In order to study the potential for small farms to utilize anaerobic digestion, it is necessary to understand what organic wastes small farms produce. Waste audits help us to see what types of organic wastes are produced on small farms and in what amounts. In the summer of 2011, a waste audit was conducted at Crones’ Cradle Conserve, a small organic farm in Citra, FL. For the audit, organic waste was sorted and weighed daily. Organic wastes produced on the farm included weeds, row clearings, culled crops, food processing waste, harvesting waste, and animal manures. Samples were analyzed for moisture and organic matter content to estimate methane potential of the waste. Results from the audit were presented at the 2011 UF Soil and Water Science Department Research Forum on September 9, 2011 (see poster below). This information is critical in estimating the biogas potential at small farms.

Poster: Anaerobic Digestion Potential of Organic Wastes from Small Farms
           2011 Soil and Water Science Department Forum
           September 9, 2011