[SustainableTompkins] Growing Energy on the Farm

[GayNicholson at aol.com]

Growing Energy on the Farm
Friday, March 16, 2007

Civil Defense Center, Route 54N, Bath, New York

Program
10 to 11 2007 Farm Bill – Recognizing the Importance of  American
Farmers, Larry Mitchell, American Corn Growers Association

11 to 12 Growing Warm-Season Grasses, Paul Salon, Plant Materials  Specialist,
USDA-NRCS

Noon Lunch Provided Courtesy of the American Corn Growers  Association

12:30 to 1:30 Grass Pelleting Update and Wide Swathing to Speed Forage  
Drying,
Jerry Cherney, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Cornell

1:30 to 2:30 Biodiesel – Renewable Fuel with Great Potential, Larry  Mitchell,
American Corn Growers Association

2:30 to 3:30 Cultivating the Renewable Fuel Industry in WNY, Larry  Simpson,
Director, RENEW NY

Reservations are appreciated to help us plan for lunch - please call us  at 
607-664-2300. The American
Corn Growers Association supports “a domestic  farm policy that recognizes 
the importance of American farmers as providers of  an adequate and safe food 
supply, as producers of renewable resources  forindustrial use, and as creators 
of jobs throughout our economy.” As  cellulosic ethanol becomes a reality in 
the years ahead warm-season grasses such  as switchgrass will provide some of 
the biomass needed to produce this fuel. 
 
Paul Salon will discuss warm-season grass attributes and provide guidelines  
for their
production. Jerry Cherney will summarize several years of research  on 
growing grass for pelleting and
how grass pellets are working out as a  fuel source. He will also discuss his 
research to date on the use of
wide  swathing to increase the drying rate of hay crops, including when and 
when not  to tighten down the
conditioning rolls. Larry Mitchell, Executive Director of  the American Corn 
Growers Association will
provide an overview on biodiesel  in the U.S. today. Biodiesel is a clean 
burning, renewable fuel that can
be  produced from crops like canola and soybeans, and which can enhance 
combustion  and be used to add lubricity to ultra low sulfur diesel. Rounding out 
the  program will be Larry Simpson of RENEW NY who will talk briefly about the  
growing ethanol industry in upstate New York and discuss opportunities and  
resources for farmers and entrepreneurs interested in tapping into the growing  
renewable energy industry themselves. You are invited to attend the entire  
workshop or just those presentations that are of interest to you. Sponsored by  
the American Corn Growers Association, Cornell Cooperative Extension of 
Steuben  County, and the Finger Lakes RC&D Council.
----------------------------------------------------
Gay  Nicholson, Ph.D. 

607-533-7312 (home office)
607-279-6618  (cell)

1 Maple Avenue
Lansing, NY  14882
gaynicholson at aol.com

Sustainable Tompkins 
Program  Coordinator 
w_ww.sustainabletompkins.org_ (http://www.sustainabletompkins.org/) 

Southern Tier Energy$mart Communities
Regional  Coordinator
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tompkins County
615 Willow  Ave., Ithaca, NY 14850
agn1 at cornell.edu

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