| Corn & corn stover |
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| University of Minnesota study reveals new energy and economic benefits of corn stover |
March 2009 press release for a new study by the University of Minnesota. According to the research: "as a fuel for heat and power applications, corn stover reduces the life-cycle fossil-fuel emissions of carbon dioxide by factors of approximately 15 and 25 compared to natural gas and coal, respectively." |
| Current and Potential U.S. Corn Stover Supplies |
By Graham et al, 2007 article in the Agronomy Journal. |
| Crop and Soil Productivity Response to Corn Residue Removal |
A Literature Review by Wilhelm et al, in the Jan-Feb 2004 issue of Agronomy Journal. |
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| Soybeans |
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Ohio launches biosoy program |
The Ohio Bioproducts Innovation Center (OBIC) in conjunction with the Ohio Soybean Council and PolymerOhio has launched an initiative to accelerate commercialization of soy-based technologies. The Cell to Sell Soy Technology program is a portfolio management system which accelerates innovation by leveraging resources to address unmet market needs.
Although the deadline has passed for submissions of projects, this is an example of how groups are trying to capitalize on the potential of soy. |
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| Canola |
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| Rheological Properties of Vegetable Oil-Diesel Fuel Blends |
From the American Institute of Physics, a July 2008 report at the XV International Congress On Rheology, Summary: Straight vegetable oils inherently high viscosities compared to diesel makes them undesirable for diesel engines. Lowering the viscosity can be achieved by either increasing the temperature of the oil or by blending it with diesel fuel, or both. An experiment comparing commercially available vegetable oils. |
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| Switchgrass |
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| Mineral concentration in selected native temperate grasses with potential use as biofuel feedstock |
Study from the July 2009 issue of Bioresource Technology. Summary: "This study quantified valuable minerals in a selection of native grasses at three developmental stages. Differences in mineral concentrations among these grasses were not completely dependent upon soil mineral content. Long-term evaluations of available soil mineral concentrations under contrasting management practices are needed to quantify how local conditions impact mineral cycling, and in turn, the sustainability of harvesting these stands." |
| Switchgrass study needs more data to make conclusion |
Posted November 26, 2008, by The Country Today, an article about research for further information about switchgrass. Abstract: "Wisconsin farmers wondering whether switchgrass is a viable option should have a better idea after six Grant County demonstration plots are harvested a year from now.The Southwest Badger Resource Conservation and Development Council contracted with six farmers to plant switchgrass next year. Each farm has five 2-acre plots that contain a variety of herbicide and fertilization trials to determine how to maximize yields and profitability." |
| Switchgrass May Mean Better Soil |
A July 2008 report from the Agricultural Research Service of the USDA, abstract: "Soils with native grasses such as switchgrass have higher levels of a key soil component called glomalin than soils planted to non-native grasses, according to a study by the Agricultural Research Service at two locations in Mandan, N.D." |
| Energy Crops to Cover Missouri Landscape |
Posted February 19, 2008, by the Environment News Service Newswire, summary: A next-generation biorefinery is being developed in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Abstract: "The demonstration-scale biorefinery being engineered by ICM, Inc., based in Colwich Kansas, will produce cellulosic ethanol from biomass crops rather than corn.
On January 29, Department of Energy officials announced up to $30 million in supplemental funding for the planned facility. The project includes participation from academic institutions, government and other technology providers." |
| A Prairie Land’s Companion |
Highlights research by UW-Madison plant geneticist Michael Casler, comparing wild, native switchgrass with cultivated varieties. Published in the September 2007 issue of Agricultural Research magazine of the USDA's Agricultural Research Service. |
Growing and Harvesting Switchgrass for
Ethanol Production in Tennessee |
A 4-page report from the University of Tennessee Extension service. |
| Developing Switchgrass into a Biomass Fuel Crop for the Midwestern USA |
Paper presented at BioEnergy '98: Expanding Bioenergy Partnerships, Madison, Wisconsin, October 4-8, 1998. |
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| Miscanthus |
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| Myscanthus Research at the University of Illinois |
A comprehensive webpage about Miscanthus, a tall perennial grass used for energy production. Dr. Stephen P. Long (editor of Global Change Biology) has directed six years of research and field trials with more than 15 world class researchers pursuing Miscanthus studies. |
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| Alfalfa |
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| Adding alfalfa rotation in corn grown for ethanol production improves energy efficiency, reduces environmental impact |
A 2008 Fact Sheet from the U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center in Madison, WI. Abstract: "While corn is the 'king' of ethanol production now, alfalfa could be a good 'queen' to corn for a variety of reasons. Switchgrass, too, has its place." |
| The Potential Use of Alfalfa as a Feedstock for Biofuels and Bioproducts |
An undated, condensed review of alfalfa's potential role in a biorefinery. From the USDA. |
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| Jatropha |
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| Mali’s Farmers Discover a Weed’s Potential Power |
From New York Times, September 9, 2007. Free subscription required. "... a plant called jatropha is being hailed by scientists and policy makers as a potentially ideal source of biofuel, a plant that can grow in marginal soil or beside food crops, that does not require a lot of fertilizer and yields many times as much biofuel per acre planted as corn and many other potential biofuels." |
| Tree holds promise for future of biofuel |
From the Honolulu Star Bulletin, July 22, 2007.
The University of Hawaii and the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center are growing test plots of jatropha, a plant that is already being used to make biodiesel in India. |
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| Sorghum |
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| New Sorghum is Ideal for Both Fuel and Feed |
From the USDA, Sept 2007:
On the farm, sorghum’s stalks, leaves, and multicolored grains are fed to cattle; in processing plants, they can be converted into ethanol. Now, sorghum’s future could burn brighter on both of those fronts with the release of Atlas bmr-12, a low-lignin variety. |
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| Other |
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| Milkweed Oil Tapped for Sunscreen and Other Products |
February 2009 magazine article in Agricultural Research Magazine about milkweed. Excerpt: "In studies at the ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, Ill., Harry-O'kuru devised a procedure for using zinc chloride to catalyze the conversion of milkweed oil's triglycerides into ultraviolet (UV)-light-absorbing compounds called cinamic acid derivatives. In tests at the center's New Crops and Processing Technology Research Unit, the derivatives absorbed UV rays in the range of 260 to 360 nanometers--wavelengths that can damage skin. Additionally, the milkweed-oil derivatives accomplished this at very low concentrations of 1 to 5 percent, a range far below that approved for today's topical skin formulations, many of which use chemical fillers or sun blocks." |
| Growing Wisconsin Energy: A Native Grass Pellet Bio-Heat Roadmap for Wisconsin |
This research was made possible through a DATCP grant and was published in June of 2008 by Agrecol Agricultural Ecological Solutions. Summary: "This report studied the feasibility of heating for commerical businesses in south central Wisconsin with switchgrass pellets: Agrecol Corporation, Oak Hill Correctional Facility, America's Best Greenhous and Pecantonica Elementary school. The study found that switchgrass can be grown successfully and cost effectively in Wisconsin. It does not require any new technology and can be grown with existing farm practices and equipment. It is also a strong candidate for pelleting. Pelleting allows switchgrass to oversome many logistics inherent to agricultural biomass: the uniform size allows it to be handled and stored easily, transported more economically and burned more effectively." |
| Costs of producing miscanthus and switchgrass for bioenergy in Illinois |
A research report from the University of Illinois in early 2008. Abstract: "This paper examines the costs of producing two bioenergy crops, switchgrass and miscanthus, in Illinois for co-firing with coal to generate electricity. A crop-productivity model, MISCANMOD, is used together with a GIS to estimate yields of miscanthus across counties in Illinois. The breakeven cost of bioenergy for electricity generation ranges from 44 to 80 $ t−1 DM and is considerably higher than the coal energy-equivalent biomass price of 20.22 $ t−1 DM that power plants in Illinois might be willing to pay. These findings imply a need for policies that will provide incentives for producing and using bioenergy crops based on their environmental benefits in addition to their energy content. |
| Biofuel, Partly from Nuts, Is Tested on an Airline Flight |
From the February 25, 2008, edition of the New York Times, Lead: "Virgin Atlantic Airways, the British carrier controlled by Richard Branson, tested a jumbo jet on Sunday that was partly powered by a biofuel made from babassu nuts and coconut oil, a first for a commercial aircraft. |
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