When the Pacific Agriculture Show in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, opens its doors February 19 through 21 it will have more than 100 exhibitors providing agriculturists with the latest in technological changes to improve their operations.
At this year’s tradeshow there will be two companies of particular interest to dairy farmers – NRG-FX (Energy Effects) and Penergetic Canada.
NRG-FX evaluates electrical use on farms and provides equipment to improve power consumption and make farms more environmentally friendly. With equipment from NRG-FX farmers can save up to 40 percent of their electricity costs, says company spokesman Bruce Perkins,
“Making milking equipment like vacuum pumps and alley scrapers run more efficiently is our objective,” he says. “We go right to the farm and talk to the people who make the decisions about energy conservation.”
There are not a lot of electrical engineers that are willing to put on a pair of rubber boots to walk around a dairy farm and talk to the farmer about how they cannot only save energy but also reduce their cost of operation; however, Perkins says doing so shows his company and dairy producers as a whole are committed to sustainability.
The company’s product not only tells you how much electricity a dairy consumes, but how much it costs. It also provides surge protection up to 2,000 joules.
Exhibitor Penergetic Canada believes that dairy farmers are among the most important stewards in protecting land and water resources. Most dairy farmers in Canada do that by adopting the principles of Canada’s Federal Environmental Stewardship program, which addresses problems associated with long-term manure storage and application to the land.
At this year’s show, the company will outline its sustainable approach to manure management. Penergetic is a Swiss-based company that manages dairy wastes in a way that increases the agronomic benefits while aiming to reduce the risk of application, runoff and leaching.
The program, according to representative Derek Pratt, is economical and easy-to-use, requires no capital expenditure, and has been proven effective in dairy operations around the world. Whether you have 50 or 500 cows, the system can increase the efficiency of manure-handling systems for liquids, slurries and solids, he says.
One of the company’s products, Penergetic G, claims to stimulate a more complete breakdown of manure, preventing crust formation in tanks/lagoons and curtailing unpleasant odors. Penergetic K for manure solids is a liquid that can be applied at the rate of 40 grams per cubic meter in barns, stalls or directly on the manure pile. It claims to limit nutrient loss, mitigate odors and creates a more homogenously consistent compost mix.
B.C. Dairy Expo Seminar is another part of the Pacific Agriculture Show that runs for only one day, Feb. 19, and features several guest speakers. Among them is Dr. Brian Van Doormaal, general manager for the Canadian Dairy Network in Guelph, Ontario, who will address the topic of genomics and its impact on genetic programs.
Also present to address those in attendance will be Roger Mills, a breeder and consultant from Steinbach, Manitoba, who has developed a method of collecting critical on-farm data for milk production, herd health and finances, which allows producers to benchmark their herd performance. He will provide details of the experiences he has had working with producers.
The final principle speaker is Dr. Joe Harrison from Washington State University, who will provide an agronomic-based talk on growing and managing quality dairy forages.
The $20 admission to the expo includes a hot breakfast and a copy of the dairy proceedings. A $30 entry fee will cover admission for three dairymen including breakfasts and a copy of the proceedings.
For more information on the Pacific Agriculture Show and a complete list of exhibitors plus other interesting information visit www.agricultureshow.net PD
Grant Ullyot is a freelance writer in Chilliwack, B.C.
