USA— FarmBox Foods has launched its hydroponic fodder farm in Sedalia, Colorado to grow barley fodder year-round, which is set farmers and ranchers avoid supply chain disruptions, sourcing issues and spikes in hay prices.
Fodder is a nutrient-dense hay that’s used as a dietary supplement for horses, cows, pigs, goats, chickens, sheep, rabbits and alpacas.
Hydroponic fodder is animal feed grown from seeds without soil, and with little water. A week after the seeds have sprouted, the nutritious seedlings will be up to 30 cm tall.
They can be produced every day of the year, even in the dry season. Reduced availability of grazing land and scarcity of water to cultivate fodder makes it hard to produce green fodder throughout the year, thus hydroponic fodder is a more reliable and sustainable alternative.
Because barley fodder requires only a seven-day growth cycle, a staggered schedule allows farmers and ranchers to harvest approximately 880 pounds of fodder per day on site year-round.
The controlled-climate farms provide a reliable, hyperlocal source of fresh food while shielding the barley fodder from weather and climate impacts, including drought, heat waves, freezes and floods.
Because barley fodder requires only a seven-day growth cycle, a staggered schedule allows farmers and ranchers to harvest approximately 880 pounds of fodder per day on site year-round.
The farms are housed inside upcycled, insulated shipping containers outfitted with plumbing, electrical and sensors to control conditions inside. The 320-square-foot farms also capture, filter and recycle water for maximum water efficiency.
Protein-rich fodder improves the overall health of livestock, supplements hydration and adds weight to beef cattle. It also promotes the production of better-quality milk for dairy cows and goats, improves fertility rates, reduces the likelihood of illness, and decreases methane output because of its superior digestibility compared to traditional alfalfa hay.
FarmBox Foods connects communities to sustainably sourced, locally grown food, year-round. It brings food security, safety and sustainability to communities through its Vertical Hydroponic Farm, Gourmet Mushroom Farm and Hydroponic Fodder Farm.
FarmBox Foods crafts alternatives to centralized food systems with its high-yield, low carbon footprint container farms. The farm designs promote easy operation and maintenance while reducing the risk of food-borne illnesses.
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