Sorghum for Ethanol

Chapter 24 – Sorghum for Ethanol

There are a number of alternative biomass sources that are being explored for biofuels production. One example that may have potential is growing algae and converting the algal biomass to biofuels. That could work particularly well in combination with an electric power plant that can serve as a source of both heat and carbon dioxide to spur algal growth. Another interesting idea that is already being put into practice by an Iowa farmer is on-farm ethanol production using sweet sorghum.

On-Farm Biofuels Production

Yesterday I visited a farmer, Lee McClune, from Knoxville Iowa who has designed a complete system for making ethanol from sweet sorghum on the farm. That is exactly in line with one of the top issues in my campaign: farmer-owned, on-farm energy systems that can sustainably produce energy on a farm to power the farm. [...]

Innovative Farming Practices: Using Rye as a Cover Crop

The Schaefers use rye as a cover crop after corn and soybean crops in order to reduce soil erosion, and to scavenge and hold soil nutrients.

Ecology is the Future of Livestock Production Systems

Two major challenges loom on the horizon of tomorrow’s agriculture: 1) a growing scarcity and rising cost of fossil fuel energy, and 2) an intensification of the effects of climate change, particularly manifested as greater extremes of weather events, including intense rainfall events and flooding.