AgEd Today Wednesday Special Sample

Biofuels, bioenergy and biomass are all terms related to the process of producing energy from plant and animal products. With growing concerns over pollution, shrinking fossil fuel reserves and increasing world energy demands, these "green" fuel sources are being given serious consideration and research dollars.

Ethanol is an alcohol-based alternative fuel familiar to everyone. Made most often from corn and blended with gasoline, ethanol now supplies about 3 percent of the nation's fuel.

Methane digesters turn manure from poultry, cattle and other animals into electricity. Other potential energy sources include agricultural waste, forest waste and municipal solid waste. Research continues to find safer and more cost-effective ways to use these biofuels.

Some crops are grown specifically for energy production. Energy crops are defined as "perennial grasses and trees produced with traditional agricultural practices and used to produce electricity, liquid fuels and chemicals." Successful energy crops must be hardy, quick-growing and resistant to drought, insects and disease. The U.S. Department of Energy has identified three most likely candidates to be grown as biomass energy crops -- hybrid poplars, hybrid willows and a tough native perennial grass called switch grass.

Besides providing an alternative energy source, the energy crops remove carbon dioxide from the air while they are growing. They can often be grown on land less suitable for conventional crops. Added benefits include soil stabilization, water quality improvements, low chemical inputs, carbon sequestration, improved wildlife habitat and environmental sustainability. Let's not forget that these renewable resources are good for the farm economy and produced domestically to boot.

Here are some related Web sites:

• The Bioenergy Feedstock Information Network (BFIN) Web site serves as a gateway to information from a number of state and federal organizations.
  http://bioenergy.ornl.gov/
  
  
• Check the American Coalition for Ethanol Web site to learn more about how ethanol is produced and used.
  http://www.ethanol.org/
  
  
• The Department of Energy provides information on ethanol at this Web page.
  http://www.eere.energy.gov/afdc/fuels/ethanol.html
  
  
• Learn about a methane digester used to turn dairy cow manure into electricity.
  http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/news/thisweek/2004/
  040602/camanuredigester.html
  
  
• Related AgEdNet.com lessons:
  IS136 Understanding the Debate over Global Climate Change
  AB203 FARM LAWS: Understanding the 2008 Farm Bill
  CR113 Opportunities in Agricultural Engineering
  FM133 Estimating Fuel Requirements for Farm Operations
  CS311 Understanding Photosynthesis
  NR032 Disposing of Solid Waste

Have a happy Wednesday!

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Photo credit: ARS photo by Peggy Greb shows technicians measuring switch grass stem density and geometry.

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