Bioenergy Field Day

Yes I did some field work today and yes it is still very dry.  Rain penetrated an inch maximum.

I attended the University of Illinois Energy Crop Field Day today south of Brighton.  The program was co-sponsored by Omni Ventures Inc.  Presentations were short and to the point.  Crops highlighted were miscanthus, eastern gamma grass, switchgrass and Tropical Maize.  The first three are perennial grasses.  The maize is much like our corn except taller, higher in biomass, and higher in sugar.  The maize can be harvested for grain and then the stover is used as biofuel as well.  An old friend, Duane Friend, made a brief but enlightening presentation on Bio-char.  A bi-product of energy extraction from biomass fuels.