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 Miles

1. Compost
Facility
Dana M. Miles
United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service,
Genetics and Precision Agriculture Research Unit, Mississippi State, MS
(Dana.Miles@ars.usda.gov)
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 (johnlogan1@windstream.net)
and Jeff Breeden (jbreeden@egesystems.com) 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/stelprdb
1046769.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 HeatHeat Electricity
Biomass
Electricity Heat
Methane
Heat (Solar, Methane)Litter Waste Vegetables
Solids, Liquid Fertilizer
Anaerobic
Digester
Potting soil, Mulch
Litter
Waste Vegetables
Biomass
Solids
Methane
Methane
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