Some of the best food I ate in Louisville at the National Farm Machinery Show was cooked up in the food booth run by Ruth Ohlendorf. I was a repeat customer starting with catfish one day and rainbow trout on another. Mmm. Mmm.
Ruth says they cook around 2,000 pounds of catfish and 1,000 pounds of trout during the show. That’s a lot of fish. Her customers love it and she says she gets a lot of repeat business. Ruth is a good ambassador for the Kentucky Aquaculture Association.
You can listen to my interview with Ruth here: Ruth Ohlendorf Interview
2011 National Farm Machinery Show Photo Album
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Agriculture often gets a bad wrap on the sustainability scale but growers know that they aren’t going to jeopardize their livehoods and they are great stewards of the land. But for those growers who are still looking for some unique ways to be a little “greener” with their operations, they should consider algae.
Kent Bioenergy has its roots in aquaculture. The company was a pioneer in fish farms and needed a way to clean the water. Enter algae. Over time, the company has discovered how to harvest the algae and the co-products can be used for a variety of things depending on where the nutrients came from to grow the algae.
For example, Barry Toyonaga, Ph.D. who is the Chief Business Officer for the company, explained that they have been working with growers and livestock, dairy and hog producers to use algae as a way to reduce normal agricultural run-off.
Most of the waste is unused fertilizer coming straight off farm land and so if our algae is just recapturing the used fertilizer, and we’re harvesting that algae, its really a renewable resource for fertilizer,” explained Toyonaga.
What is especially interesting about using algae to capture run-off is that the agriculture industry is being criticized for causing “Dead Zones” in the ocean, areas where marine life cannot be supported due to depleted oxygen levels. Integrating algae can reduce this run-off, and help to remove the criticism that agriculture is causing this problem. It’s also beneficial for the grower because once the algae is harvested, it can be “reused” on the farm as an organic fertilizer, reducing costs and reducing another common criticism launched against agriculture – using fossil-fuel based inputs.
Toyonaga truly believes that his company is on to something and they are trying to interest both the agricultural community and the USDA in the technology. So if you’re a grower who is open to trying something new, considering reaching out to Kent Bioenergy.
To learn more about how integrating algae into your farm or livestock operations, listen to my interview with Barry here. Barry Toyonaga interview
You can also view photos from my San Diego Algae Tour here.
Who wants to grow food in a box? Maybe not a lot of you yet but you just might after reading this story.
David Epstein, D.O. a holistic osteopathic physician and Kenneth Lovell, P.E., a professional engineer have developed Bioponica, a food production system that turns food, yard and body waste into feed and then from feed to food. The system works by converting waste, that is more often than not sent to a landfill, into worm castings and worm teas that are used to fertilize soil-less hydroponic plant beds. Waste products used include grass clippings, table scraps, and other sources of carbon and nitrogen rich waste.
“It is unfortunate that we have relied on our municipalities to dispose of waste, whether that be urine, food or yard trimmings, “ said Epstein. “It is not practical or sustainable. When nutrients that come from the environment or from the food we eat are buried in landfills or else incinerated then we lose that valuable resource and it becomes a greenhouse gas that negatively impacts our climate and environment. The alternative is to recycle nutrients with the least amount of effort and cost.”
According to a company release, the system also hosts the growth of algae and duckweed, along with the microbes and aquatic animals that feed on the algae. All this, plus earthworms, become food for the fish. Yes, you read correctly. Bioponica is designed to use waste to feed fish in large-scale fish farms similar to the Farm in a Box aquaponic system.
So on top of the fish farm is a table, or garden, that is designed to grow micro-greens and wheatgrass along with your variety of edible and medicinal plants. In other words, you can grow your own salad. The fertilizer for your greens comes from the fish below, which convert the waste into plant feed. (more…)
As the world produces more and more fish protein to feed a growing population, Novus International is helping to feed those fish more efficiently and sustainably.
Did you know that aquaculture is the fastest growing segment of the animal production industry? But, like every other segment, aquaculture producers are facing the challenge of expanding to feed a growing population and doing it in a sustainable manner.
Because of that, Novus has launched a range of sustainable programs for the benefit to the aquaculture industry that include Reducing Feed Costs, Improved Health Through Nutrition, Optimizing Feed Through Quality Raw Materials, Feeding with a Purpose and Supporting Sustainable Practices. The company exhibited and was a sponsor of the World Aquaculture Society 2010 meeting in San Diego earlier this year to reach out to producers.
Since Asia is one of the fastest growing regions for aquaculture, Novus also established the Novus Aqua Research Center in collaboration with Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with the primary goals were of conducting research, developing and producing innovative science-based products and serving as a resource center to aquaculture stakeholders and the industry.
Find out more about What’s New with Novus in the world of aquaculture in this podcast that Jeremy Lutgen did: Novus aquaculture podcast
There’s more than one way to farm fish. Usually you think ponds of tilapia or catfish right? Well there’s also sports fishing pond management of game fish like bass and bluegill. At Sunbelt Ag Expo they have a “fishing ponds” exhibit area. One of the exhibitors is Southeastern Pond Management. Seen in the photo is Kedric Nutt. He says his company helps a land owner manage their fish ponds which includes fish selection, weed control, pond evaluation and more.
Here at Expo the exhibit area is conducting seminars and has a demo pond which Kedric says has a bass species that is trained to eat pellet fish food but will still strike a fishing lure.
You can listen to my interview with Kedric below:
Sunbelt Ag Expo 2009 Photo Album
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In this week's program Chuck talks with Mike Adams, AgriTalk.
