ACE Farm, in Monroe (Orange County), was founded in 1917 and specializes in growing egg-laying chickens. It is a family owned and operated enterprise that annually produces 130,000 laying hens are capable of laying 39 million eggs per year. These chickens also produce over 3,000 yards of manure per year that must be constantly managed. The project was funded by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).