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Digester performance tracking, analysis, and lessons learned review at Freund’s Farm,

Digester performance tracking, analysis, and lessons learned review at Freund’s Farm,

Summary/Abstract

This project will provide Freund’s Farm, Inc. with increased understanding regarding the current performance of the methane digester installed on their farm in order to enhance the digester’s performance.

Objectives/Performance Targets

Freund’s Farm, Inc., is a 230 cow dairy in Northwest CT that has been operating a digester for 8 years with significant labor and maintenance burden. The digester is considered an integral part of the farm’s nutrient management plan and also provides heat to farm buildings. Additionally, the Freunds have embarked on the development of an innovative, value-added, off-farm product which could incorporate several digester outputs. This product family currently includes planting pots (“COWpots”) and weed barrier paper (“COWpaper”) which can be made from fibers, nutrients, and heat extracted from the digester.

The work involved in this project will provide a database of digester knowledge that will enable the consistent, reliable, repeatable performance of the digester by leveraging industrial data collection, quality control and systems engineering principles. The lessons learned from this project will be distributed to other farmers and interested parties through workshops, tours and publication.




Project Content Page

2006 Proposal

Project Number: ONE06-053
Type: On Farm Research/Partnership Project
Region: Northeast
SARE Grant: $9,979
Non-Federal Matching Funds: $13,150

Coordinator:

Christopher Callahan, PE
Principal
Callahan Engineering, LLC
PO Box 155
Cambridge, NY 12816
Phone: 518 677 5275
E-mail: chris@callahan.eng.pro
Website: http://www.callahan.eng.pro

Participants:
Benjamin Freund
Treasurer
Freund's Farm, Inc.
324 Norfolk Rd
E. Canaan , CT 06024
Phone: (860) 824-7524

Matthew Freund
President
Freund's Farm, Inc.
324 Norfolk Rd
E. Canaan , CT 06024
Phone: (860) 824-7524
This project and all associated reports and support materials were supported by the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture- National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed within do not necessarily reflect the view of the SARE program or the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.