USDA Biofuels Report meeting is underway at the West Central Research and Outreach Center in Morris

Forum panelists, L to R: Ralph Groschen with the Minnesota Department of Ag, Mark Lindquist with the Minnesota DNR, Michael Sparby of Morris representing AURI, Joel Tallaksen with the WCROC in Morris, Tim Welle from the Biobusiness Alliance of Minnesota, and Andy Zurn from the CVEC ethanol plant in Benson.


Below, a couple video clips from the beginning of the meeting this morning...Mike Reese welcomes the crowd to Morris.

USDA to host Biofuels meeting in Morris on Sept. 23

The USDA Food and Agriculture Council (FAC) in Minnesota invite you to attend a USDA Biofuels Report Outreach Meeting on Thursday, September 23, 2010, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Renewable Energy Research & Demonstration Center on the grounds of the University of Minnesota’s West Central Research & Outreach Center, 46352 State Hwy 329, Morris, MN 56267. On June 23rd, 2010, the USDA Energy Council published a report titled “A USDA Regional Roadmap to Meeting the Biofuels Goals of the Renewable Fuels Standard by 2022.” In this report, the Energy Council summarized the current biofuels production capacity of the United States and outlined the size and scope of investments necessary to ensure that by 2022 the American economy is capable of fulfilling the U.S. Renewable Fuels Standards mandate of not only producing, but also using, 36 billion gallons of renewable transportation fuel per year.

One of the purposes of this report was to spur discussions and produce feedback from concerned citizens and stakeholders. In order to capture some of that feedback, Secretary Vilsack directed Farm Service Agency (FSA) Administrator Jonathan Coppess, current chairman of the National Food and Agriculture Council (NFAC); to leverage State FAC’s to hold outreach meetings regarding the Secretary’s Biofuels Plan.

More video clips from the Minnesota Farmers Union rural issues discussion on April 13 at Lakeside Ballroom in Glenwood

In this video clip you can listen in on an excellent discussion on biofuels and renewable energy.


A discussion on funding issues with the 4-H youth program in Minnesota.