Tilapia and butterhead lettuce in a converted dairy barn. Year-round production system feeding a local restaurant group, operating since spring 2024.
Before & After
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A Cache Valley dairy farmer had a 1,800 sq ft barn sitting empty after consolidating his milking operation. He wanted to convert it to food production without a major structural build-out. Aquaponics turned out to be a strong fit — the existing concrete floor and drainage infrastructure stayed in place, and the insulated walls kept the system at operating temperature year-round with minimal heating cost.
The system runs tilapia in three 500-gallon tanks, circulating water through deep-water culture beds growing butterhead lettuce. Ammonia from the fish feeds the bacteria, bacteria converts it to nitrates, plants pull the nitrates, and clean water returns to the fish. The whole cycle is self-sustaining once balanced.
Harvest is weekly. The restaurant group buying the output does a standing order — consistent volume, predictable pricing, no logistics overhead. The farmer found the system significantly lower-maintenance than he expected once the initial balance was established.