Grass-fed beef spreadsheet

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(chogan @ Dec 18 2006, 11:17 AM) [snapback]363833[/snapback]</div>

It can also be used as a high quality fertilizer (better than if you used unprocessed pooh). In that case there would be more GHG savings if this stuff were displacing traditional (i.e fossil based) fertilizers. It never ends . I suppose this is why it's so hard to come up with accurate energy balance calculations for things like ethanol. Where do you stop counting? It's interesting none-the-less and really illuminates how interconnected everything is.

So what about grass-fed cattle where the cattle are equipped with poo collectors that allow the manure to be easily harvested and applied in the same way?

 

In a well-run grass farm, the cow manure in the pastures is scattered by chickens and becomes the fertilizer for the grass. This is described enthrallingly (really!) in The Omnivore's Dilemma.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(tripp @ Dec 18 2006, 06:28 PM) [snapback]363969[/snapback]</div>

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(lbligh @ Dec 18 2006, 05:13 PM) [snapback]363981[/snapback]</div>

Well, there you have it.

 

anyone have any hard data on a bio-gas project?? it was tried here a few years back but failed miserably. the smell could not be controlled and eventually public outcry ended the project at a HUGE cost financially and energy-wise (we now truck all our garbage to another county)

this was despite the fact that the system used was supposed to control odors and what not. but it was tried for several years before it was finally abandoned. it was at the county dump where the project was being attempted. granted, the dump would have reached capacity in another 10 years if allowed to continue anyway but that would have been another 10 years of NOT shuffling garbage at more than twice the distance at a substantial cost.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Dec 19 2006, 09:18 AM) [snapback]364156[/snapback]</div>

Dave,

Goto Renewable Energy Access and type "landfill waste" into the search box in the upper right. There are several examples that will come up for you.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Dec 19 2006, 08:18 AM) [snapback]364156[/snapback]</div>

The waste managment facility near me does methane reclaimation. I don't have any hard specific numbers and in the middle of moving so I don't have time to look now but here is a link.

http://www.wpwma.com/landfill.html

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(F8L @ Dec 21 2006, 02:03 PM) [snapback]365384[/snapback]</div>

wow... must be nice~!!... i dont mean the methane recovery system. we had much the same thing but it simply did not work. spent years trying to figure out the problems but simply couldnt control the odor issues

what is impressive to me is FREE electronic device disposal?? wow... didnt think anyone offered that. we also have free hazardous waste disposal... there is a limit, but its more than generous something like 5 gallons of waste oil per month (i used to drop off about 5 gallons per YEAR)

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Dec 21 2006, 04:11 PM) [snapback]365439[/snapback]</div>

Its actually not a bad system. We did a field trip there with my college and I've been there many times dropping off my own waste (which I am seriously trying to reduce). The one aspect i did not like was the sorting aisles. The sorting was done by mexicans and half were not wearing appropriate respiration gear. The area has a lot of airborn particles as was evident by the accumulation on the railings and floor. When I inquired about it the guide said that they "try" to enforce rules on safety gear but many barely speak english and simply remove the masks when no one is looking. *shrug* I hope they explain WHY the safety gear is supposed to be used and not simply say its a rule.

 

grass fed beef is the #1 cause of deforestation of the amazon river basin...

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(DaveinOlyWA @ Dec 28 2006, 08:58 AM) [snapback]367676[/snapback]</div>

If you are buying grassfed beef from Brazil then you are doing it wrong anyway because of the fuel used to get it here becomes a wash. Buy and eat local or find something else to eat is the general rule. IE, don't eat bananas.

 

i am buying organic cows from a farm in Tenino, WA and its about 15 miles away and i pick it up with my SO's dad who is going halfies with me on it.


as far as bananas go, its unfortunate that they dont come from an area that is local to me, but banana farming does not encourage deforestation and their undeniable health benefits are hard to beat with any other fruit. so i will continue helping to make the banana the #1 fruit in the world.

 

land prices and the associated taxes that goes with it is a HUGE issue in my area because of the rapid growth of the area.

in Michael Pollen's book though, there is a built-in deterrent to small local organic beef producers (this is the only way it can realistically be done and benefit both farmer and consumer by reducing transportation costs) and that deterrent is the FDA.

the regulations they put on the slaughter of beef basically adds over $1 per pound to a small business cost since they must essentially send it to a regular slaughter house and cannot do it themselves.