Apr–Jun, 2009

It’s not hard to spot problems these days. Many sectors of the U.S. economy are struggling, millions of Americans have lost their jobs, money is tight for many families, and…

santi, Minn. — Biodiesel can be made from almost anything that has fats or oils — beans, pine trees, beef tallow, chicken fat, restaurant grease. With current technologies, pure soy…

Little Falls, Minn. — The nation’s first commercial cellulosic ethanol plant could be going up in central Minnesota — if a feasibility study looks favorable. In May, Central Minnesota Ethanol…

A troubled rural economy that spurred creation of the Agricultural Utilization Research Institute 20 years ago differs from today’s troubles. But AURI’s key tool to help rev the economy is…

Food processors in this central Minnesota town don’t want to eliminate their waste. They want to digest it. Perham hopes to pool food-processing waste and send it to an anaerobic…

For almost three years, hundreds of Minnesotans have come together to advance our renewable energy future. The Minnesota Renewable Energy Roundtable has involved more than 500 individuals from 150 organizations,…

Mary Steidler Ag Innovation News has a new byline and Waseca’s AURI office has a new voice. In November, Mary Steidler joined AURI as project and communications assistant. Steidler, who…

Two Minnesota agricultural leaders have joined the AURI board of directors.   Art Brandli Art Brandli of Warroad represents the Minnesota Wheat Research and Promotion Council. He served on the…

Microwaves could sweeten the value of Minnesota sugar beet pulp. An industrial microwave dryer in Iowa is being tested by AURI scientists as a potential low-energy alternative to natural-gas dryers.…

Belching cows may be getting some relief. Sulfur in a popular cattle feed — the ethanol byproduct, distiller’s dry grains — causes gas in cattle. If they eat too much,…

Editor’s note: As a service to our readers, we provide news about the work of others in ag utilization. Please note that ARS is the researcharm of USDA.   Milkweed…