Energy Smart Horticulture. Michael Bomford Research and Extension Specialist, Organic/Sustainable Agriculture Kentucky State University

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1 Energy Smart Horticulture Michael Bomford Research and Extension Specialist, Organic/Sustainable Agriculture Kentucky State University

2 Why Reduce Fossil Fuel Use? Environmental reasons Reduce carbon emissions Reduce impacts of fossil fuel extraction and burning Economic reasons Reduce input costs (sometimes ) Energy typically ~10-15% of farm costs Reduce risk; enhance security, independence Prepare for energy-constrained future

3 Exajoules US Energy Consumption by Source, Coal Natural gas Petroleum Nuclear Hydro Geothermal Solar Wind Biomass DOE-EIA

4 KY Energy Consumption, Trillion BTU Energy price shock Increasing annual growth rate 1979 Energy price shock Decreasing annual growth rate 2008 Energy price shock No change from data from DOE-EIA, 2008

5 Changing face of US agriculture US farmland (10 7 ha) US farm population (10 6 ) Onion (t/ha) Potato (t/ha) Grain corn (t/ha) Direct and indirect energy use (10 17 J) Direct energy use (10 17 J) Miranowski, J Energy consumption in US agriculture. Agriculture as a Producer and Consumer of Energy

6 Land, labor and energy For 30 years US farmers have been making more efficient use of labor, land, and energy US farmers tend to use more land and less labor than farmers in other parts of the world US farmers tend to use less energy than farmers in other industrialized countries, but more energy than farmers in developing countries

7 Total Energy Consumed in US Farms in 2002 Total = 1.7 Quadrillion BTUs Pesticides 6% Gasoline 8% LP Gas 5% Natural Gas 4% Fertilizers 29% Electricity 21% Diesel 27% John Miranowski, Iowa State University

8 Quadrillion BTUs 3 Total Energy Consumed on US Farms, Natural gas Electricity LP gas Diesel 1 Gasoline 0 Fertilizers and pesticides John Miranowski, Iowa State University

9 Nova Scotia Windmill, Declan McCullagh Replacing Fossil Fuels on the Farm Fertilizers and pesticides (32%) Legumes to replace synthetic nitrogen fixation Reconnect crop and animal production Integrated pest management Diversity Resistant varieties Place-appropriate production systems Biological control, botanicals Diesel (27%) Biodiesel Equipment sized for task Machinery maintenance Draft power; human power Electricity (21%) Solar Wind Hydro Biomass

10 US Food System: 7.3 Calories Expended for Each Calorie of Food Energy Farming, 1.6 calories Household storage and preparation, 2.3 calories Transport, 1.0 calorie Food retail, 0.3 calories Processing, 1.2 calories Packaging, 0.5 calories Commercial food service, 0.5 calories Heller and Keoleian, 2000, University of Michigan Center for Sustainable Systems

11 Fresh field tomatoes 88 Canned tomatoes 177 Greenhouse tomatoes 1099 Food energy in tomato Embodied energy (Calories/serving) Anika Carlson-Kanyama, Sweden

12 Energy use for organic production in UK (% of conventional) Greenhouse tomatoes 130 Potatoes 102 Onion 84 Carrots 75 Leek 42 Cabbage 28 Azeez 2007 from MAFF/Defra data

13 Production Processing Packaging Transportation Distribution Shopping Home prep. Energy inputs for a 455 g can of sweet corn Total Food energy in corn

14 Weight and distance traveled (left) vs. greenhouse gas emissions (right) Planes 1% Boats 12% Big trucks 33% Planes 10% Boats 65% Little trucks 1% Car 13% Little trucks 8% Big trucks 57% The food mile is a misleading concept: How food travels has more impact on energy use and greenhouse gas emissions than how far it travels. Alison Smith et al The Validity of Food Miles as an Indicator of Sustainable Development: Final report. AEA Technology.

15 High tunnels and row covers instead of heated greenhouses

16 Dec. 15, 2009, Smiths Grove, KY. Paul and Alison Wieidger

17 March 24, 2009, Shelbyville, KY. Ken Waters

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19 Tomato season Greenhouse Field Fall high tunnel Transplant production Growth Harvest Spring high tunnel D J F M A M J J A S O N D

20 Mulching: Paper & hay instead of plastic

21 Cover Cropping Soil organic matter (%) WVU organic research project Winter rye & vetch cover crop Cover crop + Rye/vetch mix adds ~135 lb N/ac Slow release Organic matter Erosion control

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23 Reduced Tillage

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25 April 3, 2008, Berea, KY. Susana Susan Lein

26 April 3, 2008, Berea, KY. Susana Susan Lein

27 Compost

28 Reducing Energy Costs in Buildings Stop Air Leaks Insulate Adequately Turn Down Heat Use a Smaller Space Block off unused areas; heat smaller areas. Seek Cost-Effective Heat Sources Wood, used motor oil, passive solar Maintain Heating Systems Light Efficiently Replace incandescent with CFL, LED Turn off when not in use

29 Farm Equipment Motors Tune, clean & lubricate pumps, fans, blowers, compressors Irrigate with low pressure drip system on timer; fix leaks and clogs Machinery Reduce trips across field Reduce cultivation Shallow or none Machinery (cont.) Avoid excess horsepower Use the smallest tractor that will do the job Big tractors are only efficient for big jobs Tune, clean & lube Reduce pickup truck use Combine trips to town Use phone or internet if possible

30 Human Power

31 Rep 1 50 m N Biointensive Small farm Market garden Market garden Rep 3 Small farm Small farm Rep 2 Biointensive Biointensive Food Fuel Food Fuel Corn Soybean Sweet potato Market garden Rep 4 Small farm Biointensive Food Fuel Sweet sorghum Market garden

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33 Yield (kg/m 2 ) ± S.E Biointensive Market Garden Small Farm

34 Labor use (min/m 2 ) ± S.E Energy use (MJ/m 2 ) ± S.E Biointensive Market Garden Small Farm Biointensive Market Garden Small Farm Labor efficiency (g/min) Energy efficiency (g/kj) 0 0 Biointensive Market Garden Small Farm

35 Sept. 14, 2009, Georgetown, KY. John Bell

36 Contact: Michael Bomford Learn more: EnergyFarms.net Organic.KYSU.edu Thanks to Tony Silvernail John Rodgers Brian Geier Moises Hernandez KSU Farm crew John Bell Connie Lemley CASS program Post Carbon Institute Harold Benson Kimberley Holmes Robert Barney