Using ag to produce vehicle and farm fuels

Using ag to produce vehicle and farm fuels
Jun 21, 2019

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Dairy biogas will be sent to a centralized processing facility

By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com

The American ag industry could help power trucks and farm equipment in a new way.

California Bioenergy LLC (CalBio), Chevron, a fuel manufacturer, and California dairy farmers are working together to market dairy biomethane as a vehicle fuel in the state.

Chevron is providing funding for as many as 18 dairy digesters in Kern, Tulare and Kings counties. The projects are designed to transfer dairy biogas to centralized processing facility where it will be upgraded to renewable natural gas.

The natural gas will then be injected into the local gas utility’s pipeline and marketed as an alternative fuel for heavy-duty trucks and buses. The goal is to make the fuel available for off-road and farm equipment as well.

Projects like these help industries lower greenhouse gas emissions, said Braden Reddall, senior external affairs advisor with Chevron.

“We see this as a very creative and cost-effective way to comply with the Low Carbon Fuel Standard,” he told Farms.com. “As a fuel producer that’s our particular interest in this.”

CalBio is bringing technology, operational experience and capital to help fairy farmers build the digesters and capture the methane.

This opportunity provides farmers with an extra source of income while also addressing climate concerns, said N. Ross Buckenhan, CEO of CalBio.

“CalBio is honored to be supported by some of California’s leading dairy farmers and to have Chevron, California’s largest energy company, helping us expand the development of clean, renewable compressed natural gas (R-CNG) production across the state,” he said in a statement.

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Fertilizer Prices, Rates, and Costs for 2023

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While fertilizer prices have declined since spring, fertilizer prices remain high, and fertilizer costs are significantly higher than a year ago. Therefore, reducing rates where practicable seems prudent. Some fields will have soil test levels above those that will cause a yield response from phosphorus and potassium applications. Significantly reducing or eliminating applications in these fields is economically prudent. Moreover, nitrogen applications above university recommendations can substantially reduce returns. Changes in nitrogen prices from now to spring likely will be influenced by changes in corn and natural gas prices.

Schnitkey, G., N. Paulson, C. Zulauf, K. Swanson and J. Baltz. "Fertilizer Prices, Rates, and Costs for 2023." farmdoc daily (12):148, Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, September 27, 2022.
 

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