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Statewide Blog
Dan Gunderson

Efforts to sway farmers to make own fuel falling flat

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MPR file photo on an on farm press for making biofuel

The Climate Network, and the National Farmers Union are hosting the Midwest Renewable Energy Tour June 27- July 1.

The tour will make stops in Milbank, South Dakota; Morris, Minnesota; and Madison Wisconsin.

The tour features German farmer Dirk Ketelsen talking about the successful renewable energy movement in Europe.

NFU President Roger Johnson says "This is an educational opportunity for family farmers and ranchers, a chance to see what others like them are doing to take advantage of this increased demand for renewable energy."

I recently checked back on a story I did in 2007 about an effort to encourage more farmers to make their own biofuel.

It turns out the project was a success from a technical standpoint, but few farmers adopted the practice of making their own renewable fuel. Economics appears to be the big reason. Crop prices have been high and fuel prices, although higher, apparently haven't hit the threshold where it makes economic sense for farmers to make their own fuel.