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Renewable fuel sources such as corn-based ethanol and soybean-based biodiesel are capturing the attention of everyone from auto manufacturers to legislators to the media. But what potential do these products hold for Michigan farmers?
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Nearly 70 attendees learned more about these, and other topics at the first "Renewable Energy in Michigan - Biomass Energy & Agriculture," conference presented by Pierce Cedar Creek Institute, in partnership with Michigan State University Extension, on Friday, November 21, 2003. The conference, which ran from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm was the second renewable energy conference presented by Pierce Cedar Creek Institute.
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The conference featured representatives of commodity organizations, governmental agencies and Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, who talked about the past, present and future of biofuels and what they hold for farmers, manufacturers and consumers. "There is a lot of interest in these topics and a lot of new information available to farmers, agribusinesses and others," says Dennis Pennington, MSU Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent and one of the program's coordinators. "Biofuels may be important to farmers because they can offer an additional option for marketing crops."
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Click on the speakers' names below to access web versions of each PowerPoint presentation (viewable using any browser software). Each presentation will be launched within a new window, so simply close the new window when done viewing each presentation.
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AGENDA
Friday, November 21, 2003 |
| 8:30 - 9:00 AM |
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Registration
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| 9:00 - 9:30 |
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Welcome
Michelle Skedgell, Pierce Cedar Creek Institute
Opening Remarks
Robert Craig, Michigan Department of Agriculture
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| 9:30 - 10:00 |
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Ethanol Overview
Jody Pollok, Michigan Corn Growers Association
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| 10:00 - 10:30 |
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Biodiesel Overview
Keith Reinholt, Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee
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| 10:30 - 10:45 |
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Break
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| 10:45 - 11:00 |
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Biomass Production Issues
Cliff Meeuwsen, Zeeland Farm Services, Inc.
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| 11:00 - 11:20 |
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Grand Rapids Biodiesel Project
Bill Stough, Sustainable Research Group
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| 11:20 - 11:30 |
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Crystal Flash and Biodiesel
Tom Fehsenfeld, Crystal Flash
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| 11:30 - 12 noon |
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Panel Discussion / Q&A - Biodiesel
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| 12:00 - 1:15 PM |
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Lunch / Exhibitor Displays and Networking
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| 1:15 - 2:00 |
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AgSTAR and the National Picture on Anaerobic Digesters
Kurt Roos, EPA AgSTAR Program
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| 2:00 - 2:30 |
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Anaerobic Digesters in Michigan
Jack Rozdilsky, MSU Extension
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| 2:30 - 2:45 |
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Break
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| 2:45 - 3:15 |
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Panel Discussion / Q&A - Anaerobic Digesters
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| 3:15 - 3:30 |
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Conference Wrap-up and Evaluation
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Jody Pollok, Executive Director of the Corn Marketing Program of Michigan and Michigan Corn Growers Association, discussed opportunities and challenges for ethanol production in Michigan and its impact on the corn market. Keith Reinholt, Director of Field Operations for the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee and Michigan Soybean Association, provided an overview of the production of soybean-based biodiesel.
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Jack Rozdilsky, MSU Extension land use agent, discussed the possibilities and challenges of anaerobic digestion, a biological process that occurs when certain bacteria are added to livestock manure during decomposition. The methane gas produced during the process can be converted to electricity that can be used to power the farm and resold to utility companies.
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The conference also featured panel discussions that gave audience members the chance to ask presenters questions about each topic discussed.
This biomass conference and these biomass web pages were funded in part through a U.S. Department of Energy grant from the Michigan Biomass Energy Program.
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To download a copy of speaker contact information and biography, click here (165k PDF).
To download a copy of exhibitors present at the Biomass Conference, click here (71k PDF).
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