How do farmers use technology to be more sustainable? We asked multigenerational farmer, Chris Conser, how he uses technology on his farm.
See more: Ask a Farmer: How Have You Incorporated Technology on the Farm?
Porter Farms is home to a 2,000-head sow farm, a 400-head cow-calf operation, and raises pullets and layers (female chickens). We also host events ranging from mud runs to weddings at our two wedding venues.
As a livestock farm and agritourism operation, sustainability is a huge focus. With new technology, pig waste is collected in an anaerobic lagoon and the solid waste is broken down into a liquid fertilizer for the crops. We also use a composter on the farm to break down other materials from the fields that can be used as fertilizer. Another bonus of the composter is that it can convert chicken litter into a compost medium to help manage the waste that comes out of our chicken barns. In our chicken houses, we use a robotic machine to handle eggs with less labor and greater efficiency.
About the Farmer: Chris Conser and his wife, Erin, work on her family’s multigenerational farm in Cabarrus County. He also serves on North Carolina Farm Bureau’s Swine Advisory Committee.
