Biofuels

Biofuels are gaining interest as an alternative to petroleum-based products and natural gas. Biofuels are energy products produced from renewable biological resources – everything from corn, soybeans, and grasses to trees, animal manure, food waste and algae.

The feedstocks from which biofuels are produced represent a promising sustainable, environmentally-friendly and economically viable opportunity for farms as cash crops and as on-farm energy sources. The pelletizing of switchgrass for small indoor heating stoves and the development of a tractor-driven hay pelletizer and small-scale biodiesel manufacturing equipment may signal the beginning of a new farm-based business opportunity.

Click on the links below to learn more about NNYADP bioenergy projects and other resources related to biofuels.

Articles
- Switchgrass is focus of open house
'THIS IS REALLY WHERE IT STARTS': Madrid farm tour explores adaptability of crop, energy use

Press Releases
- Evaluating Grasses as Bioenergy Crops: New Plantings at Belleville-Henderson School Among Those In & Planned for NNY
- North Country Farmers Switching to Grass as Energy, Livestock Feed Crop

Research Reports
- Evaluation of Warm Season Grasses for Biofuel Production in NNY (2007)
- Expanding Soil Health Assessment in NNY: Dairy Farms and Biofuel Production
- Production and evaluation of perennial grasses for energy conversion in NNY

Additional Resources
- See also Grass-Based Agriculture in NNY
- Cornell Bioenergy Feedstock Project
- Grass Biofuel Summary - Sept. 2005
- www.grassbioenergy.org