We continued the day at an ethanol plant. Ethanol is simply pure alcohol, 200 proof. Ethanol is produced from corn and then used as an additive in gasoline. Almost all Nebraska gas stations sell E10 Unleaded gasoline. It’s a controversial energy source. Many people see it as a great way to utilize the corn crops that are grown in the Midwest, while others argue that it’s no cleaner than regular gasoline and also question whether we should be burning food as a source of energy. Also, the byproduct of ethanol production is a substance called distiller’s grain, which many farmers use to fatten up their cattle. This is also a source of controversy, as organic farmers argue that cows should only be grass-fed and that grass is just as effective at fattening up the cows. The beauty of this trip is that we’ve been hearing people on both sides of many different debates. As small as many of these communities are, there is a diversity of opinions on these subjects. The picture below only gives you a glimpse of the enormity of this ethanol plant.
I know, I know, we look awesome...
We also had the opportunity to visit a local hydraulics plant and a machine shop. The hydraulics plant produces many parts which are used to produce farm equipment, and the machine shop fixes up a lot of farm equipment and other machinery when it breaks down. Both companies together employ a significant number of people from Hartington and other surrounding towns.
We finished the day with a visit to an agronomist, who specializes in helping local farmers increase their yield. He is able to scan crop fields and map down to three-foot intervals the yield of each small section. This helps farmers to see where they are maximizing their yield and where they need to focus greater attention to improve their yield. We also learned a great deal about the use of herbicides and pesticides in farming. Again, this is a very controversial issue which divides conventional and organic farmers. Throughout the trip, we’ve heard a number of different perspectives on this issue. Our class has been enriched by being able to talk to so many people on both sides of the debate
We enjoyed a delicious lunch at a local favorite, Jimmy’s Hilltop Café. I want to give an extra special shout-out to our fearless professor, Ben Stewart, who, in his effort to eat lightly at lunch, thought that the scalloped potatoes would be a good option. He polished those off like a champ. We’ve heard numerous times on this trip about how the best cows have nice marbling. After enjoying such great hospitality, we’re going to return to Chicago with some nice marbling of our own…
5 comments:
Today was a good day to see the diversity of local industries and the integral relationships which make up the agricultural industry. When people think about rural areas, especially the Midwest, the first thought that comes to mind is agriculture; whether that be ranching or farming. The tours on this day provided a glimpse of the diversity of occupations which rural communities have to offer.
The services we witnessed did have agricultural roots, but were not the stereotypical farm jobs that sometimes come to mind. The Ethanol plant provided an energy source from a product produced by local farmers. The hydraulics company made parts which were essential to machines which worked on farms. The machine chop helped to maintain equipment which planted, nourished, harvested, or transported agricultural produce.
Witnessing these relationships was an important part of the immersion. It takes farmers to produce our produce, but it also takes a large supporting cast to keep the farmers going.
I was impressed today by the highly specialized people and operations that we got to see first hand. What immediately comes to mind is our first visit of the day to the local veterinarians. I was amazed by the highly advanced technology that they used to breed animals. My initial perception of highly educated young people moving away from their small rural hometowns was turned upside down. In the case of this young couple, not only did they move back to a rural setting, but in doing so, were providing a service to their community. Through their specialization they were able to create a reputation that has provided them with customers from hundreds of miles away.
Through our tours and experiences of the local industries, I was able to detect how in tune all of the businesses are with the ebb and flow of the local culture. The Prince Hydraulics Manufacturing Center provided a good example of this. Even for a company that employs over 100, I was given the impression that it is a company that pays special attention to the welfare of the local community and is sensitive to catering to families and workers that juggle multiple jobs.
Looking back on the trip, our visit to Husker Ag (the ethanol plant) was one of the most informative excursions we had. Our bus driver that day was a member of the board of directors at the plant, and he made a special effort to engage us in conversation about ethanol. His arguments in favor of this newer fuel were not out of the ordinary, but his fervor in making sure we heard them was surprising.
It seemed that our driver began with the assumption that most of us were against the current surge in ethanol usage. Having studied this part of the energy debate very little, I was surprised to feel like I was in an argument before even learning about the subject! I found myself wondering if the media coverage of these energy debates lumps all of the city people together behind whomever happens to be making a point.
If ethanol usage does indeed fade in favor of other energy sources in the coming years, then I hope we are able to keep the energy jobs in these same rural areas. Our guide at Husker Ag couldn't have been more thankful to have a good job. He and the rest of the local workforce will make the most of their opportunities.
Grateful for the lower cost of gas containing ethanol, it was interesting to see for myself just how that comes from less than 25% of those huge crops of corn blowing in the Nebraska wind and how energy efficient the process seems to be. I was fascinated by the way the plant recycles its water and uses hot products and cold products next to each other to bring them both to warm without any additional expenditures of energy.
And just as we saw elsewhere there is a strong diversity of opinion. There are many who insist this use of the corn crop contributes to ongoing starvation in other parts of the world and that oil production is more humane. Opponents also claim that ethanol has not had the effect of significantly lowering gas prices over time. Does converting so much corn into fuel contribute to rising prices for many consumable products, including corn and beef? Is it a good idea to try alternatives whether or not we sure of the outcomes?
As usual,I seem to have more questions than comments.
While grateful for the jobs that are created through the production of ethanol, I can't help but think about the implications that ethanol production has for world hunger. With 25% of US corn production used for ethanol production and even more used to feed cows to satisfy our rising demand for beef, we are devoting an enormous portion of our agricultural land and other resources to the production of a type of corn that is never meant to be eaten.
The type of corn used in ethanol production, field corn, is considered rather inedible by human standards, but these fields could be replaced by sweet corn or any other crop which could help to feed millions of people. And while ethanol production helps to lower the cost of gas for the individual consumer, we have to weigh that against the overall cost for our society and the world. How important are lower gas prices when the trade-off is world hunger? In addition, putting ethanol in gasoline does not appear to lessen the environmental impact when burning fossil fuels, so there is little environmental justification for supporting this industry.
It's often difficult to face these realities because of the many jobs that would be lost in the short-term due to the reduction of the ethanol and corn industries, but our society's workforce could be utilized in ways that are much more beneficial not just for our country but for people around the world. Even if we don't work in the ethanol industry, we have a voice in the matter by choosing to not purchase gas with ethanol and buying grass-fed beef instead of corn-fed beef.
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