AgOPP Vol 19, No 7 July 2008 Learning About the Wind by Ed Browning, Natural Resource Engineer, Jasper County In late May, I was directed to a web forum about wind energy. Getting accurate facts about wind energy has been a little elusive, but we're learning more as we go. I want to share some of the things I learned from the forum. This type communication/learning is interesting itself, but that's another story. Jim Crawford, my counterpart in northwest Missouri, is close to the wind energy farms recently developed and in the process of being developed. His area is a prime target for wind energy, which has more and higher wind velocities than we typically do in southwest Missouri. I've read that it generally takes an average 13 mph wind to justify a wind energy system. Some recent numbers imply 11 mph might work. Here are some of Jim's comments. Remember that many of them apply to commercial wind farms, but some of the numbers are relative to individuals/homeowners. Some of the points are about aesthetics and public attitude and opinion. Why wind?  It doesn't pollute the air-no atmospheric emissions.  It's a domestic source of energy.  It's renewable.  It's the lowest priced renewable technology source available.  Can be built on farms or ranches and the land can continue to be used.  Land is rented rather than being purchased. Why not wind?  Higher initial investment  If there's no wind, there's no electricity.  Wind sites are located intermittently.  Can be noisy.  As the blade turns, there is a strobe effect created by a shadow flicker.  May decrease home value.  Can be an impact on wildlife such as birds and bats. Why now?  Mapping technology has improved beyond the familiar aerial photo.  High energy costs.  More interest and enthusiasm about domestic and renewable energy. History  The first commercial wind farm in the U.S. was developed in the 1980s.  By 1985 production was about 1000 megawatts; 2000 megawatts by 1999.  By 2005 U.S. was ranked 5th in world production of wind energy.  In 2007 Germany became top wind energy producing country; U.S. moved to 2nd. Cost (for commercial)  3 to 6 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh) in high wind resource area (was 38 cents in 1980s).  Transmission lines to power grid cost about $1 million per mile.  Towers are generally 70 to 100 meters tall (for those of you like me, that's 230' to 328').  It takes 436 cu. yds. of concrete per tower for a base.  A crane has to be scheduled a year in advance and costs about $10,000 per day rent.  Blades are 140' long, weigh 15,000 lbs. each-transportation becomes an issue.  Three blades and the rotor weigh about 60,000 lbs.  It takes a 15.7 mph wind velocity at 70 meters high to sustain a commercial system. Siting issues  First and foremost there has to be a wind resource  Landowner and community have to support the concept.  Permitting may be required.  There has to be an interconnect point to a current power grid in order to sell the power  Relatively easy access by road is a must .  A flood plain is not a place to locate a tower.  Has to be compatible with aviation-remember the height.  Power company has to be favorable to the idea.  Doubling the wind speed increases power generation eight fold.  The higher you go, the higher the wind speed. Issues for homeowner systems  You have to be able to get rid of extra power when not using it all  Power company has to agree to accept if that's the alternative.  Who will maintain and service the tower, rotor and blades.  Some areas are adopting "net metering" and may pay you what you pay for power.  Some areas are "wholesale areas" and only pay you a wholesale price.  For 1500 kwh use per month, a homeowner system may only be a 100' tower, produce 5 to 15 kwh and cost $40,000 to $65,000 installed.  Payback would be 20 to 25 years  Life of a rotor is about 20 years, battery life about 10 years.  There may be tax incentives or renewable energy loans, so investigate. Typical land contract options (commercial systems)  By turbine, $3,000 to $7,000 per unit per year.  By acre including access road about $4,000 (usually ¬ acre).  By turbine output--$ per actual output which is usually 30 to 40 % of nameplate output.  By $ per farm turbine average .  By estimated turbine output.  Be sure to investigate the company and have an attorney look at the contract. Avoid long term options contracts-company may back out leaving you locked in a contract and no ability to contract with another company-be cautious about anything over a year. ********************************************************************** Wind Farms Generate Power, Revenue, Say MU Extension Specialists By Jane Silcock, University of Missouri Cooperative Media Group The landscape in northwest Missouri is changing. Scattered across three counties, 75 turbines spin to harvest the wind. University of Missouri Extension specialists say that there are excellent opportunities for sustainable wind power in northwest Missouri. Four wind turbines supply all the electricity for the small town of Rock Port in Atchison County. The city of just over 1,300 residents is the first in the United States to operate solely on wind power. "That's something to be very proud of, especially in a rural area like this-that we're doing our part for the environment," said Jim Crawford, University of Missouri Extension natural resource engineer. "Anybody who is currently drawing their utility through Rock Port utilities can expect really no rate increase for the next 15 to 20 years." There are currently 24 wind turbines in Atchison County, 24 in Nodaway County and 27 in Gentry County. MU Extension specialists say the wind farms will bring in more than $1.1 million annually in county real estate taxes, to be paid by Wind Capital Group, a wind energy developer based in St. Louis. "This is a unique situation because in rural areas it is quite uncommon to have this increase in taxation revenues," said Jerry Baker, MU Extension community development specialist. The alternative-energy source also benefits landowners, who can make anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000 leasing part of their property for wind turbines. Other wind energy companies are looking at possible sites in northwest Missouri, Baker said. A map published by the U.S. Department of Energy indicates that northwest Missouri has the state's highest concentration of wind resources and contains a number of locations potentially suitable for utility-scale wind development. "We're farming the wind, which is something that we have up here," Crawford said. "The payback on a per-acre basis is generally quite good when compared to a lot of other crops, and it's as simple as getting a cup of coffee and watching the blades spin." "It's a savings for the community in general, savings for the rural electric companies, and it does provide electricity service over at least a 20-year time period, which is the anticipated life of these turbines," Baker said. Baker said the wind turbines attract visitors from all over, adding tourism revenue to the list of benefits. Accompanying video sound bites and b-roll are available for viewing or download at http://umsystem.edu/ums/news/video/#windenergy. (Sources: Jerry Baker, 660-744-6231; Jim Crawford 660 744-6231) ********************************************************************** Grow Your Farm Course Help Those Getting Started in Agriculture By Bob Thomas Information Specialist University of Missouri Cooperative Media Group University of Missouri Extension's Grow Your Farm is a step-by-step educational program for people new to farming or who are thinking of diversifying their operation. The course is available at various locations throughout the state. The program focuses on four management keys: marketing, operations, human resources and finance, said project manager Debi Kelly. "At the end of the course, participants are expected to have developed a complete business plan," Kelly said. "They first must identify their values, asking the question, `What is important to me?'" she said. From there, they take stock of their current situation, clarify their vision and develop a mission statement, which identifies their goals. Goals lead to strategic planning and evaluation, and the final step, a written business plan, she said. "Many people want to grow or raise farm products, but most do not think of the building blocks needed to write a successful business plan," she said. "You must ask yourself what skills and human resources you have, what market is out there for your product and how your business will be financed." The curriculum includes eight weekly seminars and three farm tours. Instructors include extension specialists and farmers who have succeeded at their enterprises. Cost is $200 per farm business for two people. Each additional person is $25. Fees include a set of course materials, including textbook and PowerPoint presentations. "Farming takes a lot of work and family commitment," said Ted Cunningham, extension livestock specialist and one of the program organizers. "Participants are likely to be more successful if both spouses, or a parent and an adult child who will be involved in the operation, are part of the learning process." Locations and times to date are as follows: Central Missouri Dates and location TBA Contact: Jim Jarman 573-642-0725 jarmanj@missouri.edu East Central Missouri Cedar Hill Sept. 9, 16, 23, 30, Oct. 7,14, 21,27 Farm tours: Sept. 20, Oct. 11 Contact: Dean Wilson 636-797-5057 wilsond@missouri.edu Northeast Missouri Macon Sept 30, Oct 14, Nov 4, 18, Dec 2, 16 Contact: Joe Koenen 660-947-2705 koenenj@missouri.edu Northwest Missouri St. Joseph, Chillicothe, Maryville Jan. 15, 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5 Contact: Tom Fowler 816-279-1691 fowlert@missouri.edu South Central Missouri Mountain Grove Sept. 16, 23, 30, Oct. 7, 14, 20, 28, Nov. 3 Farm tours: Sept. 27, Oct.18 Contact: Ted Probert 417-741-6134 probertt@missouri.edu Southwest Missouri Mount Vernon, Southwest Research Center January-March 2009; exact dates TBA Contact: Gordon Carriker 417-581-3558 carrikerg@missouri.edu West Central Missouri Nevada January-March 2009; exact dates TBA Contact: Wayne Prewitt 417-448-2560 prewittw@missouri.edu For more information on locations and dates, check the Grow Your Farm Web site at http://extension.missouri.edu/growyourfarm/. (Source: Debi Kelly, 573-882-1905) ********************************************************************** MU Study Looks at Using Farm Ponds to Produce Food By Curt Wohleber Senior Information Specialist University of Missouri Cooperative Media Group Many Missourians may have an untapped resource to combat rising food costs right in their own back yard: Families with ponds at least one-quarter acre in size can take a bite out of grocery bills by raising bass and bluegill to eat, said a University of Missouri fisheries expert. "There are over 500,000 of these small ponds in Missouri," said Rob Hayward, fisheries professor in the MU School of Natural Resources. "There's an opportunity here for people to produce an additional source of protein at relatively low cost." It's not a new idea, Hayward notes. In the 1930s and '40s, a federal program encouraged the creation of farm ponds as a tool for soil and water conservation and as a food source for cash-strapped Depression-era families. "The U.S. Soil Conservation Service promoted and facilitated the development of these ponds in rural areas, mostly in the South," Hayward said. "So it's an old concept that I think is coming back, actually." Hayward is raising bass and bluegill in three ponds at the Prairie Fork Conservation Area in Williamsburg, Mo. Each pond is about 2-3 acres in size. "Our question is, how much can we harvest in a sustainable way year after year?" Hayward said that existing literature on pond management for bass and bluegill focuses mainly on recreational fishing. "My focus is more about how much food we can harvest annually. My sense is that it is higher than what a lot of people have thought in the past." Getting the most from the ponds means striking a balance between the predator fish and the prey. Bass need an ample supply of bluegill to eat, while bluegill need enough bass to keep their numbers in check. "The bass keep the bluegill populations at a low enough level that they're not overshooting their own food supply," Hayward said. In one of the ponds, Hayward added a second species of prey fish, gizzard shad. "Smaller bass really jump in growth rates with these shad," he said. "The downside is that if the bass don't control the shad by eating enough of them, they can get too large for the bass to eat and take over the pond." Hayward emphasizes that he is not employing intensive aquaculture techniques used by commercial fisheries. While intensive aquaculture boosts production, it also involves considerable cost, effort and risk. By contrast, Hayward's study, funded by the Prairie Fork Trust, is relatively small-scale, with much of the field work carried out by a single graduate student, Brandon Hanquist, who was assisted by Tony Overmann, an undergraduate fisheries and wildlife student. "This is under what we call `extensive aquaculture.' We're not adding any food. We might do a little bit of fertilizing now and then. Basically, these are natural production levels for these ponds," Hayward said. "This year my aim is to harvest 20 percent of the bass and bluegill biomass in these three ponds," Hayward said. "That would equate to a substantial amount of fish flesh that people could put in the freezer and eat. We plan to do that for three more years to see how sustainable that level would be." For the ponds to work as a sustainable food source, landowners need to be able to manage them year after year without having to restock frequently, add large amounts of nutrients or provide supplemental food. "There's no rocket science here," Hayward said. "But it's not a done deal trying to manage these ponds. It requires some knowledge and a little bit of luck." Hayward hopes his study will add to that knowledge and reduce the role of pure luck. He plans to publish his findings in peer-reviewed papers and short articles. "I think this is an opportunity that is probably going to be looked at quite favorably as food prices continue to go up," he said. ********************************************************************** Grants Offered to Missouri Farmers to Help Add Value to Ag Products Furthering Missouri's rural communities and creating added opportunities for farmers, the Missouri Agricultural and Small Business Development Authority (MASBDA) is currently accepting proposals for the Missouri Value-Added Grant program.˙ The objective of these grants are to provide funding for the creation, development and operation of rural agricultural businesses that add value to Missouri agricultural products and aid the economies of rural communities.˙ Grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. ˙Applications will be considered individually and judged on the following criteria: economic development potential for the agricultural industry, credibility and merit, probability of near-term commercialization and practical application of project results, presence, source and level of matching funds and where the project will have an economic impact. Applications for the Missouri Value-Added Grant program are due on or before Sept. 30, 2008. ˙For more information and a copy of complete guidelines and application, visit www.mda.mo.gov or call (573) 751-2129. ********************************************************************** IN PRINT/ON-LINE *A Transition Guide to Certified Organic Crop Management* The manual walks a producer through the National Organic Standards (USDA-NOP) that relate to organic crop production. Livestock standards will be addressed in another manual scheduled for production. Dr. Huelsman draws on her extensive scientific and practical knowledge of organic production to provide interesting and useful guidance to help newcomers through the transition process to successful organic certification. To order, contact Kathy Bielek at 330-202-3528 or email bielek.4@osu.edu.˙ The cost of the manual is $15 plus postage.˙ The Missouri Farmers' Market website has been updated. Check it out at http://agebb.missouri.edu/fmktdir/index.htm *Using Organic Fungicides* This publication offers strategies for properly using organic fungicides and describes a number of organic fungicides growers can use to prevent plant diseases. Disease control on ornamentals is a significant problem for the homeowner, nursery and greenhouse grower, and the landscape professional. By definition, these plants are to be "ornamental," however, diseases often mar the beauty of these plants, and growers are often puzzled by the many different chemicals, and how to use themThis brief is available online at: http://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/BP/BP-69-W.pdf. *Weed Seedbank Dynamics and Integrated Management of Agricultural Weeds* This publication describes what happens with weed seeds after they are shed from the parent plant, discusses the importance of minimizing weed seedbank inputs and provides simple strategies to manage weed seedbanks in agricultural settings. It isis available for free download at http://www.msuextension.org/publications/AgandNaturalResources/MT20080 8AG.pdf. *Funding Sources for Healthy Food Retail* The Planning for Healthy Places (http://www.healthyplanning.org/index.html) Program has released a new online guide which provides an overview of the range of federal programs available to support the development of new grocery stores and cooperatives, creation of farmers' markets, and improvement of the quality of foods sold at convenience stores. ********************************************************************** IN THE NEWS Green Heron Tools, a small-scale start-up company specializing in Farm and Garden Tools for Women, is inviting women farmers and gardeners from all over the world to share what you want and need in your agricultural equipment. This includes problems with existing tools; examples of tools and equipment that work for you; and ideas for better, more effective tools and equipment. Visit www.farmtoolsforwomen.com/ to answer an 11 question survey or send an e-mail to: info@greenheronfarms.com. This special 20th anniversary publication chronicles 20 years of agricultural innovation - from SARE's beginning in 1988 to present-day stories of farmers, ranchers, researchers and educators working across America to develop and implement sustainable marketing and production practices. SARE 20/20 highlights cream-of-the-crop projects from more than 3,700 SARE funded granta, illustrationg how producers, researchers and educators are collaborating to advance sustainable innovations to the whole of American agriculture. Download SARE 20/20 for free at www.sare.org/publications/highlights.htm. To order print copies, visit www.sare.org/WebStorewww.sare.org/WebStore, call 301-374-9696 or write to Sustainable Agriculture Publications, PO Box 753, Waldorf, MD 20604-0753 (please specify SARE 20/20 when ordering by mail) Allow 3-4 weeks for delivery. SARE 20/20 is also available in quantity to agricultural educators for workshops, conferences, and tours at no cost. Farmers' markets across the state are now accepting debit cards and electronic food stamps making it easier for people to buy local produce, cheeses, homemade breads, pies and a variety of other local Missouri-made products this season. A Specialty Crop Block Grant, offered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agriculture Marketing Service, provided the new wireless technology to markets in the state. ˙The Missouri Department of Agriculture has placed wireless electronic benefits transfer machines in 19 eligible farmers' markets to assist in providing consumers the opportunity to purchase fresh local produce with foods stamps and debit cards. To learn more, visit http://www.mda.mo.gov/NewsAndEvents/Press/2008/PR07232008b.htm What's old is new again in America's grain fields, with many farmers turning back the clock to plant an array of ancient grain varieties, quinoa, spelt, kamut, chia and many others gaining popularity in food uses. Ancient grains are a win-win for farmers. They help to shave costs because they don't require as much nitrogen fertilizer, don't require huge yields to turn a profit and work well as rotational crops with conventional grains. The grains are a big hit with increasingly health conscious consumers, who like that they require less processing than many other types of grain. Certifying humane treatment of livestock may offer an edge in marketing to meat and poultry firms that promote model treatment of animals to consumers. The Animal Welfare Institute grants certifications, labels, etc., to farmers approved via an application and farm audit. Plus farmers can get grants of up to $10,000 to make changes that favor livestock, including improved water sources, safe fencing, comfy winter shelter and means of transport. http://www.animalwelfareapproved.org/index.php?page=farmersmainpage (Kiplinger Agriculture Letter Vol 76 No 16) ********************************************************************** ON THE CALENDAR Aug 7-17-2008 Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO. Aug 12-Windbreaks: Reducing Energy Use and Helping Control Odor Workshop, Neosho, MO. Call 573-884-7991 or WalterD@missouri.edu. Aug 15-From Recipe to Reality, Chicago, IL. Call 402-472-2819, http://fpc.unl.edu/Entrepreneur/recipe.shtml Aug 26-Central Missouri Vegetable Tour, Fortuna MO. Call 573-634-2824; QuinnJa@missouri.edu. Aug 28-Alternative Fruit Crops Field Day, Mountain Grove, MO. Call 417-547-7533, or PMayer@MissouriState.edu Sept 4-Tomato Festival, Columbia, MO. Call 573-884-7945 Sept 6-Missouri Nut Growers Association Pre-Harvest Fall Meeting, Joplin, MO. Call 417-623-3727. Sept 9-Ozark Rain Garden Field Day, Mountain Grove MO. Email PMayer@missouristate.edu Sept 13-Fall Poultry Fest, Silex, MO. Call 573-485-7261 or 573-384-5859. Sept 15-17-MO Women in Ag Conference, Cape Girardeau, MO. Call 573-883-3566 Ext 3. Sept 27-Sandhill's Sorghum Festival, Call 660-883-5543 or go to www.sandhillfarm.org Sept 29-Commercial Cut Flower Production Basics, Mountain Grove. MO. Call 417-547-7513. Oct 18-6th Annual Missouri Chestnut Roast, University of Missouri Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, New Franklin, MO. Visit www.centerforagroforestry.org, Rhoadsj@missouri.edu or call 573-882-3234. Oct 31-Nov 1-MO State Beekeepers Conference, Lake Ozark, MO. Call 636-394-5395. Nov 6-8-16th National Small Farm Trade Show & Conference, Columbia, MO. Call 800-633-2535, smallfarm@socket.net, www.smallfarmtoday.com/tradeshow Dec 3-Home Winemaking, Mountain Grove, MO. Call 417-547-7513. Dec 4-6-2008 Acres U.S.A. Conference, St Louis, MO. Call 1-800-355-5313. Dec 5-6-Missouri Livestock Symposium, Kirksville, MO, http://missourilivestock.com Feb 1-4-North American Farmers' Direct Marketing Association Conference, Savanah, GA. Go to http://www.nafdma.com/ Feb 6-Missouri Nut Growers Association Annual Nut Evaluation & Show, Nevada, MO. Call 417-436-2351. Feb 7- Missouri Nut Growers Association Annual Meeting, Nevada, MO. Call 417-436-2351. Feb 16-18-MO Small Fruit and Vegetable Conference, Springfield, MO. Call 417-547-7533 Feb 26-29-Upper Midwest Organic Farming Conference, La Cross, WI. Call 715-772-3153 or info@mosesorganic.org May 31-June 3-North American Agroforestry Conference, Columbia, MO. http://www.centerforagroforestry.org/events/afta/index.asp March 6-7-MO and KS Beekeeping Associations Joint Conference, Overland Park, KS. Call 636-394-5395. ********************************************************************** Field Day Dates Set for MU Ag Experiment Station Aug. 26 - Graves-Chapple Farm, Corning, Mo.; field day; Jim Crawford, 660-744-6231 Aug. 27 - Hundley-Whaley Farm, Albany, Mo.; field day; Bruce Burdick, 660-726-5610 Sept. 2 - Delta Research Center, Portageville, Mo.; field day; Jake Fisher, 573-379-5431 Sept. 4 - Bradford, Columbia; Tomato Festival; Reinbott Sept. 12 - Southwest Research Center, Mount Vernon, Mo.; field day; Richard Crawford, 417-466-2148 Sept. 18 - South Farm, Columbia; Beef Production Field Day; Bob Weaber, 573-882-5479 Sept. 27 - South Farm, Columbia; Showcase; John Poehlmann, 573-882-4450 Oct. 3 - Wurdack Farm, Cook Station, Mo.; field day; Poehlmann Oct. 18 - Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center (HARC), New Franklin, Mo.; Missouri Chestnut Roast; Nancy Bishop, 660-848-2268 ********************************************************************** 2008 Grazing Schools Sept 8, 9, 11, 16 & 18 (evenings) Taneyville, MO; Aaron Hoefer (417) 581- 2719 ext 3 Sept 19-20; Stewartsville, MO; Curtis Walker, (816)-232-6555, ext. 139. Sept 24-25-Albany, MO; Curtis Walker, (816)-232-6555, ext. 139. Sept 24-27-Beginners Grazing Schools, Linneus, MO. Call 573-499-0886. Sept 30, Oct 1 & 2 (daytime); Mt. Vernon, MO, Southwest Center; Richard Crawford or Carla Rathmann (417) 466- 2148 Oct 21, 22 & 23 (daytime); Bois d'Arc, MO, MDC Dalton Shooting Range & Outdoor Education Center; Mark Green (417) 831-5246 ext 3 Growing Growers Workshops For more information, call 816-805-0362, email growers@ksu.edu or visit http://www.growinggrowers.org/. There is a small fee for each workshop. Aug 17-Pests, Disease and Weeds, St Joseph, MO Sept 15-Tree Fruit Production, Williamsburg, KS Oct-Business Planning and Management for Small Farms, Kearney, MO Nov-The Organic Certification Process, TBA ********************************************************************** Green Hills Farm Project Farm Walks Green Hills Farm Project welcomes all families to our open farm walks. Always bring your children! Please call ahead to advise the host family of the number attending and to get directions. The host family provides main meat course and drinks. Please bring lawn chairs and covered dish. Come on out and join us for a great time of fellowship and sharing on our farms! Aug 21-Tom & Paula Parker, Richmond, MO at 5pm. Call 816-470-3276. Sept 18-Doug & Diane Peterson, Ridgeway, MO at 5 pm. Call 660-824-4276. Oct 16-Jordan & Anne Bentley, Brookfield, MO. Call 660-412-3399. Nov 22-Ben & Nancy Coleman, Callao. MO. Call 660-768-5743.