 |
|||||||||||
|
December 2013 Newsletter of ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service: A program of the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT). This issue of ATTRAnews is available online.
Opportunities Abound for Dairy Farm Energy EfficiencyAdapted from Dairy Farm Energy Efficiency, by Andy Pressman, NCAT Agriculture Specialist Dairy farms today face challenges and opportunities fueled by rapidly rising energy costs and concerns about environmental impacts. Dairy farms use more energy than almost any other agricultural operation. Energy is used in the milking process and for cooling and storing milk, heating water, lighting, and ventilation. Determining the best energy-efficiency and energy-management opportunities for dairy farms will help reduce energy costs, enhance environmental quality, and increase productivity and profitability. Energy Efficiency in the Milking Process A variable-speed drive (VSD), also referred to as an adjustable-speed drive or variable-frequency drive, is an energy-efficient technology used for controlling the vacuum level on sliding-vane rotary pumps and rotary-lobe pumps. Energy operating costs of a vacuum system with a VSD can be reduced by up to 60 percent. Milk Cooling Systems Installing a properly sized precooler can reduce refrigeration energy consumption by about 60 percent. A properly sized well-water heat exchanger can reduce milk temperatures to within 5 to 10° of the groundwater temperature. A refrigerant heat recovery (RHR) unit can recover 20 to 60 percent of the energy that is removed from the milk cooling process. It is possible for RHR units and milk precoolers to interact and compete with each other, however. For maximum energy savings, an energy audit should be conducted to determine if one or both units would be optimal. Heating Water Lighting Ventilation Dairy ventilation systems require routine maintenance to keep fans operating at high performance levels. Poorly maintained fans and obstruction to air inlets and fan outlets can reduce fan efficiency by as much as 40 to 50 percent. Cleaning fan parts, lubricating bearings and other moving parts, checking belt tension and alignment, and removing any obstructions will keep fans performing at peak efficiency and reduce energy costs. To learn more about implementing efficiency improvements in your dairy farm, consult the ATTRA publication Dairy Farm Energy Efficiency. ^ Back to top ^Harvesting Sunlight for Your Stock
Adapted from Solar-Powered Livestock-Watering Systems, by Mike Morris, Vicki Lynne, and Chris Lent, NCAT Remote or off-grid power sources—including solar panels, mechanical windmills, wind turbines, and portable generators—can pump water for livestock in locations where electricity from power lines is unavailable. By encouraging animals to move away from ponds and streams, these systems give livestock greater access to forage. They also reduce livestock pressure on stream banks, preventing nutrient loading, streamside vegetation damage, erosion, and pollution. Solar pumping works anywhere the sun shines, and most parts of the United States have plenty of sunlight to run these systems. Solar pumping is a natural match for summer grazing applications, since it produces the greatest volumes of water in sunny weather and during long summer days—exactly when animals need water the most. With proper precautions, solar pumping systems can be used during the winter months too, even though shorter daylight hours will cause reduced water output. Why should you consider installing a solar-powered livestock watering system on your farm or ranch? These factors may affect your decision:
Solar-powered systems have a relatively high initial cost compared to low-quality, generator-powered systems, but they are long-lasting and require little maintenance. Solar watering systems have few moving parts, and the components have proven to be very reliable when installed properly. Warranties on solar panels are usually 20 years or more. A typical solar-powered stock-watering system includes a solar array (a group of solar modules), a pump, a storage tank (generally three to 10 days' worth of water storage tanks), and a controller, which varies voltage to optimize the amount of water pumped in less-than-ideal light conditions and protects the pump from high or low voltage that would damage the pump. The average consumer is likely to be intimidated by the prospect of sizing and designing a solar pumping system, and most people need help from a qualified solar dealer. In order to size and design a system correctly, the dealer will want to know:
Based on these factors, the dealer will recommend a system, putting together a list of suitable components. This is one area where the dealer's experience and familiarity with systems is essential. A dealer can also save you time and aggravation by providing the correct hardware: clips, screws, nuts, bolts, washers, cable (cut to correct lengths), and assorted wiring and connectors. The customer usually provides peripheral items, such as water piping and fittings, tanks, mounting structure support post, concrete, and grounding materials. Installing a solar pumping system, however, is generally something the landowner can do. A few words of caution are necessary, however. Installing one of these systems is a complex task, combining elements of electrical work, plumbing, and heavy construction (often including earthmoving, concrete-pouring, and welding). Written instructions are not always as complete as they should be. A backhoe or tractor with a front-end loader is almost a necessity for some larger projects. Because of falling prices, long life, and low maintenance requirements, solar is rapidly becoming the first choice for pumping water in remote locations. Is it right for your farm or ranch? Learn more in the ATTRA publication Solar-Powered Livestock Watering Systems. ^ Back to top ^ Applying for 2014 CSP Funding? ATTRA Can Help!The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) has been announced and applications are due by January 17, 2014. CSP is a voluntary program that rewards farmers and ranchers for current conservation practices, including energy conservation, and for putting in place additional new conservation practices and enhancements over a five-year contract period. Through CSP, NRCS will provide financial and technical assistance to eligible producers to conserve and enhance soil, water, air, and related natural resources on their land. Depending on your desire to maintain and make new conservation efforts, this program can provide up to $200,000 in support over five years. The higher the operational performance, the higher the payment. Farmers and ranchers can apply at any time, but to receive funding in the current 2014 federal fiscal year, your application should be started by January 17, 2014. The National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition developed an excellent step-by-step guide to applying for the CSP in 2014. It is available here. If you're not sure whether CSP is right for you, you can start by filling out the Conservation Stewardship Program Self-Screening Checklist, available here. If you have questions about the checklist, contact your local NRCS office. If you need assistance or further information about accessing this program, ATTRA can help! Call the ATTRA toll free hot-line number at 1-800-346-9140 (English) and 1-800-411-3222 (Spanish). An example: This enhancement supports upgrading existing single-speed electric motors through the addition of variable-frequency electric drives. These motors are often used for pumping irrigation water. A variable-frequency drive motor improves the system's energy efficiency under most operating conditions by matching the motor speed to the load. In contrast, the output of a single speed motor-drive system will rarely match the actual demand and is controlled in some way that often wastes a large part of the power it produces. A replacement may also be included in some cases. Want more details? Check out "Energy Enhancement Activity – ENR09 - Variable frequency drive electric motors," available here.
^ Back to top ^
ATTRA PublicationsHere is a sampling of ATTRA publications and resources related to farm energy. Be sure to check out our new and updated publications, too! Farm Energy Publications
You can find lots resources of on farm energy alternatives at https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/farm_energy/! New and Updated Publications
See the full list of ATTRA publications at https://attra.ncat.org/publication.html Call 800-346-9140 for a printed copy. Prices vary. Many resources are free. ^ Back to top ^
ATTRAnews is the newsletter of the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. The free newsletter is distributed throughout the United States to farmers, ranchers, Cooperative Extension agents, educators, and others interested in sustainable agriculture. ATTRA is funded through the USDA Rural Business-Cooperative Service and is a project of the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), a private, non-profit organization that since 1976 has helped people by championing small-scale, local and sustainable solutions to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities, and protect natural resources.
Carl Little, Project Manager Comments? Questions? E-mail the ATTRAnews editor Karen Van Epen at karenv@ncat.org.
ATTRA - National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
^ Back to top ^ |
© Copyright 2013 NCAT