Sustainable Corn Production Supports Advanced Biofuel Feedstocks / November 24, 2009 / News from the USDA Agricultural Research Service

Sustainable Corn Production Supports Advanced Biofuel Feedstocks / November 24, 2009 / News from the USDA Agricultural Research Service

Climate change and agriculture

Recently there has been much political discussion on the effects of global climate change and how new regulation will affect farmers in Minnesota and around the nation. Our Intern Kimberly Maas looked into some recent research from the Agriculture Research Service (ARS) concerning this topic. As expected the answers are not as simple and clear cut as we would like. The interactions of climate and agriculture are an incredibly complex system and we are just beginning to grasp the connections between common agricultural land use practices and climate. Luckily for us, the scientists at the ARS are contributing some objective scientific information to what has become a very heated political debate. Here is what Kimberly found:

Scientists of the Agricultural Research Service have been looking at alternative tillage methods and fertilizer use that help keep reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere. Scientists have compared conventional methods of plant growth and harvest with alternatives. For over five years, ARS has conducted research in 32 research locations across the country. These locations compare and communicate with one another to work toward creating a national database of how greenhouse gases fluctuate and how carbon is stored. The benefit of multiple research stations is that emissions of greenhouse gases vary from region to region dependent upon such variables as the amount of rainfall, quality of soil, and temperature.

In a six-year study conducted by ARS, no-till corn was planted into the remnants of brome grass sod. The researchers discovered that the switch from grass to corn did not contribute to a change in the amount of greenhouse gases that were emitted. Researchers found that during the switch from grass to corn, yields may decrease due to outside weather conditions. However, the amount of carbon from brome grass that was lost during the switch was replaced by an increase in the amount of carbon put into the soil from corn.

Such practices as chisel and moldboard plowing are known to increase emissions over a short period of time. However, by one year, the emissions from plots with intensive amounts of tillage and those without were the same. Researcher Ronald Follett and his team discovered during 6 years of work, that by using a no-till system, the pattern of organic carbon in the soil held even through both good years and bad dry years. During years when the soil is dry and parched, the release of carbon into the atmosphere should be worse than years when there is no drought.

Reducing emissions is more complicated than cutting back on the amount of nitrous fertilizer that is applied or in changing crop rotation cycles. Crop rotation systems do not have an overall impact on the amount of green house gasses emitted back into the atmosphere. However, rotation methods may still have an overall impact on other conditions such as the economy and soil erosion. When it comes to reducing the emission of green house gases, what is really important to consider is tillage. The type of tillage such as no till, or strip till can have an effect on the amount of gas emissions released back into the atmosphere.

Minnesota Biomass Markets

While at Farmfest last week, I had the opportunity to meet several people involved in various aspects of marketing perennial crops in Minnesota.

Kevin Triemstra, President of Minneapolis Biomass Exchange was presenting information at their booth on connecting Minnesota biomass producers with industrial purchasers of biomass. With a free web-based listing, producers can list the type and location of biomass they have available. With the demand for biomass fueling renewable energy production developing in Minnesota this service will be valuable in linking producers with consumers of biomass.

Another developing venue for adding value to perennial crops is the carbon credit market. Edward Weinberg (edward@cdmasia.org) and Jessie Houlihan (jessie@cdmasia.org) from Cvdt Consulting were at Farmfest as well, discussing the current and future potential for generating farm income from selling carbon offsets.

Using Agritourism to Market Productive Conservation Crops

In order to expand the available markets for Productive Conservation crops, we looked to several partners for innovative ideas on how Minnesota farmers could expand their farm income.
In response we received a proposal from Kent Sheer which investigated the use of a farm stay enterprise as a means of adding value to the conservation crops already present on the farm. The following is excerpted from the final report submitted by Mr. Sheer for his PCWL market development study- Marketing Minnesota’s Fields and Forests: Research on the Potential for Developing a Farm Stay Database and Joint Marketing Program in Minnesota.

Agritourism is growing in popularity throughout the United States, and this farm-stay study provides a starting point for the development of more agritourism opportunities in Minnesota. Farm-stay is an overnight, paid, guest accommodation situated on five or more acres of working lands. This report provides an initial understanding of the potential of farm-stay in Minnesota as a form of agritourism activity that might potentially boost rural economies.
This study is a community-university supported initiative with major funding from the Productive Conservation on Working Lands (PCWL) program of Three Rivers Resource Conservation and Development, the University of Minnesota Extension, and the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs. Other project partners include the Center for Integrated Natural Resource Agricultural Management (CINRAM), and the Sustainable Farming Association of Central Minnesota.

An online questionnaire was developed based on previous farm stay research and the goals of the Minnesota Farm stay research project. The questionnaire was developed by the researcher, with assistance from project investigators and collaborators. Questionnaire sections included property, farm stay relationship, accommodations and demographics.

Respondents definition of a farm stay reveal that overnight accommodations on a far where guests can observe farm activity or participate in farm chores is central to the idea of a farm stay. About half of respondents specified an opportunity to observe farm activities while the other half specified interaction with farm chores. About one third specified an overnight stay. Food is also an important aspect of a farm stay as hearty breakfasts and family style meals were mentioned.

Respondents listed numerous challenges for developing or operating a farm stay. Analysis of their responses suggests that marketing and licensure are the two greatest challenges in developing or operating a farm stay. Other common themes were bringing people into their home and a lack of time.

Respondents also listed numerous rewards for developing or operating a farm stay. Analysis of their responses suggests that meeting new people and sharing their knowledge of farms as the greatest rewards. Respondents were particularly interested in educating guests about the importance of small family farmers on local communities and rural American values. The opportunity to gain a supplementary income was only mentioned once.
The size of respondents’ property varied substantially. While the average size was 153.9 acres, the greatest percentage of respondents (42.9%) indicated property of less than 50 acres (Figure 2). More than half (57.1%) of respondents indicated that the primary function of their property is a Bed & Breakfast. Respondents also indicated that the primary function of their property is a farm/ranch (35.7%) or a hobby farm/ranch (7.1%)
One third (33.3%) of respondents indicated that accommodations at their facility are located in their own home (Table 3). About one fourth (23.8%) of respondents indicated that accommodations at their facility are located in a building separate from their home. A converted, existing building is used by one fifth (19.0%) of respondents and a specially built, dedicated guest structure is used by one sixth (14.3%) of respondents for accommodations. A small percentage (9.5%) indicated that they have camping at their facility. Accommodation capacity is generally small but varies substantially from site to site. Respondents most commonly (33.3%) indicated their capacity to be between 3-4 or 9-10 guests. Respondents less frequently (16.7%) reported capacities of 1-2 or greater than 10 guests. Qualitative analysis reveals that most guest rooms include a private bath and half also include a fireplace. Most facilities highlight breakfast or some other type of food during the stay as an important amenity.

To learn more about Productive Conservation on Working Lands please visit our website
For more information on this study, the full report is available to download.

We have been busy this year wrapping up enrollments for the Productive Conservation on Working Lands Crop Establishment Program. With a last minute push for this summer’s planting season we enrolled a new batch of projects bringing us to within 160 acres of our goal of 1000 acres. These new projects are being established on formerly row cropped land and will not only sequester carbon in the soil, but will also improve the availability of many native grasses and forbs. This will help make future prairie restorations in Minnesota more diverse and affordable.

Our cooperators are finishing up work on the field demonstrations and market studies for PCWL as well. I have received preliminary reports on a couple of projects and it looks like we will have a lot of good information to share with Minnesota producers growing perennial conservation crops.

There have been several developments in the biomass marketing arena this year. Biomass Crop Assistance Program has announced availability of funds. While this program excludes some sources of biomass in plants using a combination of biomass and fossil fuels, we hope this program will help stimulate the bio-energy industry and help these perennial crops to become competitive with traditional row crops on marginal and ecologically sensitive land.

Also in a post from the Minnesota Project, they detail the newly formed Office of Ecosystem Services and Markets. Just the fact there is an acknowledgment of the ecosystem services provided by the agricultural sector is a step in the right direction. Unless we can realistically value these services provided by farmers, there is little economic incentive to implement some of these conservation practices. While quantifying the value of these services will likely prove difficult, the important first step is to acknowledge clean water and productive soils hold economic value to society.

More help on the horizon for establishing biomass crops?

Since beginning work on Productive Conservation on working Lands in July of 2007, one of the major obstacles has been making biomass crops economically competitive in comparison to traditional row crops such as corn and soybeans. In an article from the November issue of Ethanol Producer magazine, author Susanne Retka Schill details new programs that will be working toward that end. Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) received most of Shills attention. Also mentioned in the article was Minnesota’s Re-invest in Minnesota (RIM) Clean Energy program. Both of these programs promise to provide establishment incentives for farmers to grow biomass crops for nearby industrial users.

Environmental Service Payments?

Am I seeing a pattern here? I hope so.

• In the September issue of Amber Waves, the publication
of the USDA Economic Research Service
(http://www.ers.usda.gov/AmberWaves) an article titled
“Creating Markets for Environmental Stewardship” the
author Marc Ribaudo covers several issues important to
the concept of Productive Conservation. In the article
ribaudo argues that when farmers make their production
choices, market commodities win out.
• The 2008 election is over and voters in Minnesota
and around the nation have spoken. On the ballot in
Minnesota this election was the Clean Water, Land
and Legacy Amendment. The passing of this
amendment demonstrates the leadership role Minnesota
has taken nationally in conservation of natural
resources. This shows Minnesota residents
value their environment, and are willing to pay to
protect, preserve and restore the natural resources
they value. The dedicated funding from this amendment
will allow significant progress to be made improving
the quality of Minnesota’s natural environment.
• "Periodic guest blogger at env-econ and full-time blogger at aguanomics, David Zetland, does a nice job of summarizing the case for placing dollar values on environmental assets. I have a couple of things to add and a small quibble.
We are used to paying for oil, coal, fish and other things "out there" in Nature -- either because someone owns the rights to those resources or its costs money to get them from "the commons."

Contrast our attitudes towards resources with our attitudes to the environment, which we are accustomed to "consume" for free.

As the environment is threatened and becomes more scarce, perhaps we have to think of it as a resource -- and one that is worth paying for."
(Environmental Economics blog)

How to recycle a house

In the summer of 2007 my wife and I began the process of looking at houses to move onto our farm. We had decided on moving an existing house mainly due to economic reasons and our aesthetic tastes did not dictate building new. Most homes we looked at were the typical 2-3 bedroom ramblers in varying states of repair. There was one particular one that caught our eye was fairly plain on the outside, but the original late 40's interior woodwork almost convinced me.

Luckily we passed on that one because a few weeks later a friend called me with a hot tip. There was a farmer just 5 miles away who was building a new house on his farm. Due to the zoning laws in our county, the old house had go. It actually was a friend of my friend's dad, who happened to go to high school with my uncle. Well, anyway I called him and he invited us over to look at the house. The 9 foot ceilings and generous footprint of the house immediately struck us. We were sold and we reached a verbal agreement for the house that day.

Between delays building his house and our struggle with the power company to schedule the 5 mile move, we were not able to get our house on site until the end of May the following year. Because of the height of the house they had to drop at least 10 power lines along the route. We were finally able to schedule a date to move, and we were able to find an excavator who was able to dig a hole for the basement of a 1,400 sq foot house on 4 days notice. Needless to say I was quite relieved.

The house arrived at our farm at 4:00 am, slowly creeping down the alfalfa field that runs the length of our half-mile long driveway. At some point the peak of the roof got snagged by a branch on our walnut tree, but other than a few small cracks in the plaster, that was the only damage inflicted to the early 1900’s farm house in the move.

Once on site, the house was backed into the hole and suspended about 12 feet above the bottom of the hole to allow the forms for the basement walls to be set. After the basement walls were cured, the house was lowered onto the foundation with the help of a hydraulic pump powered by a 5 hp gas engine.

The next big project was to lay the heat exchange loops in the trench we had dug extending 385 feet out from the house. After the run up of energy prices during late 2007 and early 2008, the economics of installing a geothermal heat pump were looking extremely good. We did much research online and settled on a local contractor with 25 + years experience installing geothermal heat pump systems. Seven 800 foot loops of ¾ inch tubing were laid in the bottom of the trench and secured with wire staples to prevent them from moving during the back filling process.

Now the house was set and the heat exchange loops installed so the back filling could begin. There were still a lot of smaller projects involved to get the house ready for winter, but working evenings and weekends since the middle of June has gotten us a well built house with 2800 sq feet of living space and a full basement with 9 foot ceilings. All for less than the cost of building a new home of half the size, and saving a great farm house from demolition. As for the old house, we plan on deconstructing it in spring, salvaging as much of the domestic hardwood ion the framing as possible. The old house was constructed with brick in fill between the exterior wall studs, and we plan on recycling these into sidewalks and a patio. We will even be recycling the 1950’s era aluminum siding for use on a small garage.

This summer's efforts

Summer has come and gone and we are quickly moving into the fall harvest season here in Southern Minnesota. This summer was busy as usual - traveling around the state promoting Productive Conservation on Working Lands, and keeping the other programs here at Three Rivers going. This summer we hosted our annual grazing management workshop series. The report can be viewed here. As part of the grazing management series I hosted a fence construction demonstration at our farm. We also helped organize a pasture walk in Brown County.

In addition to keeping things running here at the Three Rivers office, my Wife and I have nearly completed a house recycling project. While not directly an RC&D project, my own housing project fits well with the idea of resource conservation. We moved an early 1900’s farm house onto our farm site as replacement for the existing dilapidated house. The old house will be deconstructed and as much of the lumber salvaged as possible. The process has taken over a year from start to finish, and has been a lot of work but we are starting to enjoy the fruits of our labor. In order to make our new home as energy efficient as possible we decided to install a ground source heat pump, also known as a geothermal heating system. I will post pictures of the project soon.

More on climate change and agriculture...

As a well timed but unintentional follow up to my last post about climate change and agriculture, the U.S. Climate Change Science Program (CCSP) recently released "Synthesis and Assessment Product 4.3 : The Effects of Climate Change on Agriculture, Land Resources, Water Resources, and Biodiversity in the United States."

This report has profound implications for the Three Rivers RC&D region. As a region heavily dependant on agriculture, we would be wise not to ignore the changes that are already happening to the natural systems that support so much of our local economy. Global climate change is no longer an abstract academic debate, it has moved into the real world with real consequences.

“The report finds that climate change is already affecting U.S. water resources, agriculture, land resources, and biodiversity, and will continue to do so.” The news release from the USDA cites several specific findings pertinent to agriculture in the Three Rivers RC&D area:

• Grain and oilseed crops will mature more rapidly, but increasing temperatures will increase the risk of crop failures, particularly if precipitation decreases or becomes more variable.


• Higher temperatures will negatively affect livestock. Warmer winters will reduce mortality but this will be more than offset by greater mortality in hotter summers. Hotter temperatures will also result in reduced productivity of livestock and dairy animals.


• Much of the United States has experienced higher precipitation and streamflow, with decreased drought severity and duration, over the 20th century. The West and Southwest, however, are notable exceptions, and increased drought conditions have occurred in these regions.


• Weeds grow more rapidly under elevated atmospheric CO2. Under projections reported in the assessment, weeds migrate northward and are less sensitive to herbicide applications.
  Horticultural crops (such as tomato, onion, and fruit) are more sensitive to climate change than grains and oilseed crops.


• Young forests on fertile soils will achieve higher productivity from elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Nitrogen deposition and warmer temperatures will increase productivity in other types of forests where water is available.


• Invasion by exotic grass species into arid lands will result from climate change, causing an increased fire frequency. Rivers and riparian systems in arid lands will be negatively impacted.


• A continuation of the trend toward increased water use efficiency could help mitigate the impacts of climate change on water resources.


• The growing season has increased by 10 to 14 days over the last 19 years across the temperate latitudes. Species' distributions have also shifted.
  

“USDA agencies are responding to the risks of climate change. For example…The Natural Resources Conservation Service and Farm Services Agency are encouraging actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase carbon sequestration through conservation programs. USDA's Risk Management Agency has prepared tools to manage drought risks and is conducting an assessment of the risks of climate change on the crop insurance program. “