|
|
Post by JoshuaGA on Jun 10, 2012 14:47:57 GMT -5
Just curosity sake, why is there more talk on using sugarcane, sweet sorghum or sugarbeets in a few more nontraditional areas for ethanol vs corn or milo. I know for a fact sugar cane grows pretty well here, not as sugary as some, but it grows fine here, I suspect beets would work as a late fall crop or early spring as well most years, and you could defiantly grow the sorghum here. Looks like it would be an ultimatly more efficient process, just don't here any talk on it. Any theroys on why. Curosity killed the cat.
|
|
Bristol Hillbilly
Hired Hand
Sentinel aka "Bouncer"....Sitting by the door....
Posts: 215
|
Post by Bristol Hillbilly on Jun 10, 2012 17:07:14 GMT -5
I am not sure but I believe since the price of corn has risen substantially in the last 5 years it has to be because of that evil ethanol. So lets raise a crop ie switchgrass that only has one buyer so we can be at the mercy of one market again. Just my opinion. Can't answer about sugar beets, but I bet it would take alot of acres to feed an ethanol plant.
|
|
|
|
Post by kwestfarms on Jun 10, 2012 18:31:29 GMT -5
Brazil makes a lot of ethanol....all from sugar cane , I believe. John
|
|
|
|
Post by ses on Jun 24, 2012 10:20:48 GMT -5
The difference is all farm bills, crop insurance all government supported mandates all revolve around corn. Switch grass is a no brainer, it WILL NOT WORK!!! Everything else you mentioned will produce more ethanol per acre than corn ever thought about. Sweet sorghum can be grown anywhere, even in the semi arid areas like Kansas. In fact it grows very well here. Sugar cane all down south, Beets can be grown lots of places. The problem is politics. As it is now everything plays second fiddle to corn cuz that's what the piliticos want.
|
|
|
|
Post by Dave-ECIA on Jun 24, 2012 14:48:45 GMT -5
You need sugars to make alcohol. Anything with a higher sugar content than corn will be more efficient.
It also takes lots of raw material to feed the beast. Sugar cane produces hellish tonnage compared to corn. It's a win-win.
|
|
|
|
Post by Angus in NCMO® on Jun 24, 2012 21:26:19 GMT -5
Just a guess but, I'm thinking the refined sugar giants don't want to mess with their intensely structured industry either. Isn't the sugar industry closer to a monopoly than the oil industry? Lots of money at stake if the industry gets out from under their control. Bet you'll find a lot of 'campaign contributions' coming from big sugar to help squash any possibility of sugar based ethanol.
|
|
Bristol Hillbilly
Hired Hand
Sentinel aka "Bouncer"....Sitting by the door....
Posts: 215
|
Post by Bristol Hillbilly on Jun 25, 2012 17:00:05 GMT -5
I won't dispute any of the above, but my point is that if I grow all sweet sorghum and all of a sudden the ethanol plant has too much, then I am back in the same boat as I was 15 years ago with only one buyer for my product and they don't need it right now, (is storage of this stuff possible?). At this point in time where I live, haul to elevator 3.5 miles from home, ethanol plant 3.7.
|
|
