Ag Opportunities Volume 19, Number 3 March 2008 Brewin' Your Own (Fuel That Is) by Ed Browning Natural Resources Engineering Specialist Jasper County Extension Center Some of us are proponents of on-farm fuel production -- particularly biodiesel. Biodiesel is probably the most feasible fuel to produce on-farm. First, there are generally three crops that can be used; soybeans, sunflowers and canola. Additionally, most of the engines used on the farm are diesel. There are exceptions, but for the most part they're diesel. With grain ethanol, corn is the main crop. That can change as cellulosic ethanol processes are developed. A basic argument by those who are not proponents is that fuel quality can not be maintained with homemade production. Besides the quality issue, there are other concerns that need attention before one invests heavily in the do-it-yourself process. Here is a list of questions that need answers before you set up a processing facility. An attempt will be made to answer some of these. Do you have to have a license to produce biodiesel? A license is not required by the Missouri Department of Agriculture, Division of Weights and Measures to produce fuel for your own use, but it does regulate fuel quality. It is responsible to enforce Missouri Revised Statutes, Section 414.032, which states that "all kerosene, diesel fuel, heating oil, aviation turbine fuel, gasoline, gasoline-alcohol blends and other motor fuels" have to meet ASTM standards. Additionally, "...gasoline, gasoline-alcohol blends or other motor fuels [may be inspected] to insure that these fuels conform to advertised grade and octane." According to a representative of Weights and Measures, testing to comply with ASTM standards would not be affordable for the DIY biofuel producer. There is a kit available called the pHLip test, which provides a visual analysis that is more affordable for the do it yourselfer. However, it won't replace the ASTM testing. Are there other regulations if I want to make my own fuel? The Missouri Department of Revenue taxes fuel used for over the road vehicles. If you use the homemade biodiesel in any vehicle traveling up and down the road, you have to pay fuel tax on that quantity. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources may require permits for air and water quality pollution prevention. Furthermore, depending on the quantity of fuel processed and stored, you may be required to provide secondary containment. Will engine manufacturers warranty engines using fuel produced on the farm? It is believed that manufacturers fully support B5 (5% biodiesel [from vegetable oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil etc. or animal fats] & 95 % petro diesel). B20 (20% biodiesel [from vegetable oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil etc. or animal fats] & 80 % petro diesel) is a little iffy. If the fuel causes a problem with the engine, the responsibility falls on the fuel supplier. B100 (100% biodiesel [from vegetable oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil etc. or animal fats] & 0% petro diesel). will have to pass ASTM testing in order for the manufacturer to stand behind the warranty. What insurance issues will be involved in on-farm production such as fire, liability, accident? Check with insurance agents. Risk of these issues may increase with the production, handling and storage of biofuels. Are there any cold weather flowability problems? There is very little problem with B5. B20 however begins to freeze anywhere from 2ø to 10ø sooner than number 2 diesel. However, the same measures you use with number 2 diesel to prevent flow problems can be used with the biodiesel blends. Who will be willing to buy co-products: primarily the glycerin? There are many uses for glycerin, but how many buyers are going to be interested in mall quantities? New developments are coming down the pipe. A University of Missouri researcher as developed a process to convert glycerin to propylene glycol, a bio-based, non-toxic and renewable antifreeze. How many acres of crop per 1000 gallons of oil will it take to produce fuel? With a moderate yield of soybeans, sunflowers or canola, 1000 gallons of oil would take about 20 acres of soybeans and 12 to 13 acres of sunflowers or canola. Producing your own biofuel is possible. You just have a few hoops to jump through. You might want to buy a gallon of vegetable oil, a new blender for your spouse, a little "Heet", some lye and use the old blender to process the oil into biofuel and glycerin-just to see if that's something you really want to do. Be sure to follow a tried and true recipe for the experiment. Oh yea, put down plastic or something to make cleanup a little easier too. Sources of reference: PowerPoint presentation by Alan Weber (http://www.marciv.com/weber-body.htm) PowerPoint presentation by Leon Schumacher (http://web.missouri.edu/~schumacherl/biofuel.html) MO Department of Ag, Division of Weights and Measures (http://www.mda.mo.gov/FuelQuality/renewablefuelstandard.htm) National BioDiesel Board found at http://www.biodiesel.org/resources/pressreleases/gen/20060502_Glycerin Award.pdf pHLip testing(http://phliptest.com/) Missouri Revised Statutes found on the Internet ********************************************************************** What is "All-Natural" Beef? by Dona Funk, Livestock Specialist Cedar Co. Extension Center Natural and organic beef dollar sales comprise 2.1 percent of all fresh beef sales in retail supermarkets. The natural and organic beef share of sales is trending upward, from a low of 1.1 percent in the second quarter of 2003 to 2.1 percent in the first quarter of 2007. In addition, sales of natural and organic beef in retail are rapidly increasing (28.5% in 2006, up from 17.2% in 2005) compared to all beef sales (up just 0.4% in 2006). Natural is defined by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as "a product containing no artificial ingredient or added color and is only minimally processed (a process which does not fundamentally alter the raw product) may be labeled natural. The label must explain the use of the term natural (such as no added colorings or artificial ingredients or minimally processed)." Consequently, every beef company who markets an "all natural" product has actively promoted their own definition of "all natural" beef based on the combination of various animal husbandry attributes that appeals to their desired consumer audience. Some of the various attributes attached to a specific brand label may include the prohibited use of growth implants, antimicrobial feed additives and antibiotics, specific breed types, forage finishing and humane handling. While there are definite opportunities for greater returns from calves raised and marketed through these alternative management strategies, there are risks that must be factored in as well. First, all producers must understand and document compliance to the strict guidelines which exist for participating in each program. One must pay very close attention to the records required while the animals are in your custody as well as the necessary paper trail required when ownership transfer is completed to ensure there is no "fall out" of cattle eligibility. It is very important for producers to recognize that costs of gain will be significantly increased through reduced daily gains, lowered feed efficiency and, potentially, higher death loss if growth implants and antibiotics such as Rumensin are not incorporated throughout the stocker and finishing phase. Strict attention to bunk management and the increase in roughages level while in the feedlot will be necessary to offset the higher likelihood of digestive upsets and resulting liver abscess rates which may consequently impact performance and carcass merit. It is critical for producers to anticipate and manage these aspects of managing cattle to fit natural and certified organic branded beef programs. ********************************************************************** **IN PRINT/ON-LINE** *Clean Energy Farming: Cutting Costs, Improving Efficiencies, Harnessing Renewables* Features innovative SARE-funded research and examples of farmers who are improving energy efficiency while saving money. These growers and ranchers are implementing farming practices that save energy, protect natural resources, and produce and use renewable fuels. Online at http://www.sare.org/publications/energy/energy.pdf Research funded by the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture led to the development of an on-line calculator that will help farmers determine the profitability of various food crops. Recently completed work studied the costs and decision-making processes of independent restaurateurs, local food producers, and restaurant patrons. Increased understanding of these attitudes may help expand the availability of locally grown foods in Iowa restaurants. The free Producer Profitability Calculator -www.iastatelocalfoods.org/calculator, helps producers create scenarios to help make decisions about what and how much to plant as well as sales decisions such as how, where, when and setting a price. The tool was developed as part of a Leopold Center competitive grant to the Hotel, Restaurant and Institution Management (HRIM) program at ISU. A user's manual for the calculator is also available-http://www.leopold.iastate.edu/research/marketing_files/prof itability_0108.pdf *Way to Goat!* A quick reference guide to raising meat goats, compiled by Yvonne Zweede-Tucker, based on 16 years of successful experience in North Central Montana. Binder tabs denote sections on topics such as feed, health, kidding, facilities, and selling slaughter animals. Available for $27, including postage cost, direct from Smoke Ridge, 1380 Highway 220, Choteau, Montana 59422. *eXtension* An educational partnership of 74 land-grant universities in the United States has launched eXtension, an interactive learning website delivering research knowledge to the public. Content on the site is organized around resource areas including Community, Family, Farm, and Pest Management. The current farm resources offered relate to Beef Cattle, Dairy, Cotton, Horses, and Livestock and Poultry Environment. Additional resources are being added. Go to http://www.extension.org/ to see the wealth of information contained there. The Rodale Institute's Transitioning to Organic course is a 15-hour online program designed to help you understand the National Organic Standards and use them as your framework for making the transition to organic production. To take a look at the course go to http://www.tritrainingcenter.org/course/ ********************************************************************** **IN THE NEWS** The USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service is reopening and extending the comment period for the proposed voluntary standard for a naturally raised marketing claim for livestock and meat. The Jan. 28, 2008, deadline has been extended to March 3, 2008. For more information go to http://www.ams.usda.gov/news/025-08.htm The National Agricultural Law Center at the University of Arkansas is the only agricultural law research and information facility that is independent, national and international in scope, and directly connected to the national agricultural information network. The center has expanded its coverage to include food law. A team of law and research professors, lawyers, other specialists, and graduate assistants from the University of Arkansas School of Law Graduate Program in Agricultural Law make up the center's staff. Their free bi-monthly e-newsletter provides information about new research and important events in the agricultural and food law communities in the nation and the world. In addition, it fosters a dialogue between subscribers and the center on needed areas for research and information. To subscribe to the e-newsletter go to http://www.nationalaglawcenter.org/about/newsletter/ The American Grassfed Association (AGA) announced February 20 that its board has voted to start certifying grass-fed meat operations under a new industry-backed standard administered by Food Alliance, according to Sustainable Food News. AGA's grass-fed marketing claim standard exceeds the requirements for USDA's grass-fed standard, and specifies a total forage diet, no confinement, no antibiotics and no added hormones. The story notes that Food Alliance may start inspections under the new grass-fed standard by May. For more information go tohttp://www.americangrassfed.org/ ********************************************************************** ON THE CALENDAR March 12-Sheep Shearing School, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-681-5540, x 30. March 14-5th Annual Women in Agriculture, Marshall, MO. Call (660) 886-6908. March 14-15-MO State Beekeepers Assn Spring Meeting, Springfield, MO. Call 636-394-5395, www.mostatebeekeepers.org March 25-27-SARE's 20th Anniversary Conference: The New American Farm: Advancing the frontier of sustainable agriculture, Kansas City, MO. Contact outreach@sare.org March 28-29-Goat Conference for Goat Producers & Youth and AI Clinic for Sheep & Goats, Jefferson City, MO. Call 573-681-5540, x 30. March 29-Natural Livestock Workshop: Production, Care and Marketing, Warner, OK. Call 918.647.9123 or mailbox@kerrcenter.com April 1-3-National Extension Women in Agriculture Education Conference, Oklahoma City, OK. Call Lgw@udel.edu or 302-831-2538. April 22-MO Vegetable Growers Association Farm Tour-Ivan Stoilov Farm, Dittmer, MO. Call 573-448-9324 or 573-529-1525. May 3-MO National Nut Growers Annual Grafting Day, Lathrop, MO. Call 816-740-4282. May 17-MO Walnut Council Spring Tours. Contact palmh@missouri.edu or 573-882-1402 May 17-19-Conference Celebrating 30 Years of Missouri Fiber Artists, Fayette, MO. Call 573-443-1731. May 20-Biofumigation for Strawberry Production, Mountain Grove, MO. Email PMayer@missouristate.edu June 3-Plant Propagation Workshop, Mountain Grove MO. http://mtngrv.missouristate.edu/homegardeners/ June 5-MO Vegetable Growers Association Farm Tour-Fahreier Farm, Lexington, MO. Aug 3-5-MO Young Farmers/Young Farm Wives Summer Tour, Kirksville, MO. Call 660-626-1476. Aug 7-17-2008 Missouri State Fair, Sedalia, MO. Sept 9-Ozark Rain Gardens Field Day, Mountain Grove MO. Email PMayer@missouristate.edu Oct 18-6th Annual Missouri Chestnut Roast, University of Missouri Horticulture and Agroforestry Research Center, New Franklin, MO. Visit www.centerforagroforestry.org, Rhoadsj@missouri.edu or call 573-882-3234. Dec 5-6-Missouri Livestock Symposium, Kirksville, MO, http://missourilivestock.com **Growing Growers Workshops** For more information, call 816-805-0362, email growers@ksu.edu or visit http://www.growinggrowers.org/. There is a small fee for each workshop. March 15-Soil Building with Organic Practices, Higginsville, MO March 29-Starting Your Own Farm, Shawnee, KS April 14-General Plant Propagation and Production, Kansas City, KS May 5-Equipment and Drip Irrigation for Growers, Olathe, KS June 16-Harvesting and Post-Harvest Handling for Maximum Quality and Nutrition, Osceola, MO July 14-Taste & Nutrition of Local Vegetables, Lawrence, KS Aug 17-Pests, Disease and Weeds, St Joseph, MO Sept 15-Tree Fruit Production, Williamsburg, KS Oct-Business Planning and Management for Small Farms, Kearney, MO Nov-The Organic Certification Process, TBA **Green Hills Farm Project Farm Walks** Green Hills Farm Project welcomes all families to our open farm walks. Always bring your children! Please call ahead to advise the host family of the number attending and to get directions. The host family provides main meat course and drinks. Please bring lawn chairs and covered dish. Come on out and join us for a great time of fellowship and sharing on our farms! March 20-Dennis & Becky McDonald, Galt, MO at 4 pm. Call 660-673-6508. April 19-Eric & Hope Bright, Bucklin, MO at 11 am. Call 660-695-3567. May 17-Craig Witteveen, Norborne, MO at 11 am. Call 660-484-3298. June 21-Greg and Jan Judy, Clark, MO at 11 am. Call 573-874-1816. July 17 or 19-TBA Aug 21-Tom & Paula Parker, Richmond, MO at 5pm. Call 816-470-3276. Sept 18-Doug & Diane Peterson, Ridgeway, MO at 5 pm. Call 660-824-4276. Oct 16-Jordan & Anne Bentley, Brookfield, MO. Call 660-412-3399. Nov 22-Ben & Nancy Coleman, Callao. MO. Call 660-768-5743