Biomass energy: What's practical, what's possible?

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NEVADA, Iowa -- Join Practical Farmers of Iowa at the Biomass Energy Conversion (BECON) Facility on Tuesday, July 14 at 2:00 p.m. to learn more about biomass energy as an alternative energy option. The Leopold Center’s new Farm Energy Working Group also will hold a meeting at the BECON facility before the field day, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Cellulosic biomass can deliver higher net energy yields than those from grains, but extraction technology has lagged. See three ways to use heat and pressure to yield a variety of fuels: pyrolysis, gasification and supercritical fluid extraction. A small-scale, portable pyrolysis unit will soon be on the market. How might these technologies affect energy use in your community and on your farm?

The Farm Energy Working Group Farmers is hosting its second meeting to discuss the group’s priorities and criteria for mini-grants that will be available for research, education and on-farm case studies. The group is supported by a Leopold Center grant and coordinated by the Center for Energy and Environmental Education at the University of Northern Iowa to address energy needs for Iowa’s small and midsized farms. To attend the working group meeting or for more information, contact Carole Shelley Yates, (319) 273-7599, carole.yates@uni.edu.

Directions: From the intersection of I-35 and Hwy 30 in Ames, go east 4.9 miles to West 18th St. Turn left (north) onto West 18th and go north .5 miles to West F Ave. Turn right (east) on West F and go 100 feet. Park in lot on left.

This field day is free, and everybody is welcome.

The PFI field day is sponsored by USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE). It is part of the PFI SARE project “Bioenergy and Diversity from Sustainable Systems and Crops.”

Sustaining sponsors for Practical Farmers of Iowa field days are the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture, Iowa State University Extension, American Natural Soy, the Wallace Chair for Sustainable Agriculture, Albert Lea Seed House, Seed Savers Exchange, and the Midwest Organic and Sustainable Education Service (MOSES). Major sponsors are the Center for Energy and Environmental Education, Michael Fields Agricultural Institute, ATTRA National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, Organic Valley and Organic Prairie Family of Farms CROPP Cooperative, Iowa Forage and Grassland Council, and King Corn.

Practical Farmers of Iowa includes a diverse group of farmers and nonfarmers. Corn, soybeans, beef cattle, and hay are the top enterprises for PFI farmers, although many have a variety of other operations, including fruits and vegetables. PFI’s programming stresses farmer-to-farmer networking through research and demonstration, field days, conferences, and more. For more information, call 515-232-5661 or visit www.practicalfarmers.org. 

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The Leopold Center was established by the 1987 Iowa Groundwater Protection Act as a research and education center at Iowa State University to develop sustainable agricultural practices that are both profitable and conserve natural resources. Iowa State does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, sex, marital status, disability, or status as a U.S. Vietnam Era Veteran. Any persons having inquiries concerning this may contact the Director of Affirmative Action, 3210 Beardshear Hall, (515) 294-7612.

This page was found at http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/news/07-02-2009/biomass-energy-whats-practical-whats-possible on 01/21/2013