Always Something to Learn at the Keystone Farm Show

January 08, 2016

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by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) Beginning the new year with a few days steeped in agriculture proved a great winter tonic, raising optimism that the seemingly ordinary people tromping through the York County Fair buildings at the Keystone Farm Show ("A farm show for farmers") hold the keys to transitioning to a truly renewable, sustainable energy future--and they intend to use them thoughtfully and wisely. And, if given half a chance, they will improve the economic well-being of this country and the world.

Peggy Alpert staffing the Advanced Biofuels USA booth at the Keystone Farm Show

Not that anyone actually said this in so many words. Sometimes it took some effort to pull out of the people stopping by the Advanced Biofuels USA booth their stories about their experiences with biofuels and their appreciation of the role of renewable, regenerative feedstocks in powering the future.

Veterans for Biofuels

A couple of Vietnam Veterans, talking with us hours apart, expressed similar motivations for their deep belief in the value of renewable fuel. The first has been making his own biodiesel from used cooking oil for 10 years, powering an old VW van, other vehicles and farm equipment with 100% renewable fuel through the summer months, tapering off during the winter due to gelling.

We began by talking about his experiences with home-made biodiesel, not uncommon in this mid-Atlantic region where commercial biodiesel seems hard to come by. Over the years he has refined his technique, learned a lot about managing variations in quality of UCO, depending on the source. He's happy to have cemented a relationship with a local restaurant that gives him high quality feedstock.

I found out about his military service only when talking about the value of renewable fuels not only for close-to-home environmental and economic reasons; but also for giving a country less cause to be fighting for petroleum resources. We talked about current presidential candidates' promises to get more troops involved in the Middle East, how that would necessitate a draft of not only boys this time, but girls, too. He then talked about being drafted and his deep concern that we are heading that way again, unnecessarily. And wondered at leaders who cannot get us away from sending our energy payments away from our own economies to support economies of those we are fighting.

And, he finished, that is why he uses as much home-grown fuel as possible. To keep from sending his money to people we are fighting and who may be killing the next generation of draftees.

You can have some pretty intense conversations at a farm show.

The other Vietnam vet, I eventually discovered, had been awarded two purple hearts. We talked generally about the promise of renewable fuels. Being in a building with lots of dairy-related exhibitors, we talked about anaerobic digesters as well as ethanol, renewable jet fuel, renewable diesel and biodiesel. People related a wide variety of good and bad experiences to us at these events. Generally, he expressed optimism about overcoming any weaknesses in our renewable energy systems.

These vets may be living very different lives, may have expressed different opinions about some values; but they both talked about the importance of agricultural practices that have more value than just the immediate economic effects. Keeping our energy money circulating in this country, not paying it (directly or indirectly) to people fighting against our military--that is a core motivation to make and use renewable fuels deeply felt by both of these men.

Anaerobic Digesters

Many with whom we spoke were quite familiar with anaerobic digesters, especially as a means of nutrient management of dairy manure. This part of the country has a significant dairy industry, so anaerobic digesters provided a conversational opening to talking about other biofuels. There were many nodding heads as I mentioned the ability to get EPA credit for the methane from digesters that enters the transportation fuel market.

We talked about using food waste as digester feedstock and one woman who had been at the edge of the conversation circle, as the group was leaving, made a point to share with us that she has a home-scale digester for food and farm waste that provides enough gas for her to run her stove burners.

Positive Vibe from Knowledgeable Professionals

Both Peggy Alpert and I who have been staffing the booth at the Keystone Farm Show for a few years, noticed that this time there were significantly more people who were knowledgeable in some way about biofuels; more whose faces lit up when talking about it; fewer who came by to complain; more who expressed deep feelings about the importance of and rewards of transitioning to renewable fuel.

Constant crowds around the on-farm soy meal and oil processor

Being near Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, the Keystone Farm Show serves a strong large scale organic farming industry with the significant number of Amish and Mennonite communities in the region. We've always had sophisticated inquiries about getting involved with bioenergy and biofuels from organic farmers who see potential opportunities for woody areas and lands that aren't good for producing higher value products. Some are also just exploring potential options.

Tobacco and Hemp

One group of young men mused about "doing something else" with their tobacco. I could tell them about research on tobacco related to biofuels feedstock. Another group wondered about hemp, initiating a conversation that encompassed understanding that nothing that has greater value would be used to make fuel; the economics work against it. So, hemp is more likely useful for fibers than fuel; unless there are great quantities of seeds for oil. That other hemp, well, is there any waste that could feed the biofuels industry?

Crush your soy meal costs and make fuel from the remaining oil

On-Farm Production of Soy Meal

One of the most unexpected experiences, however, came from Jasmin Hofer's Energrow booth. We had met a couple of years ago and talked about the farm-scale oilseed pressing system equipment she was promoting. What a difference a couple of years makes. A visitor to our booth asked if I had seen the equipment to crush soybeans to make meal for animal feed and oil for fuel.

I thought I'd stop by to say hello. I could barely get close enough to see the equipment she was demonstrating. So, I returned. Again and again. Finally, I gave up and left my card on her chair.

I gave it one last shot as the expo was closing up the second day. I did get a chance to talk briefly with her and a satisfied customer (who would not give me his name, but who agreed to pose for a photo). He was not only buying the basic system; but also the expansion modules and related equipment. He was eagerly anticipating his venture. Growing his own soybeans, he would be able to relatively easily produce his own soy meal for feed for his livestock; and use the oil, straight without converting to biodiesel, in farm vehicles and equipment. He expected to reap significant operational savings.

Jasmin Hofer and a satisfied customer at the Energrow demonstration

One other characteristic of Jasmin Hofer's business, that it is foreign (Canadian) bears notice. Over the years, more and more farm equipment innovations seem to be coming from other countries. Like a suffering canary in a coal mine, the decreased space used by American companies like New Holland, John Deere, Case/International Harvester, etc., at the expo signals a problem. Scandinavian, German, Italian, Polish. Equipment from Europe is finding a home in the US.

From informal conversations, I discerned another characteristic the representatives of those companies share with Hofer. Many are young professionals who do not feel stuck in a job; who are not working just for a paycheck; who have an entrepreneurial spirit, but not one that sees making money as the greatest or only measure of their self-worth. They see agriculture as a fun, exciting, forward-looking, morally rewarding, beneficial occupation. Those with young families really see their work as a serious contribution to creating for their children a better world.

Unscientific conclusions, perhaps; but certainly an appreciated tonic during a winter full of bleak news. And a source of motivation to continue our contribution to these shared paths toward a truly renewable sustainable energy and economic future.

For an idea of what I'm talking about, take a look at the American Harvest videos.

*Joanne Ivancic, serves as Executive Director of Advanced Biofuels USA.