Farm Energy Alternatives, University of Maine Cooperative Extension Energy Programming

County Offices
Find out about workshops and demonstrations in your neighborhood and around the state.

University of Maine Cooperative Extension
5741 Libby Hall
Orono, ME 04469-5741
(207) 581-3188
1-800-287-0274 (in Maine)
TDD: 1-800-287-8957 (in Maine)
FAX: (207) 581-1387
E-Mail: www-questions@umext.maine.edu

These pages are currently being maintained from the Piscataquis County Office, University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Send comments, suggestions or inquiries to the Donna Coffin.

Was this Web site helpful?
Please let us know by completing our short ten question online survey: UMaine Extension Energy Web Site Survey

Farm Energy Information

On-farm Energy Alternatives: Hay Pellets and Other Options

Monday, December 7, 2009
University of Maine Cooperative Extension Piscataquis County Office
165 East Main Street
Dover-Foxcroft, ME
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Farmers, landowners and others interested in biomass energy will learn about the existing and potential of on-farm energy alternatives from wood pellets to perennial grasses from Maine’s fields and forests. Andrew Plant, Extension Educator from Aroostook County, and Donna Coffin, Extension Educator from Piscataquis County, will share information from Maine and other states on making biomass pellets for heating from wood products and perennial grasses. Andrew has been experimenting with producing and burning biomass pellets from native grasses harvested from Aroostook County hay fields.

Pre-registration is required for this free program. For more information or Pre-registration, contact Amanda Miles at (207) 564-3301 or (800) 287-1491 (in Maine), or e-mail amiles@umext.maine.edu. UMaine Extension programs are open and accessible to all in accordance with program goals.

Use on the farm

Clean Energy Farming: Cutting Costs, Improving Efficiencies and Harnessing Renewables from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program.
Conserving Fuel and Electricity (on the Farm) from ATTRA. Includes information on efficient agriculture buildings, root zone heating for greenhouse crops, irrigation energy saving tips, maintenance (pumps, motors, and engines), and conserving fuel on the farm.
Crop Storage: Potatoes from University of Wisconsin -- Madison.
Farm Energy Calculators from ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service. Includes a variety of calculators to help farmers determine the amount of energy they are using and how much reduction they can achieve with changes. Calculators include nitrogen, tillage, irrigation, animal housing, savings calculator (tractor heater times, vacuum pump, ventilation systems, milk precooler), etc.
Farmstead Energy Audit # AE1366 from North Dakota State University Extension Service. Topics include tractor and field operations, grain drying, indoor and outdoor lighting, irrigation, livestock watering, livestock buildings, farm shops and the home.
Greenhouse Energy Cost Reduction Strategies from the Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University.
Guide to Energy Efficiency for Maine Businesses, A: This energy efficiency guide can help you identify strategies, options, and resources for improving the energy performance of your business, buildings, and operations.
Small Farm Energy Primer [Available upon request. Please e-mail us to request a PDF copy.]

Production on the Farm

Anaerobic Digestion of Animal Wastes: Factors to Consider from ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.
Biodiesel: a Primer from ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
Harvesting Clean Energy is a technical assistance program of the Maine Rural Partners and the Farm Energy Partners Network. Help Maine Farmers save energy, improve the environment and strengthen their bottom lines.
Proceedings from the Renewable Fuel Conference held in Orono, Maine, December 2007 [Word]
Small Scale Biodiesel Production in Northern Maine: A Case Study [Available upon request. Please e-mail us to request an electronic copy of this PowerPoint poster.]
Small Scale Biodiesel Production Options factsheet from North Carolina State University
Solar Energy Applications for Agriculture from New York State Energy Research and Development Authority [Available upon request. Please e-mail us to request a PDF copy.]
Wind-Powered Electric Systems for Homes, Farms, and Ranches from ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service.

Current Research & Programming by University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Canola Production and Processing: Peter Sexton
Harvesting Clean Energy: Caragh Fitzgerald
Passive and Active Solar Gain in a Small Scale Greenhouse: Gleason Gray and Barb Murphy

Links are provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any content on the linked sites.

A Member of the University of Maine System