white meat-green farm: case study of brinson farms
DESCRIPTION
Proceedings available at: http://www.extension.org/67659 Comprehensive on-farm resource utilization and renewable energy generation at the farm scale are not new concepts. However, truly encompassing implementation of these ideals is lacking. Brinson Farms operates 10 commercial broiler houses. The farm generates heat for its houses using biomass boilers and litter anaerobic digestion to produce methane. Solar panels assist in heating process water for the boilers and digester. Biomass feedstock includes litter as well as municipal yard wastes. Liquid fertilizer is a product of the digester while residual solids are included in the farm’s composting operation. The operator has used a futuristic approach to not only attain energy independence for the farm, but also to comprehensively utilize byproducts of production and other local “wastes”, diverting them from local landfills. Considering the propane cost for a single winter flock has reached $66,000 and the annual electric bill may be $120,000, energy costs very much affect grower profitability. This approach decreases the uncertainty in energy costs. Brinson Farms provides a unique look into ensuring long-term farm sustainability in an environmentally friendly way and with a wide-ranging systems approach to management. Presented by: Dana MilesTRANSCRIPT
Compost Facility
Dana M. Miles United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service,
Genetics and Precision Agriculture Research Unit, Mississippi State, MS ([email protected])
Significance: Sustainable on farm energy production is lacking. Rising energy costs endanger broiler growers’ viability and profitability. Brinson Farms, operating 10 commercial broiler houses in Prentiss, MS, demonstrates comprehensive utilization of local resources that have historically been viewed as wastes. These organic materials (broiler litter, yard trimmings, storm damaged trees and waste vegetables) come from both the farm and the community. Broiler litter and waste vegetables are anaerobically digested to produce methane. The methane is then used in three ways: 1) to generate electricity for the farm; 2) in boilers to heat water used in the digestion process; and 3) in dual-fuel biomass boilers to heat water for heat exchange in the broiler houses when biomass sources are low. Two other significant products from the digester include liquid fertilizer (approximately 5-2-3) that is sold and residual solids that are incorporated into the farm’s composting facility. Solar panels assist in heating water for the biomass boilers and the digester, as well as produce electricity. The operator has used a futuristic approach to not only attain energy independence for the farm, but also to comprehensively utilize byproducts of production and other local “wastes”, diverting them from local landfills. Considering the propane cost for a single winter flock has reached $66,000 and the annual electric bill may be $120,000, energy costs very much affect grower profitability. This approach decreases the uncertainty in energy costs. Brinson Farms provides a unique look into ensuring long-term farm sustainability in an environmentally friendly way and with a wide-ranging systems approach to management. On-farm research began in 2003; the digester came on-line in 2007. The simple payback period for the on-farm poultry litter digester system is approximately 5 years.
Purpose: The purpose of the renewable energy project was to implement an innovative, sustainable solution to manage poultry manure and other organic waste products using anaerobic digestion as well as to demonstrate the ability to effectively and economically reduce dependence on outside utilities.
Simplified System Schematic
Acknowledgements: The assistance of John Logan ([email protected]) and Jeff Breeden ([email protected]) to effectively describe the Brinson Farm system is greatly appreciated.
For further information: Brinson Farms: http://brinsonfarms.com/
Eagle Green Energy: http://egesystems.com/
Arora, S. 2011. Poultry Manure: The New Frontier for Anaerobic Digestion. http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb1046769.pdf
Renewable energy input
Arrows represent:
Component Interconnections
Broiler Production
Solar Power
Anaerobic Digester Complex
Biomass Boilers
Compost Facility
Take Home Message: Brinson Farms provides a unique, integrated system to ensure long-term farm sustainability in an environmentally beneficial manner. Attributes include: 1) bio-based energy production; 2) reduced & predictable utility costs; 3) comprehensive litter utilization; 4) no need to land apply poultry litter; 5) production of high quality, organic liquid fertilizer; 6) production of a marketable soil amendment (compost); & 7) diverting wastes from landfills. The farm/community interface is mutually advantageous. The farm uses yard trimmings and trees for energy and as a compost substrate; the community has a free repository to dispose of the biomass, where otherwise it would have to pay landfill fees.
Biomass Boilers
Solar Power
Individual System Components
Broiler Production
Heat Electricity
Litter Heat Heat Electricity
Biomass
Electricity Heat
Methane
Heat (Solar, Methane) Litter Waste Vegetables
Solids, Liquid Fertilizer
Anaerobic Digester
Potting soil, Mulch
Litter Waste Vegetables
Biomass
Solids
Met
hane
Met
hane
Livestock & Poultry Environmental Learning Center, www.extension.org/63747/ Conference: From Waste to Worth: “Spreading” Science & Solutions; Denver, CO; April 1-5, 2013
Sustainability
Farm
Community