AES Chosen to be Lead Engineers for New Dairy Facility Expansion

Members of the planning team for the Center for Organic and Sustainable Agriculture (COSA) at Alfred State College met recently to “seal the deal” with Agricultural Engineering Services, PLLC, (AES), Auburn, chosen by ASC to be the lead engineers for the College’s new Dairy Facility Expansion.  The project will build facilities to teach, demonstrate, and do research on organic and sustainable dairy production, organic crop production, and diverse other livestock species raised humanely. AES is joined by Agricultural Consulting Services, Inc. of Rochester and Beardsley Design Associates of Auburn on the project. Members of the Alfred State College faculty and staff are working with them to plan the details, with outreach to members of the community.

Founder and principal of AES, Dana Chapman, a professional licensed engineer, holds a BS from Syracuse University in civil engineering and a BS in forest engineering from the NYS College of Environmental Science and Forestry.

“AES’s broad knowledge of agricultural and food systems, experience with conservation and farm management solutions, and understanding of whom to ask for specific questions make them ideally suited as lead engineers,” said Brian Baker, Executive Director of Alfred State College’s Institute for Sustainability, which includes COSA.

The project faces numerous challenges in terms of siting, stocking densities, transition to organic and sustainable production, and infrastructure development. When complete, the facility is expected to become a unique teaching institution as well as a model of sustainable enterprise development for the region. Chapman welcomes the challenge.

“I find it enjoyable to work with a group with diverse interests that share a general knowledge and respect for the other interests,” said Chapman. “Together we can meet the needs of the students and the local community.”

The project is moving at an accelerated pace on an aggressive timeline. The plan is to break ground in Spring 2010 and have the facilities to house the dairy cattle by next winter.

For more information, contact Baker at (607) 587-4744 or via e-mail at BakerBP@alfredstate.edu.