ENERGY, INFRASTRUCTURE AND TRANSPORTATION

Whole farm approach to sustainability

Chris Vandenberg, Harley, ON

BRANT COUNTY DAIRY FARMER CHRIS VANDENBERG believes the sustainability of his family farm encompasses his livestock, barns, facilities, economics, and the environment.

“Each segment of the farm needs to be sustainable on its own and are equally important. Together they strike a balance, enabling our farm to be sustainable for our family to grow, prosper and carry it on to the next generation,” he says.

Since transitioning into the farm in 2005, Vandenberg has worked diligently to realize its potential and his goal is continuous growth. That’s one of the reasons he’s invested in a whole farm approach to adopting innovations to support its sustainability. “The progression of technology is always on my radar. I’m looking for opportunities that will benefit the environment, our bottom line, reduce labour and improve feed quality,” explains Vandenberg.

The Vandenbergs farm in Harley, ON, milking 120 cows with three robots. In 2010, they invested in renewable energy with a microfit

10 kw solar system, installing three solar trackers, each with 18 solar panels. Vandenberg says he had been interested in solar technology, looking for the ability to reduce the farm’s energy costs, but didn’t have the confidence to make the investment until a government program became available that helped solar technology pencil out in his favour.

“We’re happy with the solar panels. They’re yielding a return on investment, and when the 20-year contract runs out I will consider upgrading the technology and installing new systems on our barn roof,” says Vandenberg.

To reduce soil erosion, much of the Vandenbergs’ farm is planted with wintering cover crops, which build soil health and maximize acres for forage production. Lighting in the barns has also been upgraded with LED bulbs to reduce costs and improve energy efficiency.

In 2021, Vandenberg took a new approach to managing the plastic from his bales and feed bunks by purchasing a cardboard baler to bale the low-density polyethylene plastic wrap. The farm now has a process to collect, sort and bale all the plastic waste, producing 300-pound bales of plastic and recycling a total of 4,300 lbs each year that would have otherwise ended up in a landfill. “Not only is recycling the right thing to do, but it offsets the cost of dumpster fees and the fuel required for weekly pick ups. Now I have an integrated and streamlined approach to recycling that only requires the plastic bales to be picked up once each year,” explains Vandenberg. The addition of the cardboard baler has been seamless, but this new approach to plastic recycling does require space to store the bales.

These days, environmental considerations have greater bearing on decision-making than in the past. “Today we’re taking a more balanced approach by prioritizing our environmental impact over making upgrade and investment decisions that only impact the bottom line,” says Vandenberg. Earlier this year, the family installed an automated feed kitchen that dramatically cut the farm’s fossil fuel consumption by eliminating 20 L of diesel each day, reducing labour requirements and expanding ration options to optimize livestock diets. Not only does the new automated feed kitchen reduce the farm’s carbon footprint, but it also enhances the farm’s overall sustainability, something Vandenberg continues to strive for.

“We are all responsible for the sustainability of our farms, so when farmers are faced with the crucial moments of making an investment in their farm, it’s important we consider options that will benefit every aspect, including the environment.”