Use these protocols to set up test plots of perennial grasses to demonstrate to producers the potential for growing bioenergy feedstocks.
Researchers, farmers, and industry representatives across the country are interested …
Learn rationale and best practices & equipment for harvesting perennial grass biomass.
Delaying harvest until after a killing frost …
Successful establishment is critical to the long-term economic viability of a switchgrass stand. But it is not difficult if these key management practices are followed: development of …
A thorough bioenergy curriculum for all audiences, created by over 40 university specialists.This curriculum from the Bioenergy Training Center was created by over 40 university specialists in the U.S. North Central region to provide unbiased, researched and peer-reviewed information for this emerging field.
Targeted for Extension and other community educators, these resources also provide valuable information for farmers, landowners, community leaders, industry and the inquisitive public.
Online courses are offered as modules, where learners can choose to study sequentially …
Corn stover, straw, and other crop residues remaining after harvest can be an excellent source of organic material for biofuel production. They are considered waste products in many agricultural systems, so the additional money and/or energy that can be gained by farmers can provide a considerable boost to the overall farm budget. In addition, the fuels produced from these wastes offer a source of energy that doesn’t compete with food crops for arable land. Concerns have arisen mainly due to …
Starch is relatively cheap and easy to convert into ethanol, so parts such as grain that are high in starch are the parts that are currently being used. Parts such as stalks and cobs are low in starch but high in cellulose and hemicellulose. The technology to convert cellulose into ethanol is currently only in the pilot or demonstration stage, and commercial feasibility is still unknown. If the cellulosic conversion technology becomes commercially feasible, future expansion of biofuel production is …
While the most common crops used for ethanol throughout the world are certainly corn and sugarcane, there are an increasing number of crops being investigated and used in the industry. Amongst sugar/starch crops, sugarbeet and sweet sorghum have been the focus of much attention; cellulosic crops such as switchgrass, miscanthus, corn stover, poplar, and grass are the subject of increasing interest.
Currently, rapeseed (canola) is the dominant feedstock for biodiesel in Europe, and soybeans are the dominant feedstock for biodiesel …
Jatropha seed oil is used in soaps, and energy for lighting and heating in subtropical and tropical areas where it is planted as living fences to stop soil erosion. Its biodiesel potential is being researched because the seeds contain from 25% to 40% oil.
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| Jatropha fruits and seed. Copyright FAO, UN |
Jatropha curcas is an oilseed tree or shrub that grows in …
Thought about growing a biomass crop for combustion fuel on your farm? This article offers three questions farmers can ask to evaluate growing energy producing combustion crops. It examines wood, woody crops and grasses in more detail.
Find these topics and many other related Farm Energy media resources at the Farm Energy Media archive.
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| Switchgrass briquettes a combustion fuel. Photo: Daniel Ciolkosz, Extension Associate, Penn State. |
