the small farm, but the scale will be a 5 fold increase of the the floating nursery.We will stock these systems with young of the year largemouth bass to generate seed for grow out of bass in 2022.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Obj 1. Develop implement, and assess the collaborative model integrating STEM and sustainable concepts for an online 200 level Aquaculture course offered for dual credit to high schools. AQU 201 was taught as a dual credit course during spring, 2020. The course was evaluated and modified in preparation for Spring, 2021. Obj 2. Improve and evaluate designs of floating raceways for the small farm. Small floating raceways were constructed and used as a nursery for Largemouth Bass (LMB) fry. Construction methods for the pilot scale suspended design was documented in a time lapse video. Three floating nurseries were designed and constructed for production of phase I. LMB was placed inside the raceway, the raceways were in a 0.1-acre pond. Three 0.1-acre ponds were managed as a control treatment. Each pond was fertilized to produce an abundant food supply. Raceway flow was 15 gpm. Each unit was stocked with 6000 fry and drained at harvest. Recovery of LMB after 27 days was 72.7% from floating raceways and 98% from nursery ponds. Apparent fish escapement from the floating raceway ranged from 1385 to 5902 fish. Mean weight of fish from nursery ponds was significantly greater than fish from floating raceways. Phase I LMB were successfully produced in a floating nursery. Escapement and food availability emerged as issues that can be addressed. Harvesting fish in the floating nurseries was easier and faster than harvesting the fish in ponds. The suspended floating raceway design used is affordable and easily constructed. Farmers could manage one nursery pond with several raceways to grow multiple groups separately. Obj 3. Verify production of catfish and economic performance of three floating raceway system designs. Installation of power from the bank to each raceway unit at the KSU Research Farm was completed. Dissolved oxygen sensors have been installed, calibrated, and have begun to reveal oxygen consumption patterns. Catfish were stocked in one unit late in the season. Feeding activity based on oxygen consumption peaked consistently at first dark. Obj 4. Extend information regarding design and use of flowing water systems to farmers and the aquaculture community. Presentations were made to the "Third Thursday Thing" with KSU Extension, and at the Kentucky Academy of Sciences. Both presentations were recorded for virtual use.A time lapse video showing construction of a floating nursery unit was developed.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Accepted
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Semmens, K.J., D. Armstrong, and J. Kelso, 2020. Downsizing the Floating Raceway, Third Thursday Thing, Harold Benson Research and Demonstration Farm, Frankfort KY, July 16.
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2020
Citation:
Armstrong, Dawson, K. Semmens, and J. Kelso, 2020. Floating raceway nursery proof of concept for production of phase I fingerling largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Abstract, Journal of the Kentucky Academy of Science, volume 81, pg 42.
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Progress 05/01/19 to 04/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Development of a 200-level dual-credit aquaculture course specifically targets high school students who expect to continue their education at a college or university. A secondary audience is the high school instructors and administrators working in support of higher education. Evaluation of floating raceway designs targets small-scale farmers who wish to produce live fish, Extension personnel working with these farmers, vendors serving the producers, and the customers purchasing locally produced fish. Locating floating raceway facilities on the KYSU research farm provides a venue for the public to see the systems in operation and learn about fish farming methods. Changes/Problems:Objective 1) COVID-19 and the policies put in place by High School administrators reduced the ability of High School instructors to cover the breadth of material as planned. Although students had access to course materials through the learning management system (Blackboard), there was significantly less opportunity for the High School instructors to engage the students to facilitate the course. It became apparent that the High School students tended not to possess the means, discipline, and/or foresight to cover all course materials independently and depend on this engagement. The result was that one of four units was not taught, half of the activities were not assigned, and there was no final exam. Student evaluations were based on the material covered. Objective 2) Obtaining administrative and purchasing approval with the Kentucky Division of Engineering and Contract Administration (DECA) to install electrical service from the water's edge to the floating raceways has delayed this project significantly. We are bound by KY law to use DECA. They dictate that each configuration must be designed by a certified engineer to meet code and they administer purchasing and installation through local contractors. During this reporting period, a bid was accepted from an electrical contractor and a purchase order was generated, but the installation was not completeas ofApril 30, 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic occurred just as the electrical contractor started work; this has prevented completion of the job to date.This purchase order is in support of equipment installation for devices to move water through the floating raceways and to install the two power configurations described in the grant. The budget narrative describes purchase of solar panels, batteries, inverters, power logging system, and research instrumentation - all of which depend on safe and reliable delivery of electricity to the floating raceways on the water. Although the delay is most regrettable, the DECA review has strengthened safety and improved the initial design. Objective 3) It will not be possible to stock the system for a full growing season in 2020 as planned and we expect to ask for a final no-cost extension if that objective is to be fully met. We have modified the 2020 work plan to evaluate devices moving water through the raceways. If possible, the three systems will be stocked for a season of production starting late this summer. Harvest will occur a year later. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Dr. Ken Semmens attended the Small Farms and the Puzzle of Profitability Seminar at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, KY, December 4, 2019. Dr Joseph Dvorak attended the 2019 Annual International Meeting of the American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers in Boston, MA, July 7-10, 2019. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The floating raceways installed at the Research Farm function as a demonstration facility to educate visitors, students, Extension personnel, faculty, and others regarding this technology and the potential value of water resources. Project information has been extended to the public at nine events in London, Frankfort, Louisville, and Elizabethtown, KY during the reporting period. List of events: Semmens, Ken, 2019. Introduction to Floating Raceways. Third Thursday Thing, May 16, 2019, KYSU Extension, Frankfort, KY. Dr. Ken Semmens participated in the Third Thursday Sustainable Agriculture Field Day on June 20, 2019 at the Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm. Dr. Ken Semmens, in association with James and Dennis Ulrich, participated in a presentation featuring a demonstration floating raceway at a Rotary Club Luncheon in London on June 10, 2019. Dr. Ken Semmens participated in the summer STEM Field Day at the Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm on July 20, 2019. Investigators conducted a workshop for high school instructors interested in participating in the AQU 201 dual-credit course on July 29, 2019. Dr. Ken Semmens represented School of Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at the KYSU display at the Kentucky State Fair on August 21, 2019. Investigators collaborated with University of Kentucky Extension Service to host a segment of the 2019 Farm Industry Tour and Aquaculture Field Day at Ulrick's Farm in London, KY, on September 25, 2019. Brown, James, and Ken Semmens, 2020. Improving Floating Raceways for Small Farms in Kentucky. Poster for the Legislative Fish Fry, on February 25, 2020. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The AQU 201 course will be evaluated from the perspective of the student, the high school instructor, and from the KYSU Instructor to generate recommendations for improvements to the course for spring 2021. Once electrical service is extended from the pond bank to panels adjacent to floating raceways, systems for monitoringoxygen and temperature will be installed. The suspended floating raceway design will be evaluated as a floating nursery for largemouth bass fingerling production on a pilot scale. The 2020 work plan has been modified to evaluate devices moving water through the raceways. A KYSU graduate student will conduct a comparison between the control treatment (airlift) and a propeller-driven device. Three configurations are of interest: 1) no screens, no fish; 2) with screens, no fish; and 3) with screens and with fish. A UK engineering student is expected to begin assessing the performance of slow rotational paddlewheel versus the control treatment and to develop a variable speed propeller-driven unit utilizing real=time data from oxygen sensors to vary flow and corresponding energy consumption. During the balance of the 2020 production season, UK investigators will collaborate with KYSU investigators to design and install a modest solar-powered system with battery backup utilizing the most energy efficient device.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Objective 1. During the summer of 2019, investigators conferred with a local high school instructor to review the proposed format for the AQU 201 dual-credit course. The bulk of lecture presentations for the class were recorded during spring 2019 and preparations were made to teach AQU 201 as a dual-credit class in spring 2020. The video component of the AQU 201 curriculum was edited and integrated with PowerPoint presentations in the summer and fall. As the semester began, files were loaded into the learning management system to provide all students and instructors access. Two sections ofAQU 201, "Fisheries for an Educated Consumer", were taught as a dual-credit course for the first-time during the spring2020 semester.Although the semester was interrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic, students continued working until the semester ended. Students surveyed at semester's end ranked their satisfaction with the course at 89%. Both high school instructors facilitating the course plan on offering the course again in spring of 2021. Objective 2. The main dock has been assembled and is in place. Three raceways and the dock sections supporting them have been constructed, launched, and floated to the point of use. Electrical power to the pond bank adjacent to raceway docks has been installed. Weekly measurement to characterize the pond water quality before and during operation of floating raceways continued through the reporting period. The pond no longer is stratified with low oxygen on the bottom of the pond during the summer months. Aquatic vegetation has been managed with koi and grass carp. Brood paddlefish and catfish have been stocked in the pond and fry were produced from each species during the respective spawning season. End walls at the inlet of each raceway have been modified with a keyway such that different devices to move water can be secured, tested, and removed for modification as needed. Similar modification has been made to the end walls such that large screens of various mesh sizes can be inserted as needed. A flume with a uniform cross section has been added at the end of each raceway to assist with obtaining consistent measurement of water flow. Central to design of powering floating raceway with solar energy is the efficiency of the device to move water through the unit. Three designs to move water have been installed: airlift, propeller device, and a slow rotational paddlewheel. The slow rotational paddlewheel is expected to be the most energy efficient. We are assessing all three options and making plans to generate data for each design. The expected the cost/month for continuous operation of each of the installed designs to be $78.62 for the airlift (control treatment), $51.84 for the propeller unit, and $11.23 for the slow rotational paddlewheel unit. Flow rates for each unitare yet to be determined. An undergraduate research project has been initiated to evaluate a different floating raceway design concept - the suspended floating raceway. Three pilot scale units have been constructed for evaluation on a small scale as a floating nursery for largemouth bass fingerling production. Objective 3. No progress to report. Objective 4. The demonstration floating raceway installed at Ulrick's farm has operated with good result through the reporting period. In August 2019, tilapia were stocked in the quiescent zone and were later harvested and sold live as a food fish to a minority vendor selling in the Lexington Community. This farmer has found that marketing represents a greater challenge than production. Hybrid channel catfish were grown out during summer and a partial harvest of 1700 lb occurred in late spring 2020. In the spring of 2020, the back half of the raceway was managed as a trap to capture hungry channel catfish fish loose in the pond. Investigators collaborated with University of Kentucky Extension Service to host a segment of the 2019 Farm Industry Tour and Aquaculture Field Day at Ulrick's Farm in London, KY. James Brown, a KYSU aquaculture graduate student, submitted a thesis proposal to conduct a comparison between the control treatment (airlift) and a propeller-driven device. Three configurations are of interest: 1) no screens, no fish; 2) with screens, no fish; and 3) with screens and with fish. Bo Smith, a University of Kentucky agricultural engineering student studying under Dr. Joseph Dvorak, constructed the devices to move water through the floating raceways and initiated a performance assessment of the slow rotational paddlewheel versus the airlift (control) treatment. Undergraduate research project by Dawson Armstrong - evaluate new design concept - suspended floating raceway constructed and evaluated on a small scale as a floating nursery for largemouth bass fingerling production. Three units have been constructed for stocking with largemouth bass swim-up fry during the 2020 Largemouth Bass spawning season. Investigators have participated in Extension events in London, Frankfort, Louisville, and Elizabethtown, KY.
Publications
- Type:
Conference Papers and Presentations
Status:
Other
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Semmens, Kenneth J. (2019). Introduction to Floating Raceways. Kentucky Aquaculture Association Meeting, December 14, 2019. Elizabethtown, KY.
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Progress 05/01/18 to 04/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Development of a 200 level dual-credit aquaculture course specifically targets high school students who expect to continue their education at a college or university. A secondary audience is the high school instructors and administrators working in support of higher education. Evaluation of floating raceway designs targets small-scale farmers who wish to produce live fish, Extension personnel working with these farmers, and vendors serving the producers. Locating floating raceway facilities on the KSU research farm provides a venue for the general public to see the systems in operation and learn about fish farming methods. Changes/Problems:Obtaining administrative and purchasingapproval to conduct the work and install electrical infrastructure has delayed this project. As a result, we have modified the 2019 work plan to evaluate devices moving water through the raceways. A KYSU graduate student will conduct a comparison between the control treatment (airlift) versus a propeller driven device. Three configurations are of interest: 1) no screens, no fish, 2) with screens, no fish, and 3) with screens and with fish. A UK engineering student is expected to begin assessing the performance of slow rotational paddlewheel versus the control treatment. Installation and evaluation of solar panels and battery backup will occur for the 2020 production season, later than originally planned. Operation of three raceways for production will occur in 2020. The actual cost of installing floating raceway dock sections that are large and stable enough for small groups at the research farm was much greater than anticipated. As a result, the commitment to installation of the second demonstration system is currently on hold. Co-investigator Karen Heavin is no longer with Kentucky State University. While is this regrettable, the dual credit course remains on track to meet the planned objective. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Investigators attended the World Aquaculture Society meeting in spring 2019 to review developments in floating raceway research and Extension and to converse with vendors regarding systems to monitor water quality. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?
Nothing Reported
What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The video component of the AQU 201 curriculum will be edited and integrated with PowerPoint presentations during the summer and fall of 2019. We expect to complete development of AQU 201 as a dual-credit course and offer it for the first time during the 2020 spring semester. A floating raceway workshop will be held at Ulrick's farm near London, KY, in 2019. Electrical service will be extended from the pond bank to panels adjacent to floating raceways. Monitoring systems for oxygen and temperature will be installed. Devices for moving water will be evaluated in 2019. A KYSU graduate student will conduct a comparison between the control treatment (airlift) versus a propeller-driven device. Three configurations are of interest: 1) no screens, no fish; 2) with screens, no fish; and 3) with screens and with fish. A UK engineering student is expected to begin assessing the performance of slow rotational paddlewheel versus the control treatment. KYSU and UK investigators will collaborate to install battery backup and solar systems such that it will be operational for the 2020 production season.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The demonstration floating raceway installed at Ulrick's farm in the summer of 2017 has been operated to good results through 2018 and into 2019. A winter crop of rainbow trout was harvested in the spring. Hybrid channel catfish were grown out during summer of 2018 and a partial harvest of 1300 lb occurred in the fall. A second crop of trout were stocked in the fall and an additional harvest of 2000 lbs of catfish was made in early spring. Central to design of powering floating raceway with solar energy is the efficiency of the device to move water through the unit. This topic became a senior design project for University of Kentucky engineering students. There are three basic designs to move water through a floating raceway: airlift, propeller device, and a slow rotational paddlewheel. The most energy-efficient is the slow rotational paddlewheel. We are assessing all three options and making plans to generate data for each design. The main dock has been assembled and is in place. Three raceways and the dock sections supporting them have been constructed, launched, and floated to the point of use. End walls at the inlet have been modified with a keyway such that different devices to move water can be secured, tested, and removed for modification as needed. Electrical power to the pond bank adjacent to raceway docks has been installed. Weekly measurement of water quality will characterize the pond water quality before operation of floating raceway begins. Aquatic vegetation is being managed with koi and grass carp. Brood paddlefish and catfish have been stocked in the pond. Investigators conferred with a local high school instructor to review the proposed format for the AQU 201 dual-credit course. During spring semester 2019, the curriculum was improved and tested by presenting it to KYSU undergraduate students. The bulk of lecture presentations for the class have been recorded. Preparations continue for teaching AQU 201 as a dual-credit class in spring 2020.
Publications
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Progress 05/01/17 to 04/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Development of a 200-level, dual-credit aquaculture course specifically targets high school students who expect to continue their education at a college or university. A secondary audience are the high school instructors and administrators working in support of higher education and dual-credit classes at Kentucky State University. Evaluation of floating raceway designs targets small-scale farmers who wish to produce live fish for food or recreation, Extension personnel working with these farmers, and vendors serving these producers. Locating floating raceway facilities on the KSU research farm provides a venue for the general public to see the systems in operation and learn about fish farming methods. Changes/Problems:Obtaining administrative approval to install the electrical infrastructure has delayed delivery of power to the project site. This issue remains unresolved at this time. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Installation of a demonstration raceway near London, KY has impacted a local farmer and visitors to the site. A vendor of floating raceway products has also visited the site. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Installation of the electrical infrastructure and raceway systems at the KSU research farm is expected to occur in 2018. Investigators will review the content and format of the AQU 201 course with regard to its transformation as a dual-credit course. Input will be obtained from secondary school instructors regarding this process.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A demonstration floating raceway was installed at Ulrick's farm near London, KY in the summer of 2017. This exercise was instructive regarding installation of floating raceways at the Kentucky State University Research Farm in Frankfort. Catfish were captured from Ulirck's pond and held in the raceway during the winter. A divider was installed and rainbow trout were also stocked in the system for spring harvest. Ag Engineering faculty at the University of Kentucky consulted with KSU investigators regarding the infrastructure for the floating raceway systems. Plans were made for the installation of electrical infrastructure to occur in two phases. In the first phase, power will be carried to a load center adjacent to the pond and a backup generator will be installed. In the second phase, controls, power, batteries, and solar panels will be installed for each of 4 raceway treatments. UK faculty are developing specific designs associated with phase 2. The instructor for the AQU 201 course (Fisheries for an Educated Consumer) continues to modify and evaluate content of the course in preparation for transformation as a dual credit course.
Publications
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