Ecological Farming Association
Energy Efficiency and
Conservation on the Farm
SARE Conference Spring 2008
Marcy Coburn
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.
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.
EFA Programs
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Ecological Farming Conference
Heartland Festival
Hoes Down Harvest Festival
Advocacy/Policy
Sustainable Agriculture Program
Smart Energy Management in Agriculture (SEMA)
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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
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Producers
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Local government representatives
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Non-profit organizations
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Industry representatives
Funded by Western SARE
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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
SEMA Objectives
Four SEMA Trainings in California
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Healdsburg (North Coast)
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March 2006
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Pacific Grove (Central Coast)
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January 2007
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Livingston (San Joaquin Valley)
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July 2007
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Winters (Sacramento Valley)
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November 2007
Curriculum
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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
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Each attendee received a handbook to bring back with them.
Healdsburg (North Coast)
Healdsburg (North Coast)
Experts
Topics
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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
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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
Pacific Grove (Central Coast)
Experts
Eco-Farm Pre-conference
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2007 Eco-Farm Conference theme: “Farm
Power - Growing it Organically”
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Smart Energy workshops at Asilomar
Penny Livingston
Steve Heckeroth
Richard Heinberg, plenary speaker on
peak oil
Eco-Energy Farm Tour
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Tom Broz, Live Earth Farm
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Phil Foster, Pinnacle Organics
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Energy Efficiency
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Biofuels through the eyes of
sustainable agriculture
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Solar; The perfect storm of economics
and environmental sustainability
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How many miles to go before you eat
Livingston (San Joaquin Valley)
Livingston (San Joaquin Valley)
Experts
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Patricia Dugger - Pacific Gas and
Electric
Corey Conant - EnSave, Inc.
Jeff Mitchell - UC Kearney Agricultural
Center
Moffatt Ngugi - UC DavisAgroecosystems 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, Turlock
Tours
Carl Morris, General Manager/C.O.O Joseph Gallo Farms
Jean Okuye, Farmer - Okuye Farm
Topics
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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
Winters (Sacramento Valley)
Winters (Sacramento Valley)
Experts
Topics
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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
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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
Joseph Gallo Farms
Joseph Gallo Farms
Dixon Ridge
Dixon Ridge
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:
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Biofuels
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Efficiency
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Solar/PV
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Rebates
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Methane
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Wind
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Networking
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Geothermal
87% of participants said they planned to use what they learned in the
workshops within the next year.
Thanks.
Marcy Coburn
Ecological Farming Association
www.eco-farm.org/energy
marcy@eco-farm.org