Posted By Cindy November 5, 2009
The corn cob harvest was making progress in Emmetsburg, Iowa.
During POET’s Project LIBERTY Field Day, 16 companies showcased equipment to help farmers make the process of harvesting corn cobs and residue quick, easy and profitable. Project LIBERTY is POET’s planned 25 million-gallon-per-year cellulosic ethanol plant in Emmetsburg.
Among the many farmers who turned out to watch the demonstration was Myron Bruhn of Cylinder, Iowa. “I think it’s a good deal for the farmers if they can make ethanol from the cobs,” he said. “Ultimately, if we can make money doing it, it will be able to fly. If we can’t make money on purchasing the equipment and getting paid for the cobs on a two or three year return, there won’t be too many farmers trying it.”
Cobs will be the primary feedstock for the Project LIBERTY plant and agriculture equipment manufacturers are working to ramp up production of cob harvesting equipment. Some farmers may be eligible for federal funding from USDA or the Department of Energy to help purchase the new equipment.
Posted By Chuck July 30, 2009
Corn cobs aren’t just for pipes anymore. Now we’re seeing some real interest in utilizing them for a variety of purposes and for farmers that could mean extra income. You might think cellulosic ethanol production first but look at this list of other uses for cobs:
livestock feed supplement for mixed rations, livestock and pet animal bedding, blending cobs with coal to co-generate electricity, gasification to create several types of energy for industrial processes, and other industrial applications including construction materials, abrasives and absorbents
Harvesting corn cobs take some specialized equipment like this new cob harvester from Vermeer. It’s actually a system that tows behind a corn harvesting combine to collect and unload the cobs.
Farmers today are becoming more and more efficient and finding ways to better utilize our natural resources including the ones they grow.
Posted By Cindy February 18, 2009
John Deere may have cut its profit forecast for this year by 20 percent, but the company is still betting big on the nation’s agriculture industry.
Deere officials said today that they expect the North American agricultural market to be their best this year compared to other areas of the world. During a conference call today, Deere CEO Robert Lane said that demand for large farming machinery has held up well largely due to the financial health of U.S. agriculture.
So well, in fact, that at last week’s National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville, Deere unveiled the new DB120 – the largest planter in the industry. This bad boy is so big they couldn’t even unfold it all the way in their huge exhibit space!
Rob Rippchen, division marketing manager at John Deere seed in Moline, IL says this 120 foot planter is the next generation planter building off the DB90 introduced five years ago. “This planter will plant somewhere between 90 and 100 acres an hour,” Rob says. “Most growers will remember last spring when it was so wet and one of the easiest ways to improve productivity is to increase your working width.”
Another company betting big on North American agriculture is New Holland, which had on display at the NFMS what they claim is the largest combine in North America – the new CR9080 with 523 maximum horsepower.
Ed Barry with New Holland, told me that it’s not just horsepower that makes it the biggest, “It’s the largest cab, largest threshing area and largest cleaning area.”
Meanwhile, Case IH is also claiming the biggest combine title with its Axial-Flow 9120 at 483 rated hp. Just for good measure, Farm Industry News gave them both one of their 2008 FinOvation awards.
All will be on display at the Commodity Classic in Grapevine next week – you be the judge!
