Green in More Ways Than One

Guest blogger Kristin Heinemann, Texas Grain Sorghum Producers Director of Producer Relations, was in College Station last week when Wayne Keith drove his "green" pickup to the Texas A&M University sorghum plots. Thanks to Kristin for her insight and photography!

What if I told you the truck that your great-grandchildren or even grandchildren purchase one of these days, might not be fueled in any part by gasoline OR diesel? You'd probably call me crazy!

Well, call me crazy because this idea became a reality to Alabama farmer Wayne Keith. He created a "Gasifier" fueled by biomass (ie. wood, switchgrass, sorghum) that powers his pick-up. This bright green truck is easy to spot on the road as it is cruising from coast to coast promoting this alternative fuel source.

Keith has teamed up with Auburn University professor David Bransby for this project. The pair made a stop in College Station at the Texas A&M University farm to demonstrate their project and highlight TAMU and Ceres' work on high energy sorghums. Check out the pictures and follow the link below to hear what KBTX News in Brian/College Station had to to report on the event.

Green Pickpup Stops Off in Texas

We have more information on that green pickup that runs off of biomass sorghum:

"The Lone Star State is known for its oil production, but some Texans are discovering other ways to power their vehicles. In fact, one pair of scientists are on a coast to coast crusade to promote a fuel that is grown all over Texas.

"The pair stopped in Brazos County to fill-up and show off their truck that doesn't use a drop of gas."

Read the rest of the story and watch the video at KBTX.com Brian/College Station.

The Non-Maize Maze

Look at this video! In a twist on the traditional corn maze, Tom Mickles of Oklahoma is planting his money-making maze in sorghum sudangrass because it is too tall to see over and too thick to see through. Watch the video....

Ethanol more energy efficient than previously thought

EP Overviews Bioenergy and Biofuels, a bioenergy newsletter, is reporting that a University of Nebraska-Lincoln study found that ethanol production is more energy efficient than expected.

Here's the story from EP Overviews:

Ethanol more energy efficient than previously thought - Research (R&D)

A University of Nebraska - Lincoln study found that ethanol production is more energy efficient than previously thought. The Nebraska Corn Board reports that earlier studies examining ethanol's energy balance were based on backward-looking data and older production methods. Ken Cassman, director of the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research, maintains that today's data shows that the energy balance of corn-based ethanol is two to three times higher than previous estimates. According to Cassman, ethanol has a substantial net positive direct energy balance - 1.5 to 1.6 more units of energy are derived from ethanol than are used to produce it. (Source: The Grand Island Independent, September 29, 2008)

Contact: Kenneth G. Cassman, Director, Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences, University of Nebraska, (402) 472-5554, kcassman1@unl.edu, www.unl.edu. Nebraska Corn Board, (800) 632-6761, ncb.info@nebraska.gov

Corn and sorghum produce the same amount of ethanol per bushel. Read the original story here. The report is yet to be released.