Good to hear somebody that supports ethanol. I know it isn't the best solution to our energy usage, but it is domestic, clean, renewable, non toxic(you can drink it!!!), almost carbon neurtral, and doesn't support Iraquis, helps the economy, it will work with a large portion of our vehicle fleet, and it is available now in large supply.
Our local ethanol plant sells the midds to cattle farmers after the ethanol is distilled, so it produces a feed supplement; and that helps make up some of the costs. The plant is a good thing in our area. We exceeded our Tyson contract by ~15,000 bushels this spring, and I'm glad the ethanol plant was buying corn. It's the first time we sold any to them, and they were paying $.40 above the market! They had a shortage because the train they were expecting was snowed in.
One rumor that is floating around is that it takes more fuel to make it, than you get out of it. Well, logic will tell you that it is a false statement. That would equate to around 400-500 gallons of fuel per acre @2 gallons/bushel. On our farm that would equate to 455,000 gallons of fuel for the 910 acres of corn crop alone. We don't use 50,000 gallons of fuel/year for all of our 4,000+ acres of crops, irrigations, personal vehicles, home heating, etc etc.
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Tue, August 11th, 2009, 01:54 AM
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