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Thermal agriculture utilizes heat to protect crops from
the cold, and flames to eliminate weeds and dangerous
pathogens that can cause serious damage to crops and
livestock. Propane is an excellent fuel source to heat,
incinerate, and sanitize without the use of pesticides.
Thermal Agriculture research focuses primarily on pest
control. It involves research and development of
equipment or processes to control pests such as weeds,
insects, microbes, and others that, left unchecked, have
a negative affect on the production of agriculture
commodities.
Projects
Weed Control
Batchen Stinger Reliability and Water Trials (Docket 12581)
Performance of durability trials on three upgraded Batchen Stinger steam weed control units, which have new programming for control boards, longer heat exchanger chambers for better heat mixing and reading, and an additional water pump allowing each heating chamber to run independently with respect to its own temperature. Trials take place in California under a range of operating conditions (e.g., ambient temperature changes, water filtration, etc.).
Reducing Blacklegged Tick Populations with Propane Torches in Controlling Evasive Barberry (Docket 12580)
Evaluation of effectiveness and relative costs of using propane torches to control Japanese barberry shrub on a 5+ acre-scale. Evaluation of the reduction in blacklegged tick population following control of the Japanese barberry.
Batchen Stinger Steam Weeder – Engineering Design and Preparation of Detailed Drawings (Docket 12420)
Engineering design of a larger rear-pull type Batchen Stinger that steams from both sides of the machine, based on design recommendations from Phase 1 of the project (Docket 12297). Design includes a sturdier frame, doubled water and propane capacity, and easily adjustable canopy design to increase customer ease of use.
Design and Optimization of a Propane-Fueled Weed-Crop Flamer (Docket 12343)
Design of effective and more efficient propane flamers using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) for safe, fuel efficient, and flexible weed control in organic farms. Field testing will be carried out in conjunction with Docket 12202.
Batchen Stinger Steam Weeder – Design Study (Docket 12297)
Collection and evaluation of information on current Batchen Stinger, including recommendations on durability and capacity adjustments to more effectively use machine in U.S. environment. Development and design of a proposal for a larger capacity machine is anticipated.
Determining Biologically Effective Propane Dose for Weed-Crop Flaming (Docket 12202)
Determination of the biologically effective dose of propane for controlling major weed species and crop tolerance. Includes strong outreach and publications component to encourage organic growers to integrate propane into their weed management protocol.
Fact Sheet
Development of Technical Information for Growers for the
Use of Propane for Steaming as an Alternative to Post-Emergence
Herbicides (Docket 11886)
Development of technical
information to promote the use of steaming as an effective weed
management tool in citrus orchards, vineyards, and vegetable
and/or small fruit production. Evaluation of differing weed
species' reactions to steam defoliation; effectiveness of the
Batchen "Stinger" thermal weed defoliator in controlling
economically important weed species; and potential utilization
of steam defoliation technology with other weed management tools
such as cover crops, solarization, and herbicides.
Project Report
Thermal Weed Control Technology (Docket
10644)
Demonstration of the Batchen Stinger propane steam weed control
machine at the 2005 World Ag Expo in Tulare, California, and
testing of the machine in vineyards in Washington and
California.
Fact Sheet
Press Release
Presentation
Poultry House Sanitization
Prototype Flamer/Tiller; Additional Field Tests (Docket 12344)
Additional testing of a rake-like apparatus that fits onto the back of the Flame Engineering propane-fueled poultry house sanitation unit and conducts additional heat down into the litter. Involves before-and-after biological tests determining how much the new apparatus improves heat transfer.
Poultry House Sanitation to Reduce Pathogen Transport to Groundwater (Docket 12026)
Laboratory testing of the effectiveness of various levels of flame treatment and combinations of heat and chemical treatments on microbiology and flock performance. Development of new data and findings about the ideal protocol for heat sanitation of poultry buildings.
Press Release
Poultry House Sanitizer/Landscape Flamer
(Docket 11391)
Validation and commercialization of the Red Dragon™
propane flame sanitizer. Testing to measure its
effectiveness in killing pathogens such as avian influenza,
salmonella, E. coli, and coliform in different styles of
poultry houses with different litter types.
Fact Sheet
Presentation
LP-Gas for Weed & Nematode Cntrl (Yr 3)
(Docket 10557)
Development and testing of propane-fueled flaming technology to aid agricultural
weed, nematode, and pathogen control. Refining of burner hardware, extension of field trials on cotton sites,
and initiation of field trials on soybeans and organic vegetables. Evaluation of the efficacy and cost of using
propane to control pathogens in broiler houses and the feasibility of using propane to control insects and
pathogens in cattle feed lots.
Fact Sheet
Press Release
Soil Sanitization
Steam as a Methyl Bromide Alternative in Florida and California (Docket 12582)
Utilization of propane-fired steam, rather than methyl bromide, as a method of soil sanitation for cut flower and strawberry fields in Florida and California. Includes an evaluation of the economic feasibility of the propane-fired method.
Develop and Test a Propane-Fueled Means to Control Soil Nematodes: Phase 2 (Docket 12423)
Building and field testing of a propane-fueled prototype system that uses aerated steam to heat agricultural soil and effectively control nematode populations. Includes high-level commercialization plan for the U.S. market.
Developing a Propane-Fueled Means to Control Soil Nematodes – Phase 1 (Docket 12203)
A feasibility study aimed at designing a propane-fueled technology that efficiently transfers heat into the soil to destroy nematode populations. Evaluation of the efficacy, durability, and economic feasibility of a propane-fueled machine to control nematode populations and offer an alternative to the use of methyl bromide.
Orchard Heating
Electronic Ignition Control System for Propane Orchard Heaters (Docket 12579)
Identification of a system concept that is acceptable to growers and economically feasible to purchase and operate. Involves a preliminary study confirming the details of growers' needs and tolerable costs of an electronic ignition control system for propane orchard heaters.
Electronic Ignition System for Propane Orchard Heaters
(Docket 12048)
Design, building, and demonstration of a safe electronic ignition system for propane-fired orchard heaters. Includes installation at a local orchard for testing and demonstration.
Environmentally Safe Orchard Heating for Frost and Freeze
Protection (Docket 11116)
Laboratory and field testing of smudge pot, used shell casing,
and AgHeat propane-fueled orchard heaters to obtain comparable
data for market use. Development of an installation and safety
blueprint to support replication of the project.
Fact Sheet
Press Release
Project Report
Other
Redesigning Propane Burners that Remove String and Plants from Tomato Stakes (Docket 12342)
Modification of current propane burner equipment used in tomato fields so that plastic mulch on the ground is not melted when string and plants are burned from stakes. Reduction of labor expense involved in current method of removing plastic mulch by hand, and increase in the overall efficiency of the entire post-harvest process for tomatoes and other staked vegetables. Testing of up to four different models.
Dairy Bed Sterilization Through Propane Flame (Docket 12292)
Testing of the efficacy of flame technology on reducing pathogen levels and the incidence of mastitis in lactating dairy cows bedded on sand. Includes modification of grooming system to utilize propane flame, and testing of its efficacy with regard to bacterial reductions both with and without thermal treatments.
Fact Sheet
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