Biofuel samples left to right: ethanol, soy biodiesel, animal fat biodiesel, biodiesel with glycerin, crude glycerin.

Ethanol

Nebraska is ranked 2nd in ethanol production nationally. Corn is the major ethanol crop consuming more than 500 million bushels of corn annually, which represents the 3rd largest use of Nebraska's corn crop. One bushel of corn can produce approximately 2.6 gallons of ethanol and 17 lbs of distillers grains. (source: NE Ethanol Board)

Ethanol Mythbusters

by John Hay, Extension Educator
(pdf document, requires Acrobat Reader, download free.)
Many myths surround ethanol and its production:

• net energy balance,
• water use,
• mileage,
• food vs. fuel,
• environmental issues.

This presentation lists facts related to these issues asking the audience to make up their own mind.

Biodiesel

Biodiesel is using a feedstock of vegetable oil. In the U.S. soybean oil is the oil of choice, yet worldwide canola, palm, sunflower and rapeseed oils are common feedstocks. The oil must be chemically reacted with an alcohol like methanol and a catalyst in a reaction called tranesterification.

Growing Better Biodiesel - Biodiesel Industry Overview

by Loren Isom, Industrial Ag Products Center, UNL, and Bill Booker, Extension Educator, Box Butte County, Nebr.
Biodiesel has a rocky future with high vegetable oil prices, yet opportunities exist with alternative oilseed crops such as canola, camalina, and sunflower.  This presentation covers biodiesel basics, the national and Nebraska biodiesel industry, and briefly touches on alternative oilseeds in Nebraska.
Read this article. (*pdf document, download Acrobat Reader)
Video from Dec. 2007

Growing Crops for Better Biodiesel

by Loren Isom and Bill Booker
Identifying high oil yield, low water use crops suitable for biodiesel production is a key component of addressing feedstock availability that will support the development of biodiesel production facilities in Nebraska. Expanded oilseed production can develop new economic opportunities for agricultural producers and suppliers in Nebraska.
Read this article.

Small Scale Biodiesel

Production of biodiesel in small quantities for farm or personal use has been common question. Two extension publications below attempt to examine the opportunities and challenges associated with small scale biodiesel production and use. 

On-farm energy - Can we make it work? commentary by Bill Booker - Extension Educator, Box Butte County.

Small-scale Biodiesel Production and Use by John Nowatzki -  North Dakota State University (*pdf)
Small Scale Biodiesel Production An Overview by Joel Schumacher - Montana State University (*pdf)
(*pdf document requires Acrobat Reader - free download)