Farm Energy Breaking News

Legislation just enacted in Hawaii will provide loans to help farmers create their own power, reports Pacific Business News. Act 209 provides loan funds to allow farmers to develop renewable energy for their farms using sources such as photovoltaic, hydro, wind, methane, biodiesel and ethanol. The maximum loan amount would be $1.5 million or 85 percent of the project cost, whichever is less, for up to 40 years. The annual interest rate will be 3 percent for agricultural loans.

U.S. dairy industry leaders have announced an industry-wide commitment and action plan to reduce fluid milk's carbon footprint while increasing business value, from farm to consumer. The action plan is an outcome of the industry’s first Sustainability Summit for U.S. Dairy, an unprecedented gathering of 250 leaders representing producers, processors, non-governmental organizations, university researchers and government agencies held in Rogers, Arkansas, June 16 to June 19. The Sustainability Summit, held in conjunction with the University of Arkansas' Applied Sustainability Center, was the first major step in a comprehensive dairy industry-wide initiative bringing together producers, processors, and others to identify and address sustainability opportunities.

Farmers across the country are coming up with some innovative ways to deal with rising fuel costs, reports Progressive Farmer. Some are buying fuel early and increasing fuel storage capacity. The added expense of purchasing infrastructure and complying with large-quantity fuel storage regulations, however, may cost more than the savings attained. Fuel theft may also become a problem. Some farmers are even investing in oil futures to try to achieve a pricing edge.

The Palouse Conservation Field Station operated by USDA Agricultural Research Service and Washington State University Department of Crops and Soil Sciences will host a field day near Pullman, Washington, on June 26. The morning field day will offer tours highlighting oilseed variety trials; economics and rotation of canola; adding value to oilseed crops; and the amount of residue needed to maintain soil quality.

Legislation under consideration in New Jersey would define wind and solar energy generation as agricultural activities, reports The Associated Press. Under the legislation, owners of preserved farmland would be able to install and operate wind and solar generation equipment on their properties as a part of normal farming activity, protected from complaints by neighbors. Advocates of the measure say it opens important new opportunities for farmers, while opponents say it paves the way for unwanted development on supposedly protected land.

A power plant proposed for Coalinga, California, will combine solar generation capacity with a biomass-powered generator, reports The San Francisco Chronicle. The plant will burn orchard trimmings, agricultural waste, and manure in a backup generator when solar production is low. The plant will generate a maximum of 107 megawatts of electricity, and could be built by 2011.

Bioenergy Awareness Days are set for June 19-21, 2008 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. BEAD II is designed to increase awareness and knowledge related to the sustainable production of agriculture-based and natural resource-based renewable energy. The event also promotes the efficient use and conservation of energy for the benefit of rural communities and the nation. The event will recognize 13 "Grand Challenge" winners—universities that have taken leadership roles in renewable energy research, teaching and extension outreach work. Other BEAD II activities include the official opening of the "Power Plants Garden," a project at the National Arboretum that demonstrates the range of plants that are grown in the United States that offer potential as, or are used as renewable energy sources.

The Algenol company has announced plans to produce ethanol directly from algae, according to a Reuters news story on Planet Ark. While others are using pressed algae to produce biodiesel, Algenol says it trains algae to directly secrete ethanol. The company has signed an agreement with a Mexican company to grow algae, and hopes to build algae-to-ethanol farms on US coasts eventually. Algenol estimates it can make 6,000 gallons of ethanol from an acre of land, which represents a tremendous land savings over corn-based ethanol.

University of New Hampshire researchers have received a significant grant to study UNH's organic dairy research farm as a sustainable closed agroecosystem, exploring viable strategies for becoming energy independent. The $380,000 three-year grant, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Sustainable Agricultural Research and Education (SARE) program, aims to explore whether closing energy and nutrient cycles could help small family dairy farms in the Northeast survive economic vulnerabilities. This past spring, UNH researchers studied nitrogen flows and energy inputs and outputs. Results of those studies suggested that both energy independence and a closed nitrogen system could be achieved through intensive management of manure; changing the bedding method of the farm's 40 cows; increasing the cows' time on pasture; and growing grain, hay bedding and silage on-site instead of purchasing them from external sources.

Diversified farmer Mike Bernards, near McMinnville, Oregon, recently installed a wind generator that will provide more than 25 percent of his farm's annual energy needs, according to The Oregonian. The 10-kilowatt turbine installed at the farm will cost Bernards about $12,000, after incentive grants and tax credits for renewable energy are factored in. It will help reduce the carbon footprint of the energy used to operate the farm's greenhouse, coolers, and fans for decorative plants, row crops, and seasonal produce.

The High-Level Conference on World Food Security in Rome June 3-5 will involve world leaders in discussion about the relation of biofuel production to the rising cost of food. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer, who leads the U.S. delegation, says that just 2 percent to 3 percent of the recent increase in food prices is due to biofuel production, citing other causes for the majority of price increases. Schafer said he hopes the summit's biofuel discussions lead to some conclusions about the efficiencies of biofuels.

The Agricultural & Food Policy Center at Texas A&M University has released Wind Energy: Issues to Consider. The 12-page publication is available online in PDF (536K). It addresses considerations related to both small and large wind energy systems, such as siting, local regulations, and working with utilities. Additional sources of information are also listed.

Wind power is capable of becoming a major contributor to America’s electricity supply over the next three decades, according to a report released by the U.S. Department of Energy. The groundbreaking report, 20% Wind Energy by 2030: Increasing Wind Energy’s Contribution to U.S. Electricity Supply, looks closely at one scenario for reaching 20% wind energy by 2030, says the American Wind Energy Association. AWEA Executive Director Randall Swisher noted, "The report identifies the central constraints to achieving 20% - transmission, siting, manufacturing and technology - and demonstrates how each can be overcome. As an inexhaustible domestic resource, wind strengthens our energy security, improves the quality of the air we breathe, slows climate change, and revitalizes rural communities."

Farmers are facing rising costs for inputs this year, but the cost of fertilizer has risen even more than other products. The Wall Street Journal explored some of the complex and antiquarian regulations that govern marketing of potash and phosphate used in fertilizer. In addition to U.S. regulations, prices are now affected by global markets for the fertilizer components.

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer is encouraging state residents looking to save fuel this summer to consider an agritourism vacation in their home state. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture points out that the website www.kentuckyfarmsarefun.com lists 220 agritourism businesses that offer a range of diverse experiences, and their press release also highlights nine rapidly approaching agritourism events in Kentucky.

EPA is seeking comments on the state of Texas's petition to reduce the volume of renewable fuel required to be used in motor vehicles and other engines. In an April 25, 2008 letter to EPA, Governor Rick Perry asked EPA to halve the nationwide renewable fuels standard (RFS) mandate for the production of ethanol derived from grain, citing adverse economic impact due to higher corn prices in Texas. EPA is publishing a Federal Register notice opening a 30-day comment period on the request. The RFS mandate for 2008 is the equivalent of 9 billion gallons.

A University of Illinois Extension study shows that between 2003 and 2007, the majority of corn and soybean production cost increases can be attributed to crude oil price increases, reports USAgNet. A report on the study "Impacts of Rising Crude Oil Prices on Corn and Soybean Production Costs" is posted online. The study found that historically, for each $1 increase in crude oil price corn production costs have increased by $1.51 per acre and soybean production costs have increased by 90 cents per acre.

E-Fuel Corp has unveiled a portable ethanol maker that converts sugar to fuel, reports Reuters. The $10,000 MicroFueler uses home power and water to convert sugar to ethanol ready to fuel vehicles, according to the company. When inexpensive inedible sugar is used, ethanol can be produced for as little as $1 per gallon, says the company.

Sweet sorghum may pose a solution to the food versus biofuel dilemma, according to a Reuters news story on Planet Ark. The plant's tall stalk can be turned into ethanol, while the grain at the top can be harvested for food or livestock feed. Sweet sorghum grows well in dry areas, and could produce as much as eight units of fuel for every unit used to grow it, say experts at the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics.

The Oregon Department of Agriculture has developed a Web page devoted to energy and agriculture. The site provides an overview of some of the types of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, state and federal incentive programs, and technical services available to Oregon's agricultural producers. The site links to sources of information and success stories for agricultural uses of biofuels, solar, wind, small hydropower, and geothermal energy.

Purdue Extension farm business management specialist Allen Miller is recommending 10 strategies to maximize efficiency and reduce fuels costs. Miller comments, "At Purdue, we've estimated it will cost farmers $10 more this year to produce an acre of corn just due to fuel for machinery operation. To plant an acre of soybeans, it will cost farmers $4 more per acre than last year, and for wheat, $6 more per acre." Nonetheless, Miller noted that machinery fuel is a relatively small part of the total cost of producing corn and soybeans compared to the rest of the operation, at approximately 7 percent.

Increasing production of crops for biofuels is exacerbating agriculture's impact on biodiversity in many parts of the world, finds a new report by the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy. The report, "Biofuel and Global Biodiversity," is by Dr. Dennis Keeney and Claudia Nanninga and is available online. The paper includes case studies of three regions that have been growing much of the feedstock for biofuels around the world: the U.S., Brazil and Malaysia/Indonesia. The report found that in the U.S., increased corn planting is reducing the diversity of crop rotations and threatening wetlands and acreage set aside for conservation.

The Biofuels Center of North Carolina will hold its grand opening May 9 in Oxford, North Carolina. The Biofuels Center of North Carolina was funded by a $5 million appropriation from the 2007 General Assembly to implement North Carolina’s Strategic Plan for Biofuels Leadership. The grand opening event will include walking tours and exhibits. In April, the Biofuels Center approved $2.55 million in biofuels grants and loans for projects in the state.