Tips for saving and generating on-farm energy is the topic of one of the latest publications in the Best Management Practices (BMP) series from the federal and provincial agriculture ministries. The 24-page booklet, On-Farm Energy: A Primer, outlines ideas for improving energy efficiency and reducing costs.
“Energy represents a significant input cost for farmers, and our new BMP resource covers simple on-farm measures that can reduce energy use and cost,” says Steve Clarke, energy and crop engineering specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Rural Affairs, and contributing author to On-Farm Energy: A Primer.
“Farmers can also reduce overall energy costs by generating energy on the farm using many innovative new options. On-Farm Energy: A Primer gathers all these ideas and tips into a compact booklet with information on additional resources.”
Topics covered in the new energy BMP resource include: farm energy audits, tips for improving energy efficiency in the home and on the farm across all sectors, and an overview of on-farm energy production systems including biomass, solar, wind and geothermal.
The booklet style of On-Farm Energy: A Primer represents a new shorter format used on many of the newer BMP books – designed to provide basic topic information with links for additional, more detailed information.
Controlling Soil Erosion on the Farm and Cropland Drainage are two other also recently released BMP titles. The BMP series contains more than 30 innovative and award-winning reference books with practical and affordable ideas for conserving soil, water and other natural resources in rural areas.
BMP books are available at no charge (shipping and handling charges may apply) and can be ordered online at www.publications.serviceontario.ca, by phone at 1-800-668-9938 or in person at ServiceOntario Centres across the province.
A full list of all BMP books is available at www.publications.serviceontario.ca – search for “Best Management Practices agriculture.”
The BMP books are developed through collaboration between Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food and Ministry of Rural Affairs, and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
For more than 25 years, these groups have worked together to produce the Best Management Practices resources, delivering useful information on environmentally sustainable farm practices.
