Session spotlights water, energy usage

17 years ago
By Debra Walsh
Staff Writer

    The efficient use of water and energy will be key to successful agriculture in the future, according to speakers at the annual Maine Potato Conference held in Caribou last week.

Image    Aroostook Republican photo/Debra Walsh
    A report on the 2007 Maine potato crop was the topic of conversation between these three participants at the 23rd Annual Maine Potato Conference last week in Caribou. From left are Gary Keough, director of Northeast Agricultural Statistics, Marcia Gartley, supervisory enumerator with the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and Steve Belyea, storage engineer with the Maine Department of Agriculture Food and Rural Resources.

    An agricultural engineer from Pennsylvania State and a Maine Cooperative Extension scientist discussed the need for efficiency on the farm in order to be profitable in coming years.
    More than 200 potato growers and other industry members attended the 23rd conference, which featured about 30 presentations from Cooperative Extension scientists, state industry officials and others regarding various segments of the industry. (See more stories on the business page.)
    The use of water in agriculture is quickly becoming a hot topic, according to a presentation by Dr. John Jemison Jr., a water quality and soil specialist with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Service.
    “We haven’t used our water as efficiently as we should have,” said Jemison. “We must, must  improve this.”
    With climate changes and water becoming in short supply, farmers must make the most efficient use of the resource, according to Jemison.  By the year 2025, agriculture, which is the largest user of fresh water worldwide, will need twice the amount, according to Jemison.
    Maine actually may be a winner as the climate changes, according to the scientist.
    “Most climate models show a wetter, warmer Maine winter and slightly warmer summer with less consistent rainfall,” Jemison said.
    As a result, people will be coming to Maine for their water, he said.
    “Water will be as valuable to our area as wine is to Napa Valley in California,” said Jemison.
    Dr. Dennis Buffington, an agricultural engineer from Penn State, offered practical tips on how to save energy on the farm.
    “If you truly intend on saving energy, go back to what your parents and grandparents used,” said Buffington, tongue-in-cheek, showing a picture of the old below-ground potato storages so commonly seen around Aroostook County.  “But I don’ think you want to do that.”
    Buffington urged his listeners to take the time to calculate the cost of production for 100 pounds of potatoes.  In addition, farmers need to use the new florescent bulbs for more efficient lighting.
    Temperature control and thermostats should be placed where the biological activity, where the potatoes are, is located in the storage area, Buffington said.
    Shopping for energy appliances, including electric motors, should also be foremost in the farm’s operation. While a more efficient motor may be more expensive, the user will save money in the long run.
    “List price should not be the bottom line,” Buffington said.
    At a time when fuel costs are ballooning, the engineer advocated keeping machinery clean and serviced.
    Buffington also discussed buying and using fuel when it’s the cheapest as well as having duel or triple flexibility in being able to use the energy that is the least expensive at a given time.
    In a later presentation, the Pennsylvania scientist discussed alternative sources of energy, including biomass.
    “There really is energy in agriculture,” said Buffington, citing the burning of corn and barley for fuel.
    Solar energy is not feasible, according to the scientist. Showing a slide of solar panels on line at the Penn State stadium, he said they don’t even pay for themselves even though they were a gift to the university.  Solar also receives large subsidies from the government, against which Buffington spoke.
    “I am philosophically against anything that requires a government subsidy to make it feasible,” Buffington said. On the other hand, wind power appears to have potential in Maine, Buffington said.
    Geothermal and hydro energy also have potential, but are expensive to install, Buffington said.  
    The engineer did not discuss nuclear power in detail, but said that he believed that the alternative source would make a comeback in the future.