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Hills–Beaver Creek junior and senior agriculture students are studying aquaponics, a form of agriculture that combines raising fish in tanks (recirculating aquaculture) with soilless plant culture (hydroponics).
Aquaponics is a sustainable method of raising both fish and vegetables indoors to produce substantially more food with less water, land and labor than with traditional agriculture.
It also provides fresh local food that is free of pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers.
Ag instructor Tom Sandager shared the information on the project students have been working on since Dec. 1, 2018.
“Aquaponics is a sustainable agricultural system which uses processes that occur naturally in our world,” he said.
“Our goal is to simulate these symbiotic relationships found in nature. The system we set up uses gravity for most of the water action. Basically, we will feed the fish and the fish will excrete ammonia. Bacteria will use nitrification to make safe nitrates as food for the plants. The nutrient-depleted water will then be pumped back into the fish tank to start the process again.”
He said the system will allow them to study plant growth indoors all year long.
“It will allow us to study life cycles and relationships between organisms,” Sandager said. “It will also provide us with fresh food.”
The school received a grant from the Minnesota Agricultural Education Leadership Council to cover expenses for the equipment and supplies needed for the project.
Seniors Madison Spath and Luke LaRock shared their thoughts on the project.
“It’s nice to see all of our hard work coming together,” Spath said, “This is a project where we are able to see progress every day. I think it will be exciting to see the final outcome.”
Luke LaRock said he’s enjoyed the joint study of plants and water.
“It is interesting to learn about the different process of hydroponics and aquaculture, which equals aquaponics, “he said.
Chili contest, FFA open house April 14
The aquaponics system will be on display during the H-BC open house and chili cook-off on April 14.
It’s from 1 to 4 p.m. at the high school, and community members are encouraged to enter their versions of the best chili.
Prizes will be awarded in various categories, and competition details will be sent to contestants who signed up by April 1. Call Bailey Swan, 605-759-0954, for information.