Ethanol Production and Water Use
Posted: September 26, 2007
Clearly it’s report season. A scan of recent posts on CornCommentary are indications of that. The Environmental Defense Fund is among those to join the fray rolling out ethanol reports, this time with a report on the potential impacts ethanol production can have on natural resources such as the Ogallala Aquifer. The report points out that the Ogallala region currently has only five ethanol plants and that another nine are under construction, increasing water needed for corn and ethanol production.
While the report–like so many others–makes several assumptions “due to lack of information.” John Holzfaster, chairman of the Nebraska Corn Board, has taken the time to provide the facts on corn production and water usage in his guest editorial “It’s time to put water usage in perspective.”
The next time you’re out watering your lawn, here’s some interesting facts to keep in mind, according to Holzfaster:
It is estimated that it may take around 1,750 gallons of water to produce a bushel of corn. That sounds like a lot, but did you know it takes 684,000 gallons of water per acre per year to irrigate a golf course? And that, on average, a homeowner uses 21,600 gallons to water his or her lawn each year?
Back in grade school, we all learned about water transpiration. As a corn plant grows, it takes in water, but it also transpires water, releasing it into the atmosphere and starting the hydrologic cycle all over again. According the U.S. Geological Survey, an acre of corn gives off 3,000-4,000 gallons of water each day through transpiration.
Yes, it takes water to produce corn. But let’s not overlook what this amazing plant is capable of producing: ethanol, livestock feed and cereal for breakfast. In short, fuel, feed, and food.
Julie Gay Said,
October 9, 2007 @ 2:03 pm
I am an agricultural futurist. The following questions should be added to the NCGA’s recent challenge to discuss the real issues involving ethanol:
1. No matter what the feedstock is (except maybe wood) farmers will be needed for production. How can we best guarantee the freedom to do so?
2. No matter what the biomass source is, it’s production will be influenced by local soil and water conservation rules, which , in turn, will be highly influenced by environmentalists/conservationists. Will they be friends or enemies?
3. The giant oil and ag industry companies continue to real;ize huge profits from farm production. But the same companies are driving up farmers’ production costs. Is it time to address this irony?
4. Farm commodity groups are funding research that, in turn, benefits the giant ag companies. The giant ag companies are joining with the giant oil companies in the biofuels market. Would farmers benefits themselves m ore if checkoff dollars were spent in other arenas?
5. Government programs will change with the new farm bill, but not solely because of biofuels. The major force of change for farmers is and will be fuel policies. How can famrers reconcile the difference?
6. Should national farm groups be involved in the development of the U.S. fuel policy or the development of the farmers’ best position within the policy?