Carbon Dioxide

[JethroB]

Here’s an eye opener. The US grows about 90 million acres of corn each year. About 40% goes to ethanol production, 36% for animal feed.

 

[ArlyA]

Here’s an eye opener. The US grows about 90 million acres of corn each year. About 40% goes to ethanol production, 36% for animal feed.

Why is this an eye opener?

 

[Hay Dude]

My guess is because although Ethanol is a fossil fuel, it’s also a renewable resource. Most people walking around staring at their hand held supercomputers all day probably think all fuel comes from “dinosaur bones” and corn is only for corn on the cob, but I don’t want to speak for my friend Jethro B.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

Wow,

Who could have predicted this would turn into a poo-flinging monkey fit at the circus?

It's almost like there should be a forum rule about these kind of threads on TBN.

Oh wait, there is.

There are literally thousands of websites out there in AlGore's Internet where you guys can do this kind of stuff.

Move it there.

How about a moderator actually following the forum rules?

Or are you going to stealth mod THIS post too Moss?

 

[Hay Dude]

Seems like a healthy discussion since we all own tractors that emit/create carbon dioxide and other emission? Everyone seems calm, focused, but polite and kinda funny!

 

[ArlyA]

Here is the lake boat Paul R. Tregurtha departing Duluth, Minnesota after picking up a load of low sulfur coal, probably around 70,000 tons worth. The exhaust we see in the video is steam from its particulate scrubbers that boats are now required to have. These modifications help to keep our air and water cleaner and moving bulk cargo this way is also highly fuel efficient. The coal the Tregurtha carries is low sulfur and is heading to some power plant located on the lakes that also has particulate scrubbers. I'd call this all a move in the right direction. Not perfect, but still a good move.

 

[MoKelly]

My guess is because although Ethanol is a fossil fuel, it’s also a renewable resource. Most people walking around staring at their hand held supercomputers all day probably think all fuel comes from “dinosaur bones”, but I don’t want to speak for my friend Jethro B.

Ha!

I always thought fuel came from the gas station just like food comes from the grocery store.

I never knew my phone was a supercomputer. I only thought NASA could afford those!!

Real question - does ethanol come from feed corn or corn people eat? Or is it a different variety altogether?

I was surprised 40% of the corn harvest goes to ethanol. That is a huge market.

MoKelly

 

[JethroB]

Here’s an eye opener. The US grows about 90 million acres of corn each year. About 40% goes to ethanol production, 36% for animal feed.

Maybe I should have called it interesting information for those unfamiliar with how much corn and acreage goes into our gas tanks. Corn farmers love the 10% ethanol mandate while feed corn users (beef, pork, chicken, etc.) despise it. It’s all the same corn. The DDG byproduct of ethanol does get used as feed but it has low nutritional value. Some call it food for fuel.

 

[oldballs]

Personally I like a lively discussion......I feel like I can learn something from opposing views ....even if it has some political slant to it. So far, this seems like a worthwhile thread to me.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[ArlyA]

Maybe I should have called it interesting information for those unfamiliar with how much corn and acreage goes into our gas tanks. Corn farmers love the 10% ethanol mandate while feed corn users (beef, pork, chicken, etc.) despise it. It’s all the same corn. The DDG byproduct of ethanol does get used as feed but it has low nutritional value. Some call it food for fuel.

Adding a few % of grain ethanol reduces the pollution that our auto's make. I can't remember the details off hand right now. Ethanol production and animal feed takes up a large majority that's grown, so your box or corn flakes wouldn't go up because of it..

So we have a basic understanding the economy of farming. Lets say the price of corn, oats, wheat or barley goes up a dollar or even $2 and stays that way for a while. The next year X number of farmers will then plant more corn, oats, wheat or barley because that higher price makes it worth there risk.