Farmers

Wayward Farmers                                                                      Massanutten Gov. S.-Newcomer

                                                                                                                                3/31/2008

 We are alternative fuel farmers from Gretna, Virginia where we currently use corn as our

primary source for alternative fuel. Recently it has come to our attention that switch grass

produces a higher fuel yield in regards to ethanol than corn. Because of this recent

development we have made the decision to convert to using switch grass, instead of corn as

our primary source of alternative fuel.

Not only does switch grass produce a higher yield than corn, but it also reduces many

harmful farming practices. For example, switch grass grows better when no-till farming is

used; this helps to reduce the amount of soil erosion taking place. Switch grass also doubles

as a cover crop, and switch grass is drought and flood resistant. The carbon storing roots

of switch grass help to maintain soil and water quality even after the crop has been

harvested. It can grow in poor, rocky soil with a pH over 5. Another plus is that regular hay

equipment can be used to harvest the switch grass. Also existing farm buildings can be

modified to store the switch grass. This makes switching to switch grass an easy step for

farmers to make with very few hidden costs involved.

Currently, corn produces up to 400 gallons of ethanol per acre. Switch grass however

produces up to 1,000 gallons of ethanol and up to 8 to 10 tons of biomass per acre. This

means that switch grass can yield up to 93 percent more biomass per acre. Currently, the

production cost of ethanol is $55 per ton; this figure includes the cost of storage,

transportation, and production. The annual profit is $103 per acre.We are some of the

first farmers in our area to begin turning a profit from the use of switch grass; hopefully,

because of our example and the other varied benefits of switch grass, it will become the

plant to save the bay.  By protecting the water and soil quality of our backyard, we can

protect and fix the quality of our beloved Chesapeake Bay.

Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond

Thoughtful Questions

  From:   Home Jackets - homeowner - MHS                                              Ask

                                                                                             4/8/2008

     I really like your POV. What are you going to do to help to keep the what clearn?

     I see your point, using corn as fuel jacks the price of feed up and  i've heard that

     switch grass is more efficent the corn as fuel, I've also heard that you get more

     fuel out of suger cain. What are the pros and cons of farming suger cain.

  From:   Shenandoah Junction Farmers Inc. - farmer - JHS                   Ask

                                                                                           4/10/2008

     You said switch grass is an alturnitive fuel. If it can be used as a fuel than it is very

     combustable, if it spills what could it do to harm the bay? What do you do if it

            ignites?

  From:   The Forester Boys - Other - KHS(K)                                           Ask

                                                                                           4/10/2008

            Does corn or grass put off any green house gases, if so what?

  From:   Mineral County Agriculturalists (the Aggies) - farmer -             Ask

                                                                                           4/10/2008

     While you do acknowledge the lack of efficiency of ethanol have you also considered

      the effects of monocropping? If all land is used for one type of crop then the

     carbon will not be recycled as well. I've also seen studies that state cutting down

     forests and plowing up unused land will lead to a increase in atmosphere.  Carbon

     previously stored in the trees and soils will be released back into the atmosphere. 

     The study suggested biofuels could lead to an increase in carbon emisions. Just a

     thought.  Wanted to point that out.  Very good ideas though.

  From:   Chicken Kickers'' 101 - farmer - MHS                                                      Ask

                                                                                                                           4/11/2008

     What exactly is switch grass?

  From:   awesomley amazing super spectacular envoirnmentalist - Other -          Ask

                                                                                                                         4/23/2008

     I dont really understand the switch grass part. Explain it more!

Farmers

lonely farmers                                                                                         Hampshire H.S.-Moore

                                                                                                                                  4/1/2008

  Many people blame most of today’s problems on the local farmers. I completely disagree

that it is the entire farmers fault. Of course the Chesapeake Bay is getting hit hard.

Farmers, homeowners, waterman, recreation and tourism, and of course the fish is getting

hit hard. Every person that lives in the area is at fault.

Farmers for years now have been using fertilizer on the fields, normally it is manure, but it

was a slow process of what has happened. Many farmers do use best management

practices. For example, my family uses all types of buffers, sediment ponds, and has put

aside land that is not used for agricultural reason along the streams.  Everyone knows that

the increase in phosphates is a bigger problem with the watershed. Well, not only farmers

use phosphates, homeowners also use them. People do not realize that when you wash your

hands the soap has phosphates in it.       For many years, as I said, farmers have been

fertilizing. We all know that it is a slow process of getting into the stream. Today, there is a

 much bigger problem. Any type of animal processing plants is normally placed along rivers.

Many people do not realize the amount of hormones that is used to raise a chicken in four

weeks. It use to take six months to a year, depending on what feed was being used ; now it

is taking four weeks to raise a bird. Come on, now yes it is a field of agriculture but it is

industry. So, it is just not farmers.       

Now there are ways for farmers to lessen the speedy process. Many farmers have been

contacted by many groups to help them lessen the problem. For example, my family has

planted new trees around all stream access, and cut off all animal access. Place buffers

around the water source if it is necessary to production. Place gravel or stone to make a

walk way for the livestock.  There are many ways that will help lessen this problem that one

 day could damage the Bay for good.    

In order to fix or delay the problem everyone needs to help one another. Homeowners, if

you want clean, healthy water stop using as much soap, or harmful cleaners. An alternative

to harsh cleaners is vinegar. Using the harsh cleaner is actually dangerous to you and your

bathroom facility. It breaks down the liner in the tub. So, use less soap and less cleaners,

use natural things. Industries already have regulations, but my personal opinion is slap some

more on. Don’t allow waste from the plant to flow down the rivers. People all around this

watershed eat the products of what is causing the problem.      

So, in order to fix the problem everyone NEEDS to help ONE ANOTHER!!! Stop blaming

the other person for all of our faults. In conclusion, everyone is at fault from the farmer

to the homeowner right on into the industry.

Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond

Thoughtful Questions

Farmers

Chicken Kickers'' 101                                                                           Moorefield H.S.-Gillies

                                                                                                                                  4/1/2008

Why are Poultry Farms Important? Poultry Farms are important because they produce the

food we eat. Without farms there would be no food. Poultry farming is the process of

raising chickens for their meat. Since the 1930s and '40s, the poultry business has become

one of the most efficient producers of protein for humans. Poultry farming expanded

rapidly during World War II because of the shortage of beef and pork, which require a

much longer time to develop. It takes seven weeks to produce a broiler chicken and five

months to produce a laying hen. The average consumption of beef and pork decreased,

between 1980 and 1995, by 11 percent. While consumption of chickens increased by 50

percent. During the same time concern about cholesterol contributed to a decline in egg

consumption. Food Safety and Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

federally monitores poultry and egg production. The U.S. supplies more than 10 percent of

the total egg production. The U.S. is a leader in poultry production. While California

produced 9 percent of the nations eggs. That's why poultry farms are important because

without them there would be no eggs or chickens.

4) Which types of solution would I prefer to stop or slow down the pollution on my Farm?

By putting the chicken remains on the field when they die is pollution to the watershed of

that area. When the rain hits the dead chickens reamains it washes off then drains the

bacteria off it into the nearest creek. So my solution is to make a compost pile under a

covered roof. This will let the weather break it down then it will be broke down enough to

put on the fields safely.  Another thing that I will work on is having a drainage pond

(sediment pond) for all the water that comes out of the chicken houses and then it will go

straight into the sediment pond.  Maybe I could even try to invest in some lime for the

fields in place for the chicken litter. That will lower the pollution a very little but still

effective. Also will having a cover crop on the corn fields. The cover crop will take in the

nutrients in the soil and then will collect the sediments in the runoff. These were the most

effective for the price.

Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond

Thoughtful Questions

  From:   lonely farmers - farmer - HHS                                                    Ask

                                                                                             4/7/2008

     Chicken Kickers" 101, although the chicken industry has been around for a long time,

     it has its down falls. You say another way to get rid of the waste is to put it on the

     field, but what happens if that waste is diseased? Then, how would you take care of

     that. Why not burn the left overs, or form a decompost pile. There are many things

     to think about when it comes to chickens. During the World War 2, there were not as

      many people living in the U.S. needing to be feed. So, with the increase of people

     there is more of a demand for the food. So, in this case the birds must be put on

     horomones to hasten the growth. This process causes many problems. How would you

      fix a diseased field, a diseased chicken house, or contaminated water?

  From:   The Greens - homeowner - MRGS                                                            Statement

                                                                                                                         4/23/2008

     You explained why chicken farming is important but you didn't really have any real

     solutions to the issues it has. Also, if you put a compost pile under a covered roof then

     the manure will not be able to be "weathered down" like you said.  Even so if it is broken

     down, it will still pollute the river when it is spread on the fields. Another question I have

     is, if you have a chicken farm(which are chicken houses) why would you need a cover

     crop? Is this strictly a chicken farm or do you sell crops, too?

  From:   Fishin' Impossible - Waterman - MRGS                                                  Ask

                                                                                                                         4/23/2008

      Farming goes beyond poultry.  What else would you do to curb the effects of your

     farm on the Chesapeake Bay- even you said that your practices would be minimal and

     would do very little.  Could you expand on your ideas and talk more about what you

     would do to stop pollution from the rest of your farm?

Farmers

yee old farmers                                                                                      Hampshire H.S.-Moore

                                                                                                                                  4/1/2008

As farmers we produce a lot of animal waste, which produces methane gas. There are a lot

of alternates to animal wastes like transporting excess manure outside of the Chesapeake

Bay watershed. We agree with the use of other technologies but we do not want to pay for

the expenses for the transportation of the manure. The problem with out using manure is

that the ground may not let crops grow as well with the poor soil. We could always not

spread manure as close to the waters edge as we usually do. Then we would be loosing

money and we think that we should get a little money for the acres that we do not harvest

and sell. There are a lot of people around our area that think we should  take money out of

our own pocket and put it into what they want us to do but we don’t see it that way.The

solution for this problem may be as simple as if we do something to make the water shed

better that’s going to cost us then we should get a little money back from that in some way.

 Such as the people that use the river like fishers that pay for their fishing license then

they should take some money out of that profit and distribute it to the farmers. The point

is basically that if we farmers are to do something good for the watershed then we should

get something back for it or we are not going to want to do it.

Ask a Thoughtful Question or Respond

Thoughtful Questions

  From:   Home Jackets - homeowner - MHS