ecological farming association energy efficiency and conservation on the farm sare conference spring...
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Ecological Farming Association
Energy Efficiency andConservation on the Farm
SARE Conference Spring 2008Marcy Coburn
Dedicated to the development of ecologically-based food systems by educating farmers, the agriculture industry, and other stewards of the land about practical and economically viable techniques of ecological agriculture, informing consumers and policy makers about ecological food production and its connection to the health of people and communities, and promoting alliances between individuals and organizations who share our vision of a transformed global food system.
EFA Mission
1970s: Most organic farms were small and the technology and market immature. There was no forum for organic farmers to get together and share information.
1981: The first Ecological Farming Conference was held at the Firehouse in Winters, California and 45 people attended.
1990s: The Eco-Farm Conference continued to grow and moved to Asilomar in Pacific Grove, California.
2008: In addition to to the Eco-Farm Conference which presented this year to a sold-out crowd of 1600+ farmers, retailers, processors, consumers, and advocates. We also sponsor regional trainings for farmers on a variety of topics leading to increased conservation practices, renewable energy adoption, and reduced chemical use.
History of EFA
• Ecological Farming Conference• Heartland Festival• Hoes Down Harvest Festival• Advocacy/Policy• Sustainable Agriculture Program
EFA Programs
• A Project of EFA's Sustainable Agriculture Program• Two-year training program aimed at improving energy
management on California farms, dairies, ranches and vineyards• Technical experts and producers connected in both classroom and
hands-on settings and engaged with a statewide network
– Producers– Local government representatives– Non-profit organizations– Industry representatives
• Funded by Western SARE
Smart Energy Management in Agriculture (SEMA)
1. Over the course of four trainings, at least 125 California farmers will incorporate renewable energy technologies and energy conservation into their operations
2. EFA will work with producer advisors and other project supporters to create four regional planning committees, which will develop the smart energy training curriculum
3. Two trainings per year will be held in California’s four most productive agricultural regions and additional outreach and workshop development will be conducted at the Ecological Farming Conference
4. EFA will compile a renewable energy handbook for distribution to 400 producers
5. EFA will survey participants within 12 months of each training
SEMA Objectives
• Healdsburg (North Coast)– March 2006
• Pacific Grove (Central Coast)– January 2007
• Livingston (San Joaquin Valley)– July 2007
• Winters (Sacramento Valley)– November 2007
Four SEMA Trainings in California
• General information• Presentations targeted to the region• Approaches to smart energy• Resources for understanding and evaluating energy use• Extended tour of farms that incorporated some type of
renewable energy
•Each attendee received a handbook to bring back with them.
Curriculum
Healdsburg (North Coast)
Healdsburg (North Coast)
Experts
• John Garn, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA)
• Mike Morris, National Center for Appropriate Technology
• David Henry, Harmony Farm Supply • Rob Erlichman, Sunlight Electric • Lou Preston, Preston of Dry Creek• Warren Brown, Warren Brown
Construction• Scott Mathieson, Laguna Farms• Paul Bernier, Bernier Vineyards • Kumar Plocher, Yokayo Biofuels• Mark Pasternak, Devils Gulch Ranch• Brooke Hazen, Olive Leaf Farm
Topics
• Energy Overview - Tools for Self Assessment
• Free Farm Energy Technical Assistance
from NCAT • Solar Thermal & Solar Irrigation • Larger PV Systems & Strategic
Financing• Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
services and rebates
Farm Tours
Pacific Grove (Central Coast)
Experts• Penny Livingston• Steve Heckeroth• Richard Heinberg, plenary speaker on
peak oil
Eco-Energy Farm Tour• Tom Broz, Live Earth Farm• Phil Foster, Pinnacle Organics
Eco-Farm Pre-conference• 2007 Eco-Farm Conference theme: “Farm
Power - Growing it Organically”
• Smart Energy workshops at Asilomar
• Energy Efficiency
• Biofuels through the eyes of sustainable agriculture
• Solar; The perfect storm of economics and environmental sustainability
• How many miles to go before you eat
Livingston (San Joaquin Valley)
Livingston (San Joaquin Valley)
Experts
• Patricia Dugger - Pacific Gas and Electric
• Corey Conant - EnSave, Inc.• Jeff Mitchell - UC Kearney Agricultural
Center• Moffatt Ngugi - UC Davis-
Agroecosystems Lab• Jim Tischer - CSU Fresno-Center for
Irrigation Technology• Robert Gould - GreenLight SolarEnergy • Allen Dusault - Sustainable
ConservationProspects for Biofuel • Stephen Kaffka - UC Davis-Center for
Integrated Farming Systems• Philip Erro - Erro Farms, Fresno • Phil Foster - Phil Foster Ranches, San
Juan Bautista• Andy Zylstra - Zylstra Dairy, Turlock
Tours• Carl Morris, General Manager/C.O.O -
Joseph Gallo Farms• Jean Okuye, Farmer - Okuye Farm
Topics
• PG&E’s Energy Efficiency Programs for Agriculture
• Dairy Energy Efficiency Program• No-Till & Strip-Till Production for Energy
Conservation in California• Greenhouse Gas Emissions & Carbon
Sequestration in California• Benefits of Efficiency & Solar Water
Applications• Solar Power for Commercial &
Agricultural Operations• Biogas - Obstacles and Opportunities• Biofuel Feedstock Production in
California
Farmer Panel
Farm Tours
Winters (Sacramento Valley)
Winters (Sacramento Valley)
Experts
• John Garn, California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance (CSWA)
• Jeff Mitchell - UC Kearney Agricultural Center
• Jonathan Hill - Sierra Solar Systems• Steve Shaffer - Office of Agriculture &
Environmental Stewardship/CDFA• Robert Williams - Department of
Biological and Agricultural Engineering/UC Davis
• Paul Muller - Full Belly Farm • Jessica Lundberg - Lundberg Family
Farms• Russ Lester - Dixon Ridge Farms• Nigel Walker - Eatwell Farm
Topics
• Energy Conservation & Efficiency• No-Till & Strip-Till Production for Energy
Conservation in California• Solar for the Farm and Ranch• Biofuel Regions • Biomass Production • Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E)
services and rebates
Farm Tours
Joseph Gallo Farms
Joseph Gallo Farms
Dixon Ridge
Dixon Ridge
Total Participants: 245
49% farmers
18% energy service providers
33% included wineries, students, educators, journalists and state legislative staffers
The following topics were most frequently requested by participants:• Biofuels• Efficiency• Solar/PV• Rebates• Methane• Wind• Networking• Geothermal
87% of participants said they planned to use what they learned in the workshops within the next year.
Evaluation Results
