Ethanol: On Beyond Corn

Is there a future for farmers in the ethanol industry beyond corn? It was the agricultural community that gave birth to “gasohol” 25 years ago, and corn farmers throughout the Midwest took part in ethanol promotion activities at service stations, county fairs, and anywhere a reporter might get interested in their pitch for a new market for corn. But with the federal biofuels mandate corn-based ethanol to 15 billion gallons, is there a future economic opportunity that agriculture can harvest?

The Federal Energy Independence and Security Act implements a growing market for corn based ethanol until the 15 billion gallon limit is reached in 2012, in an effort to preserve sufficient corn quantities for other market needs. Beyond that, cellulosic ethanol is expected to grow beyond the 30 billion gallon total biofuel supply in 2022. But where do farmers fit into that overall plan?
Agricultural economist Tom Capehart of the Congressional Research Service examined Congressional policy issues involving cellulosic biofuels and says they must overcome three challenges:
1) First, cellulosic feedstocks must be available in large volumes when needed by refineries.
2) Second, the cost of converting cellulose to ethanol or other biofuels must be reduced to a level to make it competitive with gasoline and corn-starch ethanol.
3) Third, the marketing, distribution, and vehicle infrastructure must absorb the increasing volumes of renewable fuel, including cellulosic fuel mandated by the RFS.
Obviously, farmers must carve out their niche in the first challenge, if there is to be one. Capehart notes there are doubters who are “questioning whether the United States could ever produce and manage sufficient feedstocks of starches, sugars, vegetable oils, or even cellulose to permit biofuel production to meaningfully offset petroleum imports.” To many biofuel communities in the Cornbelt, “the gauntlet has been thrown down.”

Ethanol will likely be produced from a variety of cellulose sources, according to Capehart, including municipal solid waste, construction debris, and residues from the logging, lumber, and paper industries. Not much for farmers in those areas. However, other potential cellulose sources include crop residues, such as corn stalks and wheat straw, as well as perennial grasses, such as switchgrass and miscanthus. But farmers wanting to cultivate the latter will run into a challenge the CRS economist describes as, “Cellulosic feedstocks may have some environmental drawbacks. Some crops suggested for biomass are invasive species when planted in non-native environments.”

The prairie grass issue might be resolved if your ancestors could testify that they burned off switchgrass in Cornbelt states when they began the farmsteads you now operate. It was the dense, itchy stuff that pioneers fought every day as their covered wagons traveled westward. But to grow switchgrass that might be profitable, it may require several years to reach its full yield potential. Capehart quotes University of Tennessee statistics that indicate the top yield potential is two tons per acre in the first year and seven tons after the third year, which would produce up to 1,000 gallons of ethanol. An alternative is the Asian grass miscanthus, which can produce 2.5 times the amount of ethanol that corn currently produces, which is estimated at 1,100 gallons per acre. Researchers at South Dakota State and the University of Minnesota have both looked at other native prairie grass mixtures that seem promising for ethanol production, without the criticism of being “a non-native specie.”

Farmers who have baled wheat or oat straw have harvested and stored biomass for years, so there is nothing new there. Cornstalks are another issue, and Capehart suggests the need for a single machine that can harvest corn for grain and stalks for biomass in one pass through the field. And protective storage for corn stover will be a significant process and investment, which will have to borne by farmers. But imagine that an enterprising group of investors plans to build a cellulosic ethanol plant in your neighborhood and recruits you to produce the feedstock for it.
• It will produce 10-20 million gallons of ethanol per year
• It will operate 24/7 and will need 700 tons per day.
• If the plant wants corn stover, it will cost $39 to $46 per ton to transport it 30 miles.
• If the plant wants switchgrass, it will cost $57 to $63 per ton to transport it 30 miles.

CRS economist Capehart notes that harvesting corn stalks will not reduce food output, but growing grasses would displace food crops on cropland. Farmers considering such a new crop would have to calculate the multi-year commitment that would be required. The initial start-up years would have equipment investment along with a lower level of revenue for grass production. However, planting grasses will required a commitment from landowners, should such production occur on rented land, and that would mean multi-year leases.

Summary:
With US energy policy moving toward biofuels, and a limit on how much corn can be used for ethanol production, farmers will not be shut out of the market. Options are available for substantial involvement in supplying feedstocks for cellulosic ethanol producers. Those include both production of grasses, as well as harvesting of corn stalks. Farmers will have to work out marketing agreements that would compensate them for additional equipment outlays, storage and transportation costs, and early revenue losses in the case of grass production.

Source: Stu Ellis, http://www.farmgate.uiuc.edu

Create Your Own Wildlife Habitat Using Native Plants

Here is an awesome video on building your own wildlife habitat using native plants by the National Wildlife Federation.
http://www.gogreentube.com/watch.php?v=NjQzMzY5
Native wildflowers and grasses are so much easier to care for than other plants, they flourish with little or no effort. There root systems go much deeper than most other plants so they are virtually drought resistant. There are many varieties to choose from. Visit Ion Exchange to look at hundreds of species of native plants.

Thoughts From The Belly

Thoughts From The Belly
May 2009
By: Dan Mays – Ironbelly1@aol.com

Every year I am asked, “So what are you going to plant this year, Dan?” This question provides me with a perfect segue to launch into my personal campaign to improve the sorry state of Butterfly Gardens. I am certainly not discouraging folks from planting gardens with butterflies in mind. My hope is that I can encourage others to expand their focus to include the untapped possibilities of “what could be”. Establishing a few plants originally imported from China and watching a few monarch butterflies sipping nectar is setting a low bar indeed. In warmer climates (particularly in Great Britain), Butterfly Bush (Buddleia davidii) has proven to be an invasive thug. Planting something just because the horticultural mass-market industry dubbed this thing “Butterfly Bush” is not my idea of a sane approach. Following this magazine-promoted tack robs well-intentioned gardeners of an easily attainable bounty, simply for the sake of filling the marketing coffers.

It is true that this Chinese exotic draws adult butterflies to sip nectar – and that is largely the problem. The key word here is: “adult” – and only adult. What do the butterflies feed on prior to becoming adults? It certainly is not Buddleia davidii or most any other plant imported from foreign lands. While marketers harp about “clean foliage”, every gardener truly interested in Butterfly Gardens should translate this term to be “something my baby butterflies can’t or won’t eat”. Caterpillars don’t damage foliage – they are foraging.

Monarch butterflies flittering about are truly a delight to see. Instantly recognizable, they have a fascinating migratory habit. However, concentrating solely upon Monarchs is like dining exclusively on Big Mac’s for every meal. The world of butterflies and moths is a superbly rich place if only we will expand our knowledge a bit. Be careful … you might soon learn about skippers, blues, brushfoots, hairstreaks, etc.

The expanded world (egg, larva, pupa and adult) of butterflies includes general feeders and something called “obligates”. Obligates are essentially finicky eaters. In other words, if their favorite plant is not found to lay eggs on, that butterfly or moth species will not multiply. Regal Fritillary butterflies seem to have a distinct preference for Birdfoot Violet (Viola pedata). However, bear in mind that it is the immature stages that require native violets. The adult will sip nectar from a wide variety of plants. I guess this tips my hand as to the answer to the opening question: “So what are you going to plant this year, Dan?” The obvious answer is Birdfoot Violet. I have 100 of those plants on order from the Master Gardener plant sale.

My interest in butterflies was stirred to life last year when I visited the 20 acre Duke Prairie. It lays a few miles north of the Quad Cities, just southeast of Grand Mound in Clinton County. I was meeting up with a group from the Quad Cities Native Plant Society for a field trip and arrived a little early. At first glance, the place was full of interesting plants. However, the thing that seized my attention was the profusion of butterflies. They were everywhere! Curiously, most were species I rarely see. Many (and I emphasize many) were butterfly and moth species I had never seen before. The place shamed the meager butterfly garden “how-to” attempts advocated in popular magazines. Coincidentally, there was not a “required” Buddleia in sight. Why was this? Why was there so much abundance and diversity?

Upon further research and lots of questions, the obvious answer surfaced. There was food – their food. The kind of food the individual butterfly species needed for their young. I liken this phenomenon to people. If you serve jalapeño peppers, the Hispanics show up. Serve pasta and the Italians show up. Serve sauerkraut and the Germans show up. Serve a big, long buffet and everybody (even the “kids”) will show up.

There remains much to be learned in the field of insect/faunal relationships. For further study, I recommend Doug Tallamy’s book, Bringing Nature Home. It is an enlightening, enjoyable read. AND … do check out the new Iowa Butterfly Forecast website. It will help put your butterfly garden efforts on steroids!

Mother Nature Doesn't Ask For Much.

Just like any other mom, she wants safe, healthy places for her young to survive and thrive.

You can lend a hand to Mother Nature this weekend by making your backyard wildlife-friendly Just provide the things that animals need most - food, water, shelter and places to raise
their families.
http://www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife/certify.cfm?campaignid=WH09FMDX

Join over 115,000 folks who have already created havens for wildlife in their yards through National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat™ program . You’ll not only be helping Mother Nature, you’ll also receive great benefits (see right)!

Plus, when you certify your backyard , your $20 application fee allows NWF to continue its important conservation and
education work on behalf of imperiled wildlife and wild places across the country.

Please certify today!

Sincerely,

David Mizejewski
NWF Naturalist, Media Spokesperson, Author

P.S. Need one more reason to certify? Your certification also makes you eligible to purchase the “wildly” popular Certified Wildlife Habitat™ yard sign that shows your commitment to safeguarding America's wildlife. Get started now!

Swine Flu - Fact or Fiction?

This is great information about why NOT to panic... read this before you rush out to get a vaccine.. make informed decisions Peace, Lynne

Hi, This is an article by Dr. Mercola on the Swine Flu and will give you a lot of information. Take the time to read it. It will increase your understanding. Blessings and health, Marlene

Critical Alert: The Swine Flu Pandemic – Fact or Fiction?

American health officials declared a public health emergency as cases of swine flu were confirmed in the U.S. Health officials across the world fear this could be the leading edge of a global pandemic emerging from Mexico, where seven people are confirmed dead as a result of the new virus.
On Wednesday April 29th, the World Health Organization (WHO) raised its pandemic alert level to five on its six-level threat scale,1 which means they've determined that the virus is capable of human-to-human transmission. The initial outbreaks across North America reveal an infection already traveling at higher velocity than did the last official pandemic strain, the 1968 Hong Kong flu.
Phase 5 had never been declared since the warning system was introduced in 2005 in response to the avian influenza crisis. Phase 6 means a pandemic is under way.
Several nations have imposed travel bans, or made plans to quarantine air travelers2 that present symptoms of the swine flu despite the fact that WHO now openly states it is not possible to contain the spread of this infection and recommends mitigation measures, not restricting travel or closing borders.
Just What is a Pandemic Anyway?
A pandemic does not necessarily mean what you think it does, it is NOT black-plague carts being hauled through the streets piled high with dead bodies. Nor does it mean flesh eating zombies wandering the streets feeding on the living. All a pandemic means is that a new infectious disease is spreading throughout the world.
By definition, a "pandemic" is an epidemic that is geographically widespread. Fear-mongers are always careful to add the innuendo that millions of people could and probably will die, as in the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 that killed about 20 million people worldwide.
How does the death of even a few hundred equate to 20 million?
Much Fear Mongering Being Promoted
I suspect you have likely been alarmed by the media's coverage of the swine flu scare. It has a noticeable subplot - preparing you for draconian measures to combat a future pandemic as well as forcing you to accept the idea of mandatory vaccinations.
On April 27, Time magazine published an article which discusses how dozens died and hundreds were injured from vaccines as a result of the 1976 swine flu fiasco, when the Ford administration attempted to use the infection of soldiers at Fort Dix as a pretext for a mass vaccination of the entire country.
Despite acknowledging that the 1976 farce was an example of “how not to handle a flu outbreak”, the article still introduces the notion that officials “may soon have to consider whether to institute draconian measures to combat the disease”.
Fear has become so widespread that Egypt has ordered the slaughter of the country's 300,000 pigs, even though no cases have been reported there.
Fortunately some respectable journalists recognize this and are seeking to spread a voice of reason to the fear that is being promoted in the majority of the media
This is NOT the First Swine Flu Panic
My guess is that you can expect to see a lot of panic over this issue in the near future. But the key is to remain calm -- this isn't the first time the public has been warned about swine flu. The last time was in 1976, right before I entered medical school and I remember it very clearly. It resulted in the massive swine flu vaccine campaign.
Do you happen to recall the result of this massive campaign?
Within a few months, claims totaling $1.3 billion had been filed by victims who had suffered paralysis from the vaccine. The vaccine was also blamed for 25 deaths.
However, several hundred people developed crippling Guillain-Barré Syndrome after they were injected with the swine flu vaccine. Even healthy 20-year-olds ended up as paraplegics.
And the swine flu pandemic itself? It never materialized.
More People Died From the Swine Flu Vaccine than Swine Flu!
It is very difficult to forecast a pandemic, and a rash response can be extremely damaging.
To put things into perspective, malaria kills 3,000 people EVERY DAY, and it's considered "a health problem"... But of course, there are no fancy vaccines for malaria that can rake in billions of dollars in a short amount of time.
One Australian news source,3 for example, states that even a mild swine flu epidemic could lead to the deaths of 1.4 million people and would reduce economic growth by nearly $5 trillion dollars.
Give me a break, if this doesn't sound like the outlandish cries of the pandemic bird-flu I don't know what does. Do you remember when President Bush said two million Americans would die as a result of the bird flu?
In 2005, in 2006, 2007, and again in 2008, those fears were exposed as little more than a cruel hoax, designed to instill fear, and line the pocketbooks of various individuals and industry. I became so convinced by the evidence AGAINST the possibility of a bird flu pandemic that I wrote a New York Times bestselling book, The Bird Flu Hoax, all about the massive fraud involved with the epidemic that never happened..
What is the Swine Flu?
Regular swine flu is a contagious respiratory disease, caused by a type-A influenza virus that affects pigs. The current strain, A(H1N1), is a new variation of an H1N1 virus -- which causes seasonal flu outbreaks in humans -- that also contains genetic material of bird and pig versions of the flu.
Symptoms include:
Fever of more than 100
Coughing
Runny nose and/or sore throat
Joint aches
Severe headache
Vomiting and/or diarrhea
Lethargy
Lack of appetite
Interestingly enough, this version has never before been seen in neither human nor animal, which I will discuss a bit later.
This does sound bad. But not so fast. There are a few reasons to not rush to conclusions that this is the deadly pandemic we've been told would occur in the near future (as if anyone could predict it without having some sort of inside knowledge).
Current State of Swine Flu SpreadAs of May 1, 2009, 11 countries have officially reported 363 cases of influenza A(H1N1) infection and only ten deaths in the ENTIRE world from this illness. At this time ALL of the deaths are from people born in Mexico. Why Mexico? Well overcrowding, poor nutrition and overall poor immunity, all of which are indigenous to Mexico will radically increase your risk of death from almost any infection.Interestingly there are no official reports of just who these people are that died. Are they elderly or infirm people, are they already chronically ill? Are they under 5 years old? Or perhaps someone who could just as easily be killed by the common cold or a slip and fall? These are important questions that have not been answered.The number of fatalities, and suspected and confirmed cases across the world change depending on the source, so your best bet -- if you want the latest numbers -- is to use Google Maps' Swine Flu Tracker. There is also an experimental version for Mexico.But "officially' the most recent numbers according to the World Health Organization's Epidemic and Pandemic Alert and Response site are:
Country
Cases
Deaths
Mexico
156
9
United States
141
1*
Canada
34
0
Spain
13
0
United Kingdom
8
0
Germany
3
0
New Zealand
3
0
Israel
2
0
Switzerland
1
0
Austria
1
0
Netherlands
1
0
*The United States has had 141 confirmed cases, and one death BUT no deaths from US Citizens. On April 29th CNN reported the first swine fatality in the US, however this was actually a child from Mexico that died in Texas.
It is important to note that nearly all suspected new cases have been reported as mild.
Personally, I am highly skeptical. It simply doesn't add up to a real pandemic.
But it does raise serious questions about where this brand new, never before seen virus came from, especially since it cannot be contracted from eating pork products, and has never before been seen in pigs, and contains traits from the bird flu -- and which, so far, only seems to respond to Tamiflu. Are we just that lucky, or... what?
Your Fear Will Make Some People VERY Rich in Today's Crumbling Economy
Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) is approved for treatment of uncomplicated influenza A and B in children 1 year of age or older. It is also approved for prevention of influenza in people 13 years or older. It’s part of a group of anti-influenza drugs called neuraminidase inhibitors, which work by blocking a viral enzyme that helps the influenza virus to invade cells in your respiratory tract.
According to the Associated Press at least one financial analyst estimates up to $388 million worth of Tamiflu sales in the near future10 -- and that's without a pandemic outbreak. More than half a dozen pharmaceutical companies, including Gilead Sciences Inc., Roche, GlaxoSmithKline and other companies with a stake in flu treatments and detection, have seen a rise in their shares in a matter of days, and will likely see revenue boosts if the swine flu outbreak continues to spread.
Swine flue is extremely convenient for governments that would have very soon have to dispose of billions of dollars of Tamiflu stock, which they bought to counter avian flu, or H5N1. The US government ordered 20 million doses, costing $2 billion, in October, 2005, and around that time the UK government ordered 14.6 million doses. Tamiflu’s manufacturer, Roche, has confirmed that the shelf life of its anti-viral is three years.
As soon as Homeland Security declared a health emergency, 25 percent -- about 12 million doses -- of Tamiflu and Relenza treatment courses were released from the nation's stockpile. However, beware that the declaration also allows unapproved tests and drugs to be administered to children. Many health- and government officials are more than willing to take that chance with your life, and the life of your child. But are you?
Tamiflu Loaded With Side Effects, Including Death and Can Only Reduce Symptoms by 36 Hours at BEST
Please realize that Tamiflu is NOT a safe drug Serious side effects include convulsions, delirium or delusions, and 14 deaths in children and teens as a result of neuropsychiatric problems and brain infections Japan actually banned Tamiflu for children in 2007.
Remember, Tamiflu went through some rough times not too long ago, as the dangers of this drug came to light when, in 2007, the FDA finally began investigating some 1,800 adverse event reports related to the drug.
Additionally common side effects of Tamiflu include:
Nausea
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Headache
Dizziness
Fatigue
Cough
All in all, the very symptoms you're trying to avoid.
Additionally, Tamiflu has been reported to be ineffective against seasonal flu outbreaks, and may not be sufficient to combat an epidemic or pandemic.
But making matters worse, some patients with influenza are at HIGHER risk for secondary bacterial infections when on Tamiflu. And secondary bacterial infections, as I mentioned earlier, was likely the REAL cause of the mass fatalities during the 1918 pandemic!
But here’s the real kicker.
When Tamiflu is used as directed (twice daily for 5 days) it can ONLY reduce the duration of your influenza symptoms by 1 to 1 ½ days, according to the official data.
Why on earth would anyone want to take a drug that has a chance of killing you, was banned in Japan, is loaded with side effects that mimic the flu itself, costs over $100, and AT BEST can only provide 36 hours of SYMPTOM relief. Just doesn't make any sense.

If you are intrested in a healthy life style visit Dr. Marcola