Ag Opportunities Vol 20, No 7 June 2009 Quick Facts about Wind Energy by John Hay, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension Educator http://bioenergy.unl.edu Small wind energy refers to wind turbines under 100 kilowatt (Kw) in size. 101-999 kw are considered medium size. Large wind turbines are greater than 1000 kw in size. The wind turbines north of Lincoln are 660 Kw each. The new ones built at Bloomfield Nebraska are 3000 Kw (3 Megawatt (MW)) each and stand ~500 feet tall. (The state capitol is only 419 feet tall). At home we measure electricity in kilowatt hours (kwh) a 100 watt light bulb running 10 hours would use 1000 watt hours or 1 kilowatt hour of electricity. Buying a small wind turbine 1. Assess your electricity consumption, cost, and your utility tariff 2. Be more energy efficient reduce your consumption 3. Estimate or measure wind resource 4. Select turbine size (model) and tower height 5. Investigate incentives & economics 6. Get zoning approval 7. Complete a utility interconnection agreement 8. Obtain building & electrical permits 9. Order turbine and tower 10. Install the turbine 11. Commission the turbine 12. Perform periodic inspections & maintenance (Source: Tony Jimenez- National Renewable Energy Lab) Estimating How Much a Wind Turbine Produces Annually * Wind turbine Size in Kw = X * Number of hours in a year = 24*365=8760 * Annual Capacity Factor = 0.05-0.25 (0.25 is for very good sites with high towers, 0.15 would be closer to realistic for most sites, 0.05-0.01 is for pour sites, short towers with building and trees) * (X * 8760)*CF = Estimated Kwh per year produced by the small wind turbine For example: 2.4 kw * 8760 * 0.15 = 3153 kwh per year 3153 kwh * (electricity rate per kwh) = $ amount of electricity produced per year 3153 * 0.08 = $252 So $252 dollars is the value of electricity produced. Remember this is assuming you can get retail rate for all electricity and does not include cost for maintenance. Also consider if your goal is to produce your electricity renewably you may add some value to the electricity produced and your desire for a wind turbine will go beyond simple payback. Alternate estimating method: Take your wind speed at turbine height and compare it to manufacturers energy chart to determine kwh per month. Incentive and economics This website has a list of federal and state incentives- Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency - http://www.dsireusa.org/ Examples of wind turbine equipment prices: * 1 kw Bergey turbine $2700 add 80Õ tower $2200 total (this one for battery charging), ~ $4900 * 2.5 kw Proven turbine with 80' SSV tower and grid interconnection inverter, ~ $28,600 * 2.4 kw Skystream turbine with 45Õ tower and grid interconnection inverter, ~ $12,500 * 6 kw Proven turbine with 80Õ SSV tower and grid interconnection inverter, ~ $40,850 * 10 kw Bergey turbine with 100Õ tower and grid interconnection inverter, ~ $40,550 * Prices will vary depending on many factors and these are not meant to be exact prices * Towers a large part of the cost and self supporting (SSV) and monopole towers are more expensive than lattice towers with guy wires. * Maintenance is done every 6 mo to a year. Lightning strikes are possible, so have included in homeowners insurance. Estimate for maintenance is approximately $0.01 - $0.02 per kwh produced. * Some very small turbines can cost < $5000, These are usually charging batteries or for a specific load, A similar calculation can be done to estimate kwh production per year. Some Examples Built around Lincoln, NE. * South of Lincoln on Hwy 77 just 2 miles south of the Crete corner there is a 10 KW wind turbine on a 120 foot tower at the school. * A 2.4 kw turbine is on a somewhat short monopole tower at the Rogers Memorial Farm, this is a research project for an electrical engineering student. ********************************************************************** Quick Facts About Solar Energy by John Hay, UNL Extension Educator http://bioenergy.unl.edu There are two types of solar energy, solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar heat. Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Solar PV is solar electricity, like a solar powered calculator. Like wind, one challenge is estimating how much electricity it will produce per month or per year. Example: 1000 watts of solar panels will provide ~ 110 kwh of electricity per month (1000/110=0.091) Watts * 0.091 * 12 months = kwh per year A 1000 watt panel 1000 * 0.091 * 12 = 1092 kwh per year 1092 * $0.08 = $87 Alternate production method: Sun hrs * panel rating * system efficiency = kwh. System efficiency takes in all components. Grid tie will be from 95%-70% based mostly on panel temperature. Lower panel temp means higher efficiency. Battery systems may be as low as 60%. Solar Panel Kit Prices Includes mounting materials and inverter for connection with electrical grid. * 2280w = $16,480 * 6840w = $46,430 * 11,400w = $77,680 There is very little maintenance with a solar system. It needs a south facing roof or open area. One example around Lincoln, NE is the Hyde Observatory 2.2kw PV, www.hydeobservatory.info Solar Heat Solar heat can be in the design of the home maximizing south facing exposure to gain heat in winter. A good house design also avoids solar gain with roof overhangs to shade windows. Quality windows and window glazing can prevent solar heat in summer. Solar Hot Water Other than home heating hot water may be your greatest energy use in a home. And you use it all year round. Solar hot water uses the suns heat to preheat water which goes into your hot water heater. This process saves a great deal of energy. It can be set up to just run in the warmer months or to be used all year round. This year’s program highlights, including changes made in the 2008 Farm Bill, include: Types of Funding Assistance REAP provides loan guarantees and grants or combinations of the two. Grants for feasibility studies are a new feature this year, with application instructions and ranking criteria explained in the NOSA. NOTE: USDA is currently requesting comments on its feasibility study guidelines. Maximum awards are as follows: * Renewable energy system grants - $500,000 or 25% of eligible project costs, whichever is less. * Energy efficiency grants - $250,000 or 25% of eligible project costs, whichever is less. * Loan guarantees - $25 million or 75% of eligible project costs, whichever is less. * Feasibility studies - $50,000 or 25% of eligible study costs, whichever is less. Small Grants, Feasibility Studies, Ocean/Hydropower * 20% of REAP funding is set aside for grants of $20,000 or less (assuming it is used); USDA will add 10 points to the application score for these projects. * 10% of REAP funding is set aside for feasibility study grants. * Ocean and small hydropower projects (30 MW or less) are now eligible for REAP funding. Applications and Scoring The NOSA provides for four types of applications: loan guarantee only, grant only, loan guarantee plus grant (combo) and feasibility study only. The official combo and feasibility study application options are new. Although most applications can be submitted electronically through the Grants.gov website, applications for loan guarantees and combos must be submitted in hard copy form. USDA has made a few changes to the scoring criteria, in part to reflect changes in the 2008 Farm Bill: * Project “replicability” is removed as a scoring criterion. * The expected energy efficiency of a renewable energy system is added as a criterion. * For a combo application, the grant portion must score at least 20 points out of 35 for technical merit in order for the project to be considered eligible. USDA also has added new application requirements: * Only one type of application can be submitted for any one project -a feasibility study only, loan guarantee only, grant only or combo application. * Projects can use either pre-commercial or commercial technologies, including foreign technologies, as long as an applicant can provide proof that the technology works and there are people available who can adequately install and service the project. Loan Guarantee Changes The maximum loan guarantee has increased from $10 million to $25 million. USDA will guarantee: * 85% of a loan up to $600,000. * 80% of a loan greater than $600,000 and up to and including$5 million. * 70% of a loan greater than $5 million up to and including $10 million. * 60% of a loan guarantee over $10 million. Loan guarantees and combos cannot exceed 75% of project costs - this is an increase from 50% of project costs in previous years. The annual fee for loan guarantees for 2009 is a 1% origination fee with annual renewal fee of 0.25% of the loan amount. ********************************************************************** Grants and Assistance Rural Energy for America Program Grants and Loans On Tuesday, May 26, USDA's Rural Business-Cooperative Service issued the Notice of Solicitations of Applications for Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants and loans. REAP is designed to assist farmers, ranchers and rural small businesses that are able to demonstrate financial need with renewable energy systems and energy efficiency improvements. Farmers and ranchers who gain 50% or more of their gross income from the agricultural operations are eligible. Small businesses that are located in a rural area can also apply, as well as rural electric cooperatives. DUE JULY 31, 2009 To apply contact your Rural Development State Office. Matt Moore, USDA Rural Development, 601 Business Loop 70 West, Parkade Center, Suite 235, Columbia, MO 65203, (573) 876–9321. matt.moore@mo.usda.gov. Specialty Crop Grant The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) is seeking grant applications from organizations or groups of individuals interested in solely enhancing the competitiveness of the state's specialty crop industry. Grant applications are due on July 31, 2009. Applications will be considered on a competitive basis. Selected applications will be included in the Missouri specialty crop state plan and reviewed by the USDA. http://mda.mo.gov/abd/financial/specialtycrop.php Organic Cost-Share Assistance The Missouri Department of Agriculture (MDA) has a cooperative agreement with the US Department of Agriculture National Organic Program (USDA-NOP) to provide cost-share assistance to qualified businesses that obtain organic certification under the NOP. Eligible producers and handlers can be reimbursed at this time for certification costs incurred since October 1, 2008. Payments are limited to 75% of certification costs, up to a maximum of $750 per application. They will be awarded in the order they are received until funds are exhausted or September 15, 2009. Applicants must submit the following items to qualify: 1. Organic Certification Cost-Share Program Application 2. Vendor Input Form 3. Copy of Current Certificate of Organic Operation 4. Copy of Itemized Invoices (showing fees assessed for certification) More details including the two forms are on the MDA website at http://www.mda.mo.gov/abd/organic/certcostshare.php. Small Business Innovation Research Program Grant The Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program (http://www.csrees.usda.gov/funding/sbir/sbir.html) at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) makes competitively awarded grants to qualified small businesses to support high quality, advanced concepts research related to important scientific problems and opportunities in agriculture that could lead to significant public benefit if successful. Topic areas include Forests and Related Resources; Plant Production and Protection - Biology; Animal Production and Protection; Soil and Water Resources; Food Science and Nutrition; Rural Development; Aquaculture; Biofuels and Biobased Products; Marketing and Trade; Animal Manure Management; Small and Mid-Size Farms and Ranches; Plant Production and Protection - Engineering. Proposals are due October 1, 2009. ********************************************************************** IN PRINT ** ON-LINE ** IN THE NEWS *Beef and Pork Whole Animal Buying Guide* Funded in part by a SARE grant, explains buying pork and beef as whole animals (or portions thereof) from local producers. Consumers interested in buying local beef or pork will want to take a look at a new publication created by the Iowa State University's Small Meat Processors' Working Group. Producers may also consider using the publication to help clients make smart decisions and keep coming back. It explains marketing terms, information on storage and handling, meat inspection, meat cut out weight, and includes color photos of common retail beef and pork cuts by primal. This guide brings all the necessary pieces together in one easy-to-use resource. Free PDF available online. Hardcopies are available in color ($6.50) and B&W ($1). To download a free pdf or order a print copy, visit https://www.extension.iastate.edu/store/ItemDetail.aspx?ProductID=1305 6 *Aquatic Plant Identification Card Deck* has been developed by Texas AgriLife Extension to help pond owners accurately identify aquatic plants in their pond. Please note the following web site and attached descriptions for this resource. It is a major revision from the 2000 version that I had previously sent out to MU Extension Centers several years ago. This newer version can be ordered at http://agrilifebookstore.org for a cost of $12 per copy. An excellent web site has also been designed to help pond owners and their advisors in the identification and management of aquatic vegetation. You can access this information at http://aquaplant.tamu.edu/ *Farm and Ranch Alternative Enterprise and Agritourism Resource Evaluation Guide* This resource was prepared in response to requests from local advisors, farmers, and ranchers for a simple guide to the first step in identifying alternative income-producing agricultural enterprises and agritourism opportunities. The requests stipulated that the guide be useful in developing business and marketing plans to help entrepreneurs reduce risk through diversification of farm and ranch enterprises. The guide has three goals: * To offer farm and ranch entrepreneurs a self-guided process to make the first step in enterprise diversification. * To help entrepreneurs make informed decisions so the steps they take will increase income, sustain the farm and ranch, and conserve natural resources. * To help landowners assess their natural resources for alternative agriculture and agritourism enterprises. This on-line guide will help organize your efforts while you: * Evaluate your resources * Identify Family Considerations * Research Marketing Alternatives and Liability Considerations The tool can be accessed here: http://resourcesfirstfoundation.org/aea/ The North Central Region SARE (NCR-SARE) has released one page *Brief Sheets* about SARE projects funded in their region. The intent of these Brief Sheets is to make easily accessible, topical information available electronically, so people can print out focused NCR-SARE information as they need, on demand. This both reduces waste and allows NCR-SARE to reach targeted audiences. Topics covered include organic farming, specialty crops, beginning farmers, bioenergy, alternative marketing, and agroforestry. Brief Sheets that are available on the NCR-SARE website at http://sare.org/ncrsare/pubsres.htm *Minnesota Farm to School Toolkit Available* the Willmar School District in western Minnesota has gradually incorporated locally purchased food into its cafeteria menu over the last four years. In response to requests to share their information, Annette Hendrickx Derouin (Willmar's Director of Food and Nutrition Services) and Lynn Mader (U of M Extension, Family Development) have been working with the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and an advisory team to develop an online toolkit http://www.mn-farmtoschool.umn.edu/ for Minnesota school nutrition programs. The toolkit contains information and materials to assist in planning a farm to school program; sourcing, preparing, and serving local foods; and promoting the food to students, parents, teachers, and administrators. Ready-to-use items include cafeteria menus and recipes complete with nutritional information, sample newsletter and announcement pieces, posters, and tested methods for getting students to sample the food. *A Consumer's Guide to Grass-fed Beef* Farmers use a variety of systems to raise healthy animals. Today, most meat in the grocery store or at the local restaurant is from animals that were raised in a feedlot and fed significant amounts of grain in addition to hay and pasture. Grass-fed meat is from animals that are put “out on grass,” or fed a forage diet. This allows animals to harvest their own food and dispose of their own manure in the pasture. A consumer's guide to grass-fed beef provides information about the health and environmental benefits of grass-fed beef and how to buy and cook this beef. http://learningstore.uwex.edu/A-Consumers-Guide-to-Grass-fed-Beef-P132 3C0.aspx Learn about the health and environmental benefits of grass-fed beef and how to buy and cook grass-fed beef. Includes several recipes. Can producers who graze beef cattle save money by using ethanol co-products in their operations? That’s the question explored by Iowa State University Extension beef specialist Dan Loy. He is finishing a multi-year study funded by the Ecology Initiative. Watch a video on the Web at: http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/research/eco_files/ground.html If you are an acreage or small farm owner and you are looking for some resources and ideas for an enterprise that you could start on your land, take a look at the following video clips. Cornell University Cooperative Extension and the New York Beginning Farmer Project put together a collection of video segments for those needing resources for starting a small farm. There are some excellent points made in the videos and they could serve as a resource to current or potential acreage owners or small farmers in Nebraska...or at least serve as food for thought. There are a several different video segments, along with a variety of different types of farms highlighted. The video segments are as follows: Meet the Farmers, Lessons from Experience, Getting $tarted, Grants, Setting Goals, Evaluating Land and Facilities, Choosing an Enterprise, Taking Care of the Land, Profitability, Regulations, Taxes and Insurance, and Love of Farming. To view the video segments click here: http://www.nybeginningfarmers.org/ A new report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) shows direct-to-consumer farm marketing in the United States is growing faster than total agricultural sales. The two categories increased 104.7 percent and 47.6 percent, respectively, from 1997 to 2007. AMS's Marketing Services Division developed Facts on Direct-To-Consumer Food Marketing (http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5076729& acct=wdmgeninfo) to examine the contribution that direct-to-consumer marketing is making to the food system in different regions of the country. The report compares data from the 2007 Census of Agriculture with those from previous years. *Land For Good Offers Land Leasing Tutorial* Access to farmland is one of the biggest challenges for new farmers. For many, leasing may be an effective strategy. Leases can provide affordable, flexible and secure access to farms, land, and buildings. Land For Good, a nonprofit offering education and assistance to owners and managers of working lands, entering farmers, and other-land use decision-makers, is offering an online land leasing tutorial. The tutorial offers four short, easy and informative modules that give basic information, lease examples and lots of linked resources. http://www.landforgood.org/leasing/online.php ********************************************************************** ON THE CALENDAR July 13—Multi-State Grape Growers Field Day, Nebraska City, NE. Call 402-472-5136. July 19—Grape and Wine Production Twilight Tour, Mt Vernon, MO. Call (417) 466-3102 July 19—Summer Fruit Tour in West Central Missouri, Call 913-856-2335 x 120 or tcarey@ksu.edu July 20-21—2009 Greenhouse Management Short Course, Columbia, MO. Call 573-882-9631 or trinkleind@missouri.edu July 24-25—Missouri Christmas Tree Association Meeting, Washington, MO. Call 573-243-5501. July 31—Amish Vegetable Tour, Kirksville, MO. http://extension.missouri.edu/adair/horticulture/AmishTour.shtml Aug 2-4—Missouri Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives Summer Tour, Alma, MO. Call 660-909-2259. August 13-23—2009 Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO. www.mostatefair.com August 15—From Field to Recipe Seminar, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-2819 or jgifford1@unl.edu Sept 12—River Hills Fall Poultry Fest, Silex, MO. Call 573-721-6223. Sept 12—Northeast Missouri Food Fest, Kirksville, MO. Call 660-665-9866. Sept 12—Missouri Nut Growers Association Pre-harvest Meeting, Stockton, MO. Call 417-436-2351. Sept 22-24—State Grazing School, Linneus, MO. Call 573-499-0886. Sept 26—MO Walnut Council Fall Tour, Ashland, MO. Email palmh@missouri.edu or call 573-228-0898. Oct 3—From Field to Recipe Seminar, Lincoln, NE. Call 402-472-2819 or jgifford1@unl.edu Oct 30-31—MO State Beekeeper’s Assn’s Fall Meeting Preview, Jefferson City, MO. Call 636-394-5395 or sgibbs314@earthlink.net Dec 4-5—Missouri Livestock Symposium, Kirksville, MO. Call 660-665-9866, www.missourilivestock.com Jan 7-9—Missouri Governor’s Conference on Agriculture Feb 5-6—Missouri Nut Growers Association Annual Nut Show Evaluation and Annual Meeting, Nevada, MO. Call 417-436-2351. Feb 5-12—North American Farmers Direct Marketing Conference, Lancaster, PA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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! July 25 (Saturday) Ray & Sue Stropes, Chilhowee, MO 816-405-9545 Aug 29 (Saturday) Elton Mau, Arrowsmith, IL, 309-727-1322 Sept 17 - 5pm Kerry & Barb Buchmayer, Purdin, MO, 660-244-5858 Oct 15 - 4pm Mac & Pat Scottt, New Cambria, MO, 660-226-5351 Nov 19 - 4pm Ben & Nancy Coleman, Callao, MO, 660-768-5743 2009 Growing Growers Workshops Workshops are open to the general public for a fee. Proceeds help to pay program costs, including apprentice costs and speaker fees. Scholarships are available in case of financial need. Contact Ted Carey, 913-645-0007, tcarey@ksu.edu or Laura Christensen, 816-805-0362, growers@ksu.edu July 13—Starting and Managing a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) Program, Kearney, MO (Farm tour: Fair Share Farm) Aug 10—Taste and Nutrition, Lawrence, KS (Farm tour: Spring Creek Farm) Sept 14—Fruit Production, Kearney, MO (Farm tour: Prairie Birthday) Oct 17—New Farms - First steps in planning a farm business, K-State Research and Extension Station, Olathe, KS Nov and Dec—Farm business planning and management course. In conjunction with Growing Growers, The Kauffman Foundation FastTrac program will be holding a multi-week course designed for both current growers looking to refocus and people who are ready to begin their own sustainable farm business within the next few years. Enrollment is limited and Growing Growers apprentices, past and present, will be given priority. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 2009 MU Field Days Ag Experiment Stations Date Description Location July 28-31 Crop Injury/Diagnostic Clinic Bradford Research & Education Center, Columbia Aug 13 Greenley Field Day Greenley Memorial Research Center, Novelty Aug 25 Graves Chapple Field Day Graves Chapple Farm, Rock Port Aug 26 Hundley/Whaley Field Day Hundley Whaley Farm, Albany Sept 2 Delta Center Field Day Delta Center, Portageville Sept 3 Tomato Festival Bradford Research & Education Center, Columbia Sept 10 Ag Education Day Southwest Center, Mt. Vernon Sept 11 Southwest Center Field Day Southwest Center, Mt. Vernon Sept 15 FFA Field Day Bradford Research and Education Center, Columbia Sept 24 Ag Education Day Hundley-Whaley Farm, Albany Sept 25 Ag Education Day Graves Chapple Farm, Rock Port Oct 1 Ag Education Day Wurdack Farm, Cook Station Oct 2 Wurdack Field Day Wurdack Farm, Cook Station Oct 17 Chestnut Roast Horticulture and Agroforestry Center, New Franklin