UNH Organic Dairy Farm Agroecosystem Study, Phase II; A closed system, energy independent organic dairy farm for Northeastern U.S.

2014 Annual Report for LNE11-313

Project Type: Research and Education
Funds awarded in 2011: $392,658.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2014
Region: Northeast
State: New Hampshire
Project Leader:
Dr. John Aber
University of New Hampshire

UNH Organic Dairy Farm Agroecosystem Study, Phase II; A closed system, energy independent organic dairy farm for Northeastern U.S.

Summary

The current project was funded in the fall of 2011, the second three year award for a projected nine year project. Our original grant for the first three years was completed in the fall of 2011 and a final report has been submitted. This report covers the third full year of the second award. A no-cost extension for the project has been approved, so this is not the final year of activity on this award, so this is not a final report.

The overall goal of the project is to support the development of processes and practices that advance the concept of an energy-independent organic dairy with relatively closed nutrient cycles.

In the last 3 years, there has been increasing focus on an integrated wood-bedding-composting system intended to reduce bedding costs and close nutrient and energy cycles. This integrated system for reducing bedding costs, generating useful energy, and internalizing nitrogen and carbon cycles has become a signature part of this project, garnering significant private support and public attention.

All research and outreach activities are summarized at the project website:
www.aberlab.net

Objectives/Performance Targets

1. Integrated wood shavings/bedding/energy/compost system

Time, Effort and Economics Data for Producing Bedding from Low-Quality Pine

Objective: Analyse the cost-effectiveness of utilizing on-farm low-quality softwood resources as bedding material
Throughput and Efficiency of Static-Pile Aerobic Composting Facility

Throughput and Efficiency of Static-Pile Aerobic Composting Facility

Objective: Develop and test process for optimizing static-pile aerobic composting in an organic dairy farm setting

Another Potential Energy Source: Geothermal application for milk cooling

Objective: Anaylyze the cost-effectiveness of chilling milk with an in-line heat exchangers using groundwater as the heat sink to reduce this cost (a geothermal application)

2. Monitoring Environmental Quality and Impacts

Water Quality Monitoring

Objective: monitor the impact of changing practices on water quality

Groundwater Hydrology

Objective: Develop a model of groundwater hydrology for the farm.

Updating Data on the Nitrogen Cycle – And a Nitrogen Footprint Analysis

Objective: Develop complete input, output and internal cycling budgets for nitrogen on the farm.

Calculating the Water Footprint of the Farm

Objective: Calculate the total volume of freshwater required to create a product over all steps of the supply chain.

Accomplishments/Milestones

1. Integrated wood shavings/bedding/energy/compost system

Time, Effort and Economics Data for Producing Bedding from Low-Quality Pine

With support from the NHAES, UNH purchased a Tremzac 248T model wood shaving machine capable of producing all the bedding material used campus-wide. A first delivery of 60 cords of Eastern White Pine harvested from the woodlands at the ODRF is being processed, and data are being collected on the time, effort and cost of producing bedding in this way.

Initial economic analyses suggest that the highest economic value for low-quality softwoods, as well as some higher-quality materials, is as bedding, rather than pulp, chips or perhaps even sawn timber. However, initial trials with the machine have highlighted issues that reduce the realized value to levels well below projected.

Data collected during the processing of logs to bedding are being used to refine the initial economic model in order to produce realistic estimates of costs and revenues highlighted in this screen capture of sample inputs required.

Throughput and Efficiency of Static-Pile Aerobic Composting Facility

Composting has been integrated into the regular flow of work on the farm. All stockpiles of manure have been processed and we are on a regular schedule to load one bay every 4-6 weeks.

Since operations began in June of 2013, we have loaded 18 bays, processing approximately 810 wet tons or 1,260 cubic yards of material.

Temperatures achieved during composting have ranged from 110F to 150F depending on age and nature of material.

We have now begun to measure BTU generation and capture by the system as a function of age of material and temperature of water in the storage tank.

Efficiency of capture is closely related to tank temperature, indicating that placing a higher load on the hot water storage (e.g. heating a greenhouse or drying shavings) would increase the efficiency of the overall system.

An Allied Project (McIntire/Stennis funded) – A Survey of Bedding Usage and Outcomes
Lou Simms, Graduate Student – Ted Howard, Faculty Advisor

A detailed survey of bedding sources, uses and outcomes, with additional information on farm characteristics, herd size, milk production and somatic cell count was developed and mailed to 600 organic and conventional dairy farms throughout New England. A total 128 responses were received – a 21% return rate. Initial results suggest a very wide range of bedding materials and processes in use. No immediate relationship between bedding type and milk quality is apparent. In addition, the Burley-Demeritt Farm (the Organic Dairy Research Farm) is very similar to the modal dairy farm in the region responding to this survey in terms of acreage, herd size and amount of woodland potentially available for the production of bedding.

This survey has yielded a large number of practitioners who are interested in the bedding work and willing to participate in the process.

Another Potential Energy Source: Geothermal application for milk cooling

Chilling milk creates a significant demand for electricity on the farm (estimated cost – ~$2,000/yr). We examined the potential for in-line heat exchangers using groundwater as the heat sink to reduce this cost (a geothermal application). Results suggest that four wort chillers in parallel would provide optimal efficiency. However, savings in the cost of electricity was estimated at only ~$1/day, insufficient to warrant the investment in this cooling system.

2. Monitoring Environmental Quality and Impacts

Water Quality Monitoring

A series of groundwater wells established at the beginning of this project allows monitoring of the impact of changing practices on water quality. Data here are for total dissolved nitrogen in mg/L. For example, Well 9 is just downgradient from the pond used to hold liquid manure wastes from an adjacent pig barn (see next section). That barn was closed in 2008. Nitrate levels in well 9 have declined ever since.

Groundwater Hydrology

The same wells that were used to characterize groundwater quality also provided input for a model of groundwater hydrology for the farm. In cooperation with a NASA-funded project, a LIDAR image was acquired that exposed the topography of the surficial geology. Groundwater wells were drilled along the elevational gradient.Combining these data using the MODFLOW 2005 groundwater hydrology model yielded spatial predictions of nitrate concentration that were consistent with measurements and suggest that decreased concentrations between the farm operation areas and the Lamprey River could be explained by dilution.

Updating Data on the Nitrogen Cycle – And a Nitrogen Footprint Analysis

While we continue to monitor N inputs and outputs in several vectors, we need to repeat an intensive year of measurement of the complete input and output budgets. We will do this starting 1 January 2015 in association with the nitrogen footprint work outlined below. This study will also include carbon balances and will include a repeat of the study of pasture productivity conducted in 2009.

An Allied Project – Calculating the Nitrogen Footprint of the ODRF

As part of a cooperative project funded by EPA and led by the University of Virginia, UNH will be calculating the “Nitrogen Footprint” of the University as an Institution. In the first round of activity, UNH will be the only institution with a significant agricultural component. We will be collaborating with this project and calculating the nitrogen footprint of the farm as an extension of the nitrogen cycle which has already been developed and will be improved over the coming year.

Calculating the Water Footprint of the Farm

A water footprint is defined as the total volume of freshwater required to create a product over all steps of the supply chain. Water impacts are defined as green (used by plants for production), blue (freshwater used for feeding stock, cleaning etc.), and grey (waste water produced requiring water treatment). At the ODRF, almost all water usage is as green water. Calculation of green water use includes water used by plants in the production of feeds and bedding grown off-site, as well as pasture production on the farm.

The water footprint at the ODRF can be compared with national averages for pasture-based and industrial systems. Pasture systems use more green water due to higher production efficiencies in crop systems, but less blue and grey water.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

A fully functional website presenting all of the results and accomplishments to date has been developed and can be viewed at www.aberlab.net. This is the most complete and rapid way to communicate results. Outreach activities highlighted on the website for 2014 include:

Heat Recovery from Compost: A Step-by-Step Guide on Building an Aerobic Static Pile Heat Recovery Compost Facility – A major, detailed description of the specifications and construction process for the static-pile aerobic composting facility recently published online through NH Cooperative Extension in September 2014 http://www.aberlab.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Smith-and-Aber-2014-Heat-Recovery-from-Compost.pdf

Smith, M. and J.D. Aber. 2013. Heat Recovery from Compost. BioCycle 55:27-29
A summary description of the composting system in the trade journal BioCycle, published in February. http://www.biocycle.net/2014/02/21/heat-recovery-from-compost/

A presentation on the bedding/composting system at the NHAES Farm and Forest Expo in February

Technical advice has been provided to the following companies and organizations:
Earthbank Resource Systems Ltd., Vancouver British Columbia July 2014
Moor Farm/Stewardship & Sustainability, Durham, NH May 2014
Seacoast Energy Alternatives, Dover, NH March 2014
Hall and Moskow Real Estate , Neburyport, MA February 2014
The Peters Company, Lee, NH February 2014
Aquaponics & Compost Heat Recovery Venture, Manchester, NH February 2014
Payeur Farm Composting, Parsonsfield, ME September 2013
Fox Composting, Dover, NH January 2013

A major event sponsored by the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture and the NHAES marking the dedication of the composting facility for an innovator in sustainable agricultural technologies.

Dedication of the UNH Names Innovative Composting Facility after Sustainable Agriculture Pioneer – Technology Advanced by Josh Nelson Used at NHAES/UNH COLSA Organic Dairy Research Farm
http://colsa.unh.edu/aes/article/unh-names-innovative-composting-facility-after-sustainable-agriculture-pioneer

About 40 attendees
Story picked up and published in the following (40+) regional and national outlets:

NH/New England
Fosters (NH) New Hampshire Public Radio (NH)
New England Cable News (Boston) WHDH (Boston)
Caledonian Record (VT) WCAX (VT)
St. Albans Messenger (VT) Brattleboro Reformer (VT)
Portland Press Herald (ME) Stamford Advocate (CT)
Connecticut Post (CT) Greenwich Time (CT)
News Times (CT)

National
The News & Observer (NC) Heraldonline.com (PA)
Tampa Tribune (FL) The Sun News (SC)
Miami Herald (FL) Belleville News Democrat (IL)
The News Tribune (WA) Lake Wylie Pilot (SC)
SF Chronicle (CA) Seattle Post Intelligencer (WA)
The Island Packet (SC) The Sacramento Bee (CA)
Bradenton Herald (FL) Merced Sun-Star (CA)
The Fresno Bee (CA) The Olympian (WA)
The Macon Telegraph (GA) Tri-City Herald (WA)
The State (SC) Daily Journal (IL)
Pendleton Times-Post (IN) Daily Reporter (MI)
The Register-Guard (OR) Washington Times (MD)
Kansas City Star (MO) The Republic (National news aggregator)
NewsDaily (National news aggregator)

Niche Media Outlets
Biocycle.net Green Building Elements
Weekly Market Bulletin (NH Department of Agriculture)

Collaborators:

Dr. Matt Davis

matt.davis@unh.edu
Associate professor
Univ. of New Hampshire
James Hall
Durham, NH 03824
Office Phone: 6038621718
Dr. Bill McDowell

bill.mcdowell@unh.edu
Professor
James Hall
Durham, NH 03824
Office Phone: 6038622249