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Ecological Farming Association

Ecological Farming Association. Energy Efficiency and Conservation on the Farm SARE Conference Spring 2008 Marcy Coburn. EFA Mission.

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Ecological Farming Association

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  1. Ecological Farming Association Energy Efficiency andConservation on the Farm SARE Conference Spring 2008 Marcy Coburn

  2. EFA Mission 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.

  3. History of EFA 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.

  4. EFA Programs Ecological Farming Conference Heartland Festival Hoes Down Harvest Festival Advocacy/Policy Sustainable Agriculture Program

  5. Smart Energy Management in Agriculture (SEMA) 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

  6. SEMA Objectives Over the course of four trainings, at least 125 California farmers will incorporate renewable energy technologies and energy conservation into their operations EFA will work with producer advisors and other project supporters to create four regional planning committees, which will develop the smart energy training curriculum 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 EFA will compile a renewable energy handbook for distribution to 400 producers EFA will survey participants within 12 months of each training

  7. Four SEMA Trainings in California Healdsburg (North Coast) March 2006 Pacific Grove (Central Coast) January 2007 Livingston (San Joaquin Valley) July 2007 Winters (Sacramento Valley) November 2007

  8. Curriculum 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.

  9. Healdsburg (North Coast)

  10. 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 Healdsburg (North Coast)

  11. 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 • 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 Pacific Grove (Central Coast)

  12. Livingston (San Joaquin Valley)

  13. 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 Solar
Energy • Allen Dusault - Sustainable Conservation
Prospects 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, TurlockTours • 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 Livingston (San Joaquin Valley)

  14. Winters (Sacramento Valley)

  15. 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 Winters (Sacramento Valley)

  16. Joseph Gallo Farms

  17. Joseph Gallo Farms

  18. Dixon Ridge

  19. Dixon Ridge

  20. Evaluation Results 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.

  21. Thanks. Marcy CoburnEcological Farming Associationwww.eco-farm.org/energymarcy@eco-farm.org

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