Minnesota is the #1 turkey producing and processing state in the U.S., with 450 family farmers raising approximately 44 million to 46 million turkeys annually.
The cost of energy can have a big impact on the cost of food. So as new technologies have emerged that help turkey farmers reduce the use of electricity in their barns, many have started to make the switch with simple upgrades like LED lighting. With up to 85% savings, switching from high pressure sodium or incandescent lighting to LED lighting presents the greatest savings opportunity.
“A 2013 study of LED lighting in turkey barns showed that switching to LED lighting led to calmer birds and no measurable poultry production decrease,” shared Fritz Ebinger, CERTs Rural Energy Development Manager with University of Minnesota Extension and Regional Sustainable Development Partnerships. “These positive study results led the Clean Energy Resource Teams to design a program last year that helped turkey farmers all over Minnesota install energy-efficient, poultry-specific LED lighting in their barns.”
The CERTs program, called Gobbling Up Savings: LED Lighting in Turkey Barns, helped Minnesota turkey farmers learn about LED lighting for their barns, guide them through available funding resources, and connect them with rebates from their utility. Over the course of one year, the Clean Energy Resource Teams, in partnership with the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, reached out to Minnesota turkey farmers and were able to help farmers save (on average) $2,327 in 25 barns on an annual basis. Taken together, that’s nearly $60,000 of savings per year, just from LED lighting retrofits. All of these projects have a quick payback of 3 years or less.
John Zimmerman, a Northfield, MN turkey farmer and former President of the Minnesota Turkey Growers Association, recently upgraded his barns to LED lighting. “Turkeys are the majority of our operation—we raise 3-4 million pounds a year,” said Zimmerman. “We always have to be watching our bottom line, and anything we can do to increase our efficiency is obviously welcome. So when a product comes along that helps us do the same or a better job for less money, we take a good look at it,” Zimmerman shared in an interview with Farm Connections.
“Minnesota Turkey Growers Association is dedicated to fostering a successful Minnesota turkey industry,” said Erica Nelson, Ag Program Specialist with the Association. “LED lighting is helping Minnesota turkey farmers reduce costs while improving production—that’s a big win-win situation.”
Learn more and take action: To learn more and take action in your turkey barns, visit the CERTs program page at http://mncerts.org/turkeys. CERTs staff also provides broader assistance to Minnesota farms and businesses interested in LED lighting, other energy efficiency measures, and renewable energy installations. Contact us for more.
Video interview with Minnesota turkey farmer:
