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Introduction to Farm Building Energy and Conservation

Tunnel Vent Barn with ridge vent. Photo by Dan Ciolkosz.

Agricultural buildings are very important to the successful operation of farms and ranches, and they deserve careful attention when it comes to managing energy expenses. The best time to incorporate energy efficiency that will yield the highest savings and the lowest operating costs is during the design and construction phase. Unfortunately, energy efficiency is often ignored when farm buildings are constructed. Energy efficient building design involves the selection of …

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Greenhouse Energy Conservation Checklist

High energy costs make conservation and efficient use of facilities an important part of today’s greenhouse operation. New greenhouse designs, better glazing, improved heating and ventilating equipment and new management systems should be included when upgrading or adding on. With typical annual energy usage being 75% for heating, 15% for electricity and 10% for vehicles, efforts and resources should be put where the greatest savings can be realized. The following checklist can help you make energy-saving improvements to a greenhouse …

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Water Use and Sustainable Biofuel Production

Do you have enough water to start a biofuel feedstock crop? Learn how much water is required to grow and process biofuels.  

Biofuel crop research plots. Photo: Dennis Pennington, Bioenergy Educator, Michigan State University.

Table of Contents

Introduction to Water Use in Biofuels Production

In a world experiencing serious water shortages for meeting …

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Energy in Soybean Agriculture

Introduction

Several studies have been done on energy life-cycle analysis of soybean biodiesel. These include:

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Waste Management in Biodiesel Production

Introduction

Biodiesel production does not result in a lot of waste. However, depending on the process and feedstocks use, it can produce some wastewater, minerals, resins, solids strained out of used oil and glycerin. Often, waste is not an issue for large producers because they can invest in the equipment needed to recycle and reuse some of these products. For small producers, waste disposal is often a concern.

The biodiesel industry aims for a zero discharge process. Plants that recycle …

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Using Biodiesel as a Fuel

Introduction

For many farmers, the task of manufacturing high quality biodiesel fuel is more than they really want to take on. Some farmers opt to provide their oilseed or pressed oil to a professional biodiesel processor, who either pays in cash or in fuel for use on the farm. Others may choose to purchase biodiesel from a nearby producer rather than growing their own. Regardless of whether it’s made on site or obtained from a nearby plant, good quality biodiesel…

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Commercial and Large Scale Biodiesel Production Systems

Introduction

Commercial-scale biodiesel producers have many constraints beyond those which small producers need to meet. Commercial producers must satisfy the expectations of owners and/or stockholders for profitability. They must make optimal use of capital and other resources. They also have to include the cost of labor because it comes from paid employees. Small-scale producers will often ignore the cost of their time and the value of the space they devote to producing fuel.

Commercial-scale producers must also meet regulatory requirements …

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Corn for Biofuel Production

Explore corn as an biofuel crop for the production of ethanol to more completely understand the potential and challenges of growing corn for energy production.

Ear corn. Photo: F. John Hay, Extension Educator, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension.

Contents

Introduction

Corn (Zea mays) is a popular feedstock for ethanol production in the …

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Key Components of the Biofuels Sustainability Debate

Are biofuels truly sustainable? Explore biofuel sustainability in regards to the environment, economy, energy, and farming livelihood.

Soybean biodiesel fuel.  Photo: Leandro Maranghetti Lourenço, Brazil; Wikimedia Commons.

Table of Contents

Major Questions about the Sustainability of Biofuels

Introduction

Conflicting messages:
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Biodiversity and Biofuel Production

Learn approaches to help promote biodiversity on the farm while growing biofuel feedstocks.

Corn and soy fields in Minnesota. Photo: US EPA and National Archive and Record Administration; Wikimedia Commons.

Contents

Agriculture and Biodiversity

Biodiversity is the variation of life at all levels, from genes to organisms to populations. Healthy ecosystems tend to have greater biodiversity.

Most biofuel feedstocks come from agricultural crops grown in highly disturbed ecosystems with relatively …

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