Nebraska Partners To Provide Energy Answers For New Farmers

Aug 06, 2020

By John Hay

To help get folks off on the right foot, Nebraska Extension, in partnership with Extension programs from several other states and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), have developed a new series of extension materials designed specifically with new farmers in mind.

The series, "Energy Answers for the Beginning Farmer & Rancher,” utilizes farm energy experts from university extension programs across the country to answer pressing energy questions. The main product of the project is a series of short, engaging videos and resources that give useful tips and information on farm energy.

"Energy is typically one of the highest ongoing costs of any farm operation," says project manager Siobhan Fathel of Penn State. "These resources act as a first step to better managing your energy costs and needs.”

In addition to the short, engaging videos, there are also links to complementary materials designed to aid beginning farmers and ranchers in making informed decisions about on-farm energy. For example, the “Online Energy Selector” developed by the project team helps farmers compare and select the heating fuel that will give them the best value for their dollar.

Topics addressed in the video series include:

Can I use biodiesel in farm diesel engines?
How can I save on the cost of grain drying?
Where can I find money to implement energy efficiency measures?
How to select LED lights for agriculture?
How to determine pellet durability
Why do an energy audit on your farm?
Is wood heat right for you?
How can proper livestock ventilation save energy & feed?
What is it like to apply for farm energy incentive programs like REAP?
How to choose a heating fuel?
How to save money by understanding your electric bill?
How to choose proper livestock ventilation fans?
How do I size a cooler for on-farm produce storage?
How to design an energy efficient hydroponic system?
Solar-on-a-farm series

Source : unl.edu

Video: From Conventional to Regenerative: Will Groeneveld’s Journey Back to the Land

"You realize you've got a pretty finite number of years to do this. If you ever want to try something new, you better do it."

That mindset helped Will Groeneveld take a bold turn on his Alberta grain farm. A lifelong farmer, Will had never heard of regenerative agriculture until 2018, when he attended a seminar by Kevin Elmy that shifted his worldview. What began as curiosity quickly turned into a deep exploration of how biology—not just chemistry—shapes the health of our soils, crops and ecosystems.

In this video, Will candidly reflects on his family’s farming history, how the operation evolved from a traditional mixed farm to grain-only, and how the desire to improve the land pushed him to invite livestock back into the rotation—without owning a single cow.

Today, through creative partnerships and a commitment to the five principles of regenerative agriculture, Will is reintroducing diversity, building soil health and extending living roots in the ground for as much of the year as possible. Whether it’s through intercropping, zero tillage (which he’s practiced since the 1980s) or managing forage for visiting cattle, Will’s approach is a testament to continuous learning and a willingness to challenge old norms.

Will is a participant in the Regenerative Agriculture Lab (RAL), a social innovation process bringing together producers, researchers, retailers and others to co-create a resilient regenerative agriculture system in Alberta. His story highlights both the potential and humility required to farm with nature, not against it.