Author, Affiliation, Date:
Monique Curet, Columbus Dispatch, Sep 21, 2006
Body:
American Royal national sales director Darwin Swille, of Plymouth, Wis., shows off his corn boiler at the Farm Science Review. The boiler is designed to burn the grain more efficiently, resulting in an exhaust stack that’s cool enough to touch.
The signs are everywhere at the Farm Science Review. One reads: "The power of one kernel." Another says: "Keep America rolling."
They point to one fact: Cornbased ethanol fuel and other bio-based products are a hot topic in the farming community and at the annual farming show sponsored by Ohio State University.
Plenty of booths at the threeday expo are devoted to farm-to-fuel wares, from a corn-burning furnace to a machine that uses manure to produce methane gas for electricity or natural gas. But ethanol, a type of fuel made from renewable resources including corn, received the most attention among the bio-fuels at both booths and lectures.
Because of the rising demand for ethanol, farmers will try to increase the amount of corn they plant.
"Wheat and (soy)beans will be trying to defend their acreage," Matt Roberts, an OSU Extension economist, said on the show’s first day. "The big thing for the current market year will be the battle for acres."
To meet demand, about 5 million more acres of corn would need to be planted nationally in the spring, Roberts said.
Other experts counseled caution and warned of issues that might arise if ethanol continues to be the darling of the alternative-energy movement.
"I get very nervous about the feeding frenzy on this thing," said Otto Doering, a Purdue University economist.
He said that if a significant amount of corn is used for ethanol production in the future, "There is no question this is going to put pressure on international grain markets," especially for livestock food.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 23 percent of the U.S. corn crop will be used for ethanol by the market year that begins in fall 2014, compared with 12 percent in market year 2004.
Doering said farmers will have to decide whether they want to restrict the amount of corn planted to minimize environmental damage.
Despite the hype, no ethanol is being made from corn in Ohio. The state has five plants planned and others under consideration. Some experts have said the state hasn’t gone as far as others to lure plants, citing a lack of comparable incentive programs and an arduous process for obtaining environmental permits.
State leaders, on the other hand, have said that other states’ abundant crops and lower corn prices are the reasons for Ohio’s delay.
At nearly every turn at the Farm Science Review, farmers encountered booths of ethanol boosters. One lot had several SUVs on display that are powered by E85, a mix of ethanol and gasoline.
The license plate of one of the vehicles, a GMC Yukon, likely summed up what many farmers think of ethanol’s possible effect on their livelihood.
The plate read, "Hayday."
Author, Affiliation, Date:
Monique Curet, Columbus Dispatch, Sep 21, 2006
Teaser:
Food versus fuel - the ongoing debate
Body:
American Royal national sales director Darwin Swille, of Plymouth, Wis., shows off his corn boiler at the Farm Science Review. The boiler is designed to burn the grain more efficiently, resulting in an exhaust stack that’s cool enough to touch.
The signs are everywhere at the Farm Science Review. One reads: "The power of one kernel." Another says: "Keep America rolling."
They point to one fact: Cornbased ethanol fuel and other bio-based products are a hot topic in the farming community and at the annual farming show sponsored by Ohio State University.
Plenty of booths at the threeday expo are devoted to farm-to-fuel wares, from a corn-burning furnace to a machine that uses manure to produce methane gas for electricity or natural gas. But ethanol, a type of fuel made from renewable resources including corn, received the most attention among the bio-fuels at both booths and lectures.
Because of the rising demand for ethanol, farmers will try to increase the amount of corn they plant.
"Wheat and (soy)beans will be trying to defend their acreage," Matt Roberts, an OSU Extension economist, said on the show’s first day. "The big thing for the current market year will be the battle for acres."
To meet demand, about 5 million more acres of corn would need to be planted nationally in the spring, Roberts said.
Other experts counseled caution and warned of issues that might arise if ethanol continues to be the darling of the alternative-energy movement.
"I get very nervous about the feeding frenzy on this thing," said Otto Doering, a Purdue University economist.
He said that if a significant amount of corn is used for ethanol production in the future, "There is no question this is going to put pressure on international grain markets," especially for livestock food.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that 23 percent of the U.S. corn crop will be used for ethanol by the market year that begins in fall 2014, compared with 12 percent in market year 2004.
Doering said farmers will have to decide whether they want to restrict the amount of corn planted to minimize environmental damage.
Despite the hype, no ethanol is being made from corn in Ohio. The state has five plants planned and others under consideration. Some experts have said the state hasn’t gone as far as others to lure plants, citing a lack of comparable incentive programs and an arduous process for obtaining environmental permits.
State leaders, on the other hand, have said that other states’ abundant crops and lower corn prices are the reasons for Ohio’s delay.
At nearly every turn at the Farm Science Review, farmers encountered booths of ethanol boosters. One lot had several SUVs on display that are powered by E85, a mix of ethanol and gasoline.
The license plate of one of the vehicles, a GMC Yukon, likely summed up what many farmers think of ethanol’s possible effect on their livelihood.
The plate read, "Hayday."
Posting URL:
http://www.dispatch.com/business-story.php?story=dispatch/2006/09/21/20060921-G1-00.html
