Agricultural, Biosystems and Environmental Engineering

1. Agricultural, Biosystems and Environmental Engineering

2. Welcome! National Ag Day 2012

3. Where we came from The good old days—they were terrible! —Norman Borlaug A civilization will flourish only when it can produce food in excess of farmers’ needs —Author unknown Photos: USDA-NRCS

4. Where we are today Photos: Gabriele Onorato Used under a Creative Commons License

5. Some measures of success • US agricultural output quadrupled between 1930 and 2000, while aggregate inputs remained similar(Gardner, 2003) • 21.5% of Americans were directly employed in agriculture in 1930 — in 2000 it was less than 2% (Dmitri et al., 2005) • 320,000 farm operators (0.1% of population) produce 90% of US agricultural output (Conkin, 2008) • In 1930, there were 18.7 work animals and 920,000 tractors — by 1970, tractors had essentially replaced animal power (Dmitri et al., 2005) • In 1900, it took 147 hours of labor to produce 100 bushels of corn — it took 3 hours in 1990 (Conkin, 2008)

6. Success comes at a cost • Air and water pollution • Reliance on fossil fuels • Unsustainable water use • Health effects of agricultural chemicals • Impact of intensive agriculture on ecological services

7. Finding Solutions for Life on a Small Planet • World population expected to hit 9 billion by 2050 • Growing world population requires more food, water, energy, goods • Limited resources demand we do more with less, without degrading our natural world

8. Specialty Areas • Food and Bioprocess Engineering • Information & Electrical Systems • Structures & Environment • Biological Engineering • Natural Resources • Energy • Forest Engineering • Aquacultural Engineering • Safety, Health, Ergonomics • Nursery & Greenhouse Engineering • Power Systems & Machinery Design

9. Biological Engineering Applying engineering practice to problems and opportunities presented by living things and the environment • Pest control • Hazardous waste treatment • Environmental protection • Bioinstrumentation • Bioimaging • Medical implants and devices • Plant-based pharmaceuticals and packaging materials

10. Natural Resources Improving conservation by understanding the complex mechanics of soil and water • Wetlands protection • Water control structures: dams, reservoirs, floodways • Drainage • Erosion control • Pesticide and nutrient runoff • Crop water requirements • Water treatment systems • Irrigation

11. Food and Process Engineering Using microbiological processes to develop useful products, treat municipal, industrial, and agricultural wastes, and improve food safety • Packaging, storage, transportation of perishable products • Pasteurization, sterilization, irradiation techniques • Food processing techniques & technologies • Biomass fuels • Nutraceuticals, phamaceuticals • Biodegradable packaging materials

12. Information & Electrical Technologies Perhaps the most versatile specialty area, it’s applied to virtually all others • Global positioning systems • Machine instrumentation and controls • Data acquisition and “Bioinformatics”—biorobotics, machine vision, sensors, spectroscopy • Electromagnetics

13. Structures & Environment Engineering a healthy environment for living things • Animal housing • Grain storage • Waste storage, recovery, reuse, transport • Climate, ventilation, disease control systems

14. Power Systems & Machinery Design Improving efficiency and conservation in agricultural, food, and biological systems • Agricultural tractors, combines, implements, and transportation equipment • Turf and landscape equipment • Equipment for special crops • Irrigation equipment • Farmstead equipment • Food processing equipment

15. Energy Developing renewable energy sources, devising energy conservation strategies to reduce costs and protect the environment • Devising new ways of meeting the energy needs of agriculture • Meeting the energy needs of the general population by using agricultural products and by-products • Biomass, methane, vegetable oils • Wind and solar energy

16. AquaculturalEngineering Preserving our natural fish populations and habitats through improved aquacultural practices. • System design for fish farms • Water quality, machinery, feeding, ventilation • Pollution reduction and water conservation • Ecological reuse or disposal of waste • Product harvesting, sorting and processing

17. Nursery & Greenhouse Engineering A microcosm of large-scale production agriculture, with similar needs • Irrigation, mechanization • Disease and pest control • Temperature, humidity, ventilation control • Plant biology: tissue culture, seedling propagation, hydroponics

18. Forestry Applying engineering principles to forestry management and conservation • Machine-soil interaction and erosion control • Operations analysis and improvement • Equipment design • Wood product design • Access systems design and construction

19. Safety, Health and Ergonomics Making agriculture safer, more efficient, and more economical • Compile and analyze health and injury data • Standardize equipment for component compatibility • Encourage safe use of machinery, equipment, and materials through better design and better communication

20. Definition • Agricultural and Biological Engineering is the discipline of engineering that applies engineering principles and the fundamental concepts of biology to agricultural and biological systems and tools, ranging in scale from molecular to ecosystem level, for the safe, efficient and environmentally sensitive production, processing, and management of agricultural, biological, food, and natural resources systems. Source: http://www.asabe.org/news-public-affairs/about-this-profession.aspx

21. Working with Nature • Same equations — different application • Systems approach • Understand natural and biological processes • Inherent variation in our “media” • Biological components integrated in everything we do • Sustainability • Balance Environmental, Economic, and Societal Benefits

22. Example • Like other farmers in the West, Roger Barton must irrigate the alfalfa hay he raises for horse owners. And like many farmers, Barton has to be creative to make ends meet. When diesel costs rose to $4.25 per gallon a couple of years ago, Barton came up with a new, non-diesel-powered way to run his center pivot irrigation system. With the help of a Conservation Innovation Grant from NRCS, Barton worked with a pump company and NRCS engineers to design a hydroturbine system that generates electricity to power his pivot irrigation system. (USDA-NRCS website)

23. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering at SDSU • Water and Climate • Animal Production Systems • Machinery • Food and Fuel Processing

24. Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringWater & Climate

25. Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringFood & Bio-Renewable Processing

26. Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringAnimal Production Systems

27. Agricultural & Biosystems EngineeringAgricultural Machinery Engineering

28. Biological and Agricultural Engineers—what do they do? • Devise practical, efficient solutions for producing, storing, transporting, processing, and packaging agricultural products • Solve problems related to systems, processes, and machines that interact with humans, plants, animals, microorganisms, and biological materials • Develop solutions for responsible, alternative uses of agricultural products, byproducts and wastes and of our natural resources - soil, water, air, and energy

29. Water and Climate Measure water flow rate Inspect construction progress Test water quality Food and Fuel Processing Animal Production Systems Check steam pressure Test dust concentration Check the material handling line Bust a truss Test sprayer uniformity Test engine performance Machinery

30. Who Employs Agricultural and Biological Engineers Source: ASABE. http://www.asabe.org/news-public-affairs/about-this-profession.aspx

31. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers in the Community • NRCS • Engineering Staff in South Dakota • Huron State Office • Brookings Field Support Office • Pierre Field Support Office • Rapid City Field Support Office • Other government agencies • South Dakota DENR • Consulting Engineers

32. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers in the Community • Equipment • Buhler Industries – Salem • Equipment Dealers • Precision Ag • Raven Industries • Ag Structures • Landmark Builders

33. Agricultural and Biosystems Engineers in the Community • Fuel Processing • POET – Sioux Falls (Headquarters) • Valero • Food Processing • Davisco • Bel Brands • Hormel

34. Making the World a Better Place • Producing and Processing Food, Feed, and Fuel • Managing and Protecting our Environment and Natural Resources

35. Waterand Climate Managing and Protecting our Environment and Natural Resources Food and Fuel Processing Animal Production Systems Producing and Processing Food, Feed, and Fuel Machinery

36. www.asabe.org Safe and abundant food and water A healthy environment in which to live Timber and fiber for shelter and clothing Plentiful and renewable energy resources