Better compatibility in ag machinery electronics is coming
Posted on April 16, 2009
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The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) is sponsoring a “Plugfest” at the Nebraska Tractor Test Lab on the Univ. of Nebraska-Lincoln’s East Campus, May 19-20.
The Nebraska Tractor Test Lab is in the process of becoming the North American certification facility for ISOBUS standards.
The event is not usually open to the public, but an informal special briefing for the media is scheduled for 11:00 am, Tuesday, May 19.
The event will feature engineers from a variety of agricultural equipment companies with some of their ISOBUS electronic terminals and controls.
The event is called a Plugfest because the engineers experiment by plugging their equipment into other companies’ equipment to make sure they’re compatible; the goal is to fine-tune the industry standard that assures different companies’ devices work together.
The ISOBUS is the common term for the international standard ISO 11783, which deals with communication interfaces on tractors and other ag equipment.
Manufacturers agreed to implement this standard in 2001 to assure their products would “communicate” with each other, eliminating the need for separate controls, terminals and displays.
Under ISOBUS, tractors may ultimately have one monitor instead of multiple devices to control sprayers, spreaders and other implements.
Two-step chemical process turns raw biomass into biofuel
Posted on April 15, 2009
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Taking a chemical approach, researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have developed a two-step method to convert the cellulose in raw biomass into a promising biofuel.
The process, which is described in the Wednesday, Feb. 11 issue of the Journal of the American Chemical Society, is unprecedented in its use of untreated, inedible biomass as the starting material.
The key to the new process is the first step, in which cellulose is converted into the “platform” chemical 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), from which a variety of valuable commodity chemicals can be made.
“Other groups have demonstrated some of the individual steps involved in converting biomass to HMF, starting with glucose or fructose,” says Ronald Raines, a professor with appointments in the Department of Biochemistry and the Department of Chemistry. “What we did was show how to do the whole process in one step, starting with biomass itself.”
–– by Nicole Miller, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison
Note: Read the full release . . .
Survey shows high interest in biofuels
Posted on April 15, 2009
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Most Americans want to know more about biofuels, according to a new survey fielded by researchers in the Department of Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The national survey showed that 67 percent of respondents were interested in learning more about renewable biofuels. “These findings indicate people are really interested in this issue,” says Hernando Rojas, co-investigator for the study and assistant professor of life sciences communication at UW-Madison.
Biofuels have received substantial media coverage over the past year, and the public is paying attention. –– Hernando Rojas
On the positive side, a majority of respondents perceive some clear benefits of biofuels, with 66 percent agreeing that using them can help the United States reduce reliance on foreign oil. Another 53 percent believed biofuels can have a positive impact on climate change trends by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Respondents had mixed opinions about the advantages and disadvantages of corn-based ethanol (an alcohol biofuel derived from the fermentation of corn), which has become a significant source of energy in the United States. More than 10 billion gallons of ethanol are expected to be included in the nation’s fuel supply this year.
Respondents indicated some concerns about ethanol, with 44 percent believing that the production of corn-based ethanol will create pressure on the food supply, and 43 percent indicating ethanol will create pressure on local water supplies.
Additionally, only 28 percent agreed that biofuels are a permanent solution to the energy problems in our country. Despite high general interest in learning about biofuels, only 24 percent said they were interested in using corn-based ethanol for their transportation needs, while 52 percent disagree, and 24 percent are neutral.
“Our historical data suggests public interest in ethanol may fall when prices drop at the gas pump, but interest will likely rise when oil prices go up again,” says Bret Shaw, co-investigator of the study and assistant professor of life sciences communication at UW-Madison.
There were also gender differences regarding attitudes to biofuels in general and corn-based ethanol in particular.
Women were significantly more likely than men to think biofuels are a permanent solution to energy and environmental problems, are more willing to use corn-based ethanol for their transportation needs, and perceive that corn-based ethanol exerts less pressure on food and water supplies.
“Public perceptions about the positives of biofuels outweigh the negatives, but the corn-based ethanol industry needs to continue to make their case for why ethanol should be a part of the solution to address the long-term energy needs of the United States,” says Shaw.
The survey questions are part of the Cooperative Campaign Analysis Project, a joint venture that brought together more than 60 researchers from 25 academic institutions, to conduct a six-wave panel study of 18,250 respondents throughout the United States.
Surveys were conducted online. Data was collected by Polimetrix. Results reported here are based on a subsample of 1,191 that represents the general population with a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percent (95 percent confidence interval), and correspond to observations collected between Nov. 5 and Dec. 1.
Mother Jones: Ethanol’s African Land Grab
Posted on April 14, 2009
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Some food for thought from Karl Ohm.
I’ve often said that, as a nation, we can waste renewable resources just as quickly as non-renewable ones. Unless we can throttle back on consumption, the potential contribution of renewable resources to our economy may be curbed in the long run.
If trees are cleared for energy crops, if it takes more energy to grow and process a crop into fuel than the power it delivers, if greater amounts of water, fertilizers and crop protection chemicals become necessary to maintain crop growth, and if productivity stagnates –– well, perhaps we need to discuss the energy-in/energy-out ratios more and what impact these imbalances (or balances) really have on our soils.
Sustainability must remain a foundation in the future development and deployment of biofuels (and, for the sake of space and time, you can use your own definition of “sustainability” here).
Even as an agricultural and natural resource writer and photographer, I remain uneasy as to how swiftly we sometimes embrace “biofuels” in any form without more fully discussing the impacts on our soils and forests. In short, I would have to ask: “Instead of drilling the earth for oil, will we, in turn, be mining our soils for biofuels?”
I’ve been to numerous national and state level renewable energy conferences, and this type of discussion never seems to get “front and center” treatment that I believe it really deserves.
This topic was partly brought into focus when I read an article in the March/April 2009 issue of Mother Jones entitled: Ethanol’s African Land Grab | Mozambique has survived colonialism and civil war. But can it survive the ethanol industry?
The article was written by Adam Welz and can be read online. (What do you think?) Read more . . .
Protein identified that concentrates CO2 in algae
Posted on April 10, 2009
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AMES, IA –– For plants and microalgae, CO2 is vital to growth. It fuels their photosynthesis process that, along with sunlight, manufactures sugars required for growth.
CO2 is present in such a limiting concentration that microalgae and some plants have evolved mechanisms to capture and concentrate CO2 in their cells to improve photosynthetic efficiency and increase growth.
An Iowa State University researcher has now identified one of the key proteins in the micro-algae responsible for concentrating and moving that CO2 into cells. Read more . . .
Converting sugar beets into biofuel
Posted on April 10, 2009
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AMES, IA — Two Iowa State University research farms are growing sugar beets to determine their biofuel potential in Iowa.
The research is being conducted at the Muscatine Island Research and Demonstration Farm in Fruitland and the Southeast Research and Demonstration Farm, which is located near Crawfordsville.
“Our work is important because it will provide estimates of potential sugar beet yield so work can begin on developing realistic energy budgets and profitability of using sugar beets as a biofuel,” said Vince Lawson, superintendent of the Muscatine Island research farm. Read more . . .
Applied Principles in Biomanufacturing
Posted on April 7, 2009
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Biomanufacturing remains a critical step in the reality of biotechnology innovations becoming marketable products. The Master of Science in Biotechnology at UW-Madison announces a new certificate course, Applied Principles in Biomanufacturing, designed to help you bring an applied, working understanding of biomanufacturing back to your employer.
This certificate course will take place June 22–26, 2009 in Madison, Wisconsin. Participants will learn via hands-on activities in a biomanufacturing lab combined with lectures from experienced industry experts. Information and knowledge obtained from the certificate course will allow students to bring real value back to their employers.
More details about the certificate course and the instructors can be found at: Applied Principles in Biomanufacturing
Wis. Biogas Development Group to meet April 16th, Madison
Posted on April 6, 2009
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The Wisconsin Biogas Development Roundtable Group plans to meet Thursday, April 16, 2009, from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m., in the Board Room located at the Wis. Dept. of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, 2811 Agriculture Drive, Madison.
You can download a copy of the proposed agenda (including a link to directions) by going to:
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