Energy crops, also called "bioenergy crops", are fast-growing crops that are grown for the specific purpose of producing energy (electricity or liquid fuels) from all or part of the resulting plant. The plants that have been selected by the U.S. Department of Energy for further development as energy crops are mostly perennials such as switchgrass, willow and poplar.

Depending upon where you live, there may be interest in your local area for some of the different energy crops for co-firing or fiber production. You would have to check with local electricity utility companies or fiber processors (paper and board manufacturers) to see if there is market for these intensively managed crops before establishing them.

Anyone who can look after a woodlot for "firewood" could establish and manage short-rotation tree crops for home heating. Like native tree species, the energy content of different short-rotation tree crops varies according to their wood density, although the energy content of wood on a dry weight basis is fairly consistent. However, growth rates of individual tree crops, for example, sycamore, sweetgum, hybrid poplar, cottonwood, and willow, will differ according to region and climate.

Potentially these lands could be used for bioenergy crop production. This might be a good use of such lands because the crops would take up carbon dioxide, sequester carbon in their above and below-ground growth, remove other pollutants from the air, and minimize maintenance needs and fossil energy use for grass-cutting, etc. However, harvesting and removing the crops safely might present problems, and there may be no markets nearby for the biomass, making transport rather expensive.

There are extensive lands in pasture, annual row crops, and idle lands that have been identified as available for production of biomass crops. These lands would be much less expensive to convert to biomass crop production than natural forests, so there should be no increased pressure on national forests. BFDP is encouraging sustainable production of biomass crops for energy.

The crops themselves are widely adapted and we encourage growers to learn more about them through local extension agents and universities. Economics will likely dictate that commercial crops need to be planted near a biorefinery. (back to top)

No. For instance, sorghum is planted annually in the U.S. It has very high biomass yields and low input requirements, and has been identified by the government and university researchers as an energy crop. (back to top)

Most of the news coverage about ethanol is directed at ethanol made from corn starch, and unfortunately, a lot of it is inaccurate or uses outdated information. See Ethanol Myths. Biofuels made from new sources, such as dedicated energy crops, have numerous economic and environmental advantages. For instance, these crops require fewer passes through the field, and can yield more fuel per acre. (back to top)

These markets are just beginning to develop as the benefits of renewable energy are being increasingly documented and recognized, and issues of production rates, costs, handling, and energy conversion efficiencies are being documented and improved through research.

Bioenergy crops will not be planted in wetlands in the U.S. However, they do have the potential to be planted as buffer strips along waterways and streams to intercept nutrient runoff from agricultural crops, thus helping to protect water quality. They would also contribute to decreasing sediment transport from agricultural lands.

In its first four years, HarvestPlus has proven that crops can be bred to contain higher levels of micronutrients but the work does not stop here. It takes many years to breed and test new varieties of crops that have all the required traits to satisfy both farmer and consumer needs. Biofortified crops must also be field tested in different growing environments to ensure that they maintain these traits and can deliver sufficient micronutrients to consumers to improve their nutritional status.

Perennial biomass crops are not fertilized repeatedly like agricultural crops, although specific fertilizer requirements will vary with location and production system. Soil cover provided by biomass crops can increase soil stability and reduce runoff; this in turn can reduce nutrient transport.

Our earth's interior - like the sun - provides heat energy from nature. This heat - geothermal energy - yields warmth and power that we can use without polluting the environment. Geothermal heat originates from Earth's fiery consolidation of dust and gas over 4 billion years ago. At earth's core - 4,000 miles deep - temperatures may reach over 9,000 degrees F.

We continually hear this voiced by clients after just weeks of training.

This breed appeals to many who are partial to big, calm dogs. As with any puppy, there are bursts of unbounded energy, but as the dog matures, they seem to slow down'; adults, during certain times of the day, seem almost comatose! They are still very alert, but are most likely to be found laying about on a mound of dirt or a rock in a deep sleep. If the weather is hot, then they seem to become more lethargic.

Renewable energy is any energy source that can be either replenished continuously or within a moderate timeframe, as a result of natural energy flows. The so-called "renewables" include solar energy (heat and electricity), bioenergy, wind power, hydropower, and geothermal power.

Energy medicine is any system of diagnosis or treatment that works from the idea that a kind of life energy flows through the body. For example, traditional Chinese medicine holds that health depends on the flow of energy, called Qi (chee), through the body along channels called meridians. Each of these meridians is associated with a part of the body and/or an organ system, and is accessible through points near the surface of the skin called acupoints.

Irrigation of crops with water of CBM quality can be risky if not managed closely. With time, salts accumulate in the root zone to concentrations which will affect crop growth. Saline conditions stunt plant growth because the plants must work harder to extract water from the soil. Table 1 illustrates salt tolerance levels for some common Montana crops.

The top five commodities are apples, milk, wheat, potatoes and cattle. Information on Washington's agricultural production, including the state's top 40 agricultural commodities and the latest crop, livestock and economic estimates, is by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, Washington Field Office. To see a summary of the top 40 commodities and where Washington ranks in the U.S.

Perennial bioenergy crops can increase overall biodiversity in the landscape by adding one or more new crops (switchgrass, hybrid poplar, and/or willow) on existing agricultural lands. These new perennial crops can replace less profitable agricultural crops so that there will be more different kinds of plants growing on individual farms; thereby increasing the landscape complexity in different areas of the country.

Many watersheds in the USA experience extensive degradation from run-off from agricultural operations. Biomass crops can contribute to improving water quality by providing a continuous soil cover that helps stabilize the soil, decreases transport of nutrients, and protects the soil from erosion. The perennial cover provided by bioenergy crops reduces rainfall impact on the soil and sediment transport compared with annual row crops.

Yes. Most bioenergy crops are perennial, which means that they grow over multiple years rather than being harvested each year. Because they are grown for 5-15 years on one site, they create extensive rooting systems that are sources of below-ground carbon storage. This below-ground carbon and associated organic matter also contributes to improving soil quality and nutrient reserves.

Adequate nutrition is as important to disease resistance and stress tolerance in plants as it is in humans. Micronutrient deficiency in plants greatly increases their susceptibility to diseases, especially fungal root diseases of the major food crops. Efficiency in the uptake of mineral micronutrients from the soil is associated with disease resistance in plants, which leads to decreased use of fungicides.

A soil is said to be deficient in a given nutrient when the addition of fertilizer produces better growth-even though the amount of nutrient in the fertilizer added may be small compared with the total amount of the nutrient in the soil. This seeming paradox can occur when only a small part of the nutrient in the soil is available to plants, owing, for example, to the chemical properties of the soil.

After the initial emergency has been contained extensive sampling will determine where contamination may have occurred. You will be advised of areas suspected of contamination via local TV, radio and community meetings. Army Claims Center will be set up after the initial response to the emergency is complete. You should begin to document all of your losses from the incident. Motel 6 - 960 Highway 50 West (719/543-8900) Guests are responsible for picking up after their pets.

Shares are usually harvested less that 24 hours before you pick them up. For example lettuces and greens are picked before the sun reaches them in the early morning and kept cool until pickup. Those vegetables that can be left to pick later are picked as late as possible before your arrival.

A - Yes. All of our regular crops are free. Check out our calendar to view and sign up for upcoming crops!