Algae has traditionally been a nuisance to catfish farmers, but it could end up being a new source of income for them and a new source of energy for the southeast. Ron Putt, an associate research professor at Auburn University, has been studying the feasibility of using algae from catfish farms for biodiesel production. “Currently I have a small project …
On-Farm Biodiesel
Farmers on the panhandle of Florida can now make their own biodiesel on the farm with the help of the Three Rivers Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D) in Milton through USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service. The council recently invested in a portable biodiesel extruder that can be taken out to local farms to make biodiesel from plants and used …
Seed Summit Held to Meet Needs of Industries
A summit was held last week in Chicago to address the role of seed technology in meeting the growing demand for food, feed, fiber and fuel. The goal of the American Seed Research Summit was to bring together research leaders from industry, academia and government to identify major seed research challenges and to develop a national strategy and action plan …
POET to Open Two More Ethanol Plants
The largest ethanol producer in the world just keeps getting bigger. POET is scheduled to open two more ethanol plants in the next four weeks – both in Ohio. That will bring the total number of POET plants to 26 as of October 24, with a total capacity of 1.54 billion gallons per year. The grand opening for POET Biorefining …
Bill Would Promote Biofuels Cooperation With Brazil
While most of Congress was working on a bailout for the financial crisis last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee passed a bill that would strengthen energy cooperation between the United States and Brazil to promote the production and use of sustainable biofuels throughout Latin America. The legislation, authored by Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Dick Lugar, would promote …
Canada Growing Beyond Oil
“Growing Beyond Oil” is the theme of this year’s Canadian Renewable Fuels Summit scheduled for December 1-3 in Quebec. Sessions at the summit will include Sustainability, Low Carbon Fuel Standards, Environment and Economy, Advanced Biofuel Technologies. The two major ethanol and biodiesel organizations from the United States will be featured at the summit in Canada on the first day. Renewable …
Ethanol Produces Tons of Livestock Feed
America’s ethanol plants produced enough livestock feed last year to provide for all the cattle in the nation’s four largest feedlot states. That is one of the findings in a new report from the Renewable Fuels Association on the role of the U.S. ethanol industry in food and feed production. According to their analysis, America’s ethanol producers delivered 23 million …
Ethanol-Producing Sugar Beet Wins Award
Syngenta has received the 2008 World Business and Development Award (WBDA) for the development and successful introduction of a new sugar beet that can be grown under tropical climate conditions and brings significant advantages to farmers, the environment, the sugar and ethanol industries and the economy. The WBDA, presented by the United Nations Development Program, the International Chamber of Commerce …
Iogen Ships Cellulosic Ethanol to Shell
Iogen Energy has shipped its first 100,000 litres of cellulosic ethanol to Royal Dutch Shell. Iogen announced the 26,417 gallons shipment on Thursday, part of 180,000 litre – or 47,550 gallons – order from Shell. The fuel, produced from wheat straw at Iogen’s Ottawa demonstration facility, is being purchased by Shell for use in upcoming fuel applications. Iogen officials say …
Food and Fuel Campaign Launch
The American Ag and Energy Council (AAEC) has launched a national radio campaign featuring a “Food and Fuel Update.” The ads will be running on nationally syndicated shows including Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, in addition to local radio stations throughout the United States. The “Food and Fuel Update” features Mark Pearson, a nationally respected agriculture and economic expert and …