By the numbers:
One bushel of corn produces 2.8 gallons of ethanol (wow, efficient!). And Guardian Energy produces around 380,000 gallons of ethanol a day. That means an 135,714.28 bushels of corn are being run through the plant daily. More importantly, the corn is delivered by an average of 350 trucks from farms within a 75 miles radius of the plant.
That's right, this plant is a self-sustaining bastion of economic activity!
It’s just as important to note that only about 67 percent of the total corn supply that goes into an ethanol plant is used for ethanol production. Some 18 lbs or 32 percent of a bushel is returned as dried distillers grains (DDGs), which is a high-protein animal feed which in turn ends up as manure which is put on farm fields to grow corn. "It's the circle of life!" Self-sustaining homegrown renewable energy!
(For the math folks out there that means only 22 percent of the nation's total corn supply goes into producing ethanol.)
For those not in the know, a bushel is the size of a laundry basket.
With fall harvest in full swing, I wanted to highlight the “ground operations” that go into producing corn and the hub of activity that surrounds this valued yearly rite of rural America. We so often fail to recognize the long days of sacrifice that harvest entails. I had the humbling opportunity of going out to visit a southern Minnesota farm last fall to see harvest in action (all photos courtesy of my time at Pinedale Farms!).
It certainly takes a lot to accomplish this annual feat but with a 20-hour work day, you do get to:
See the sun rise and set
Eat cold leftovers when people remember to come out and feed you as well as gain muscle from machine maintenance
Killer views when climbing on top of the 4 story grain bin and experiencing all the elements nature can throw at you
The bottom line is: the grain has to get in or it’ll be too late. The manpower, hours and tenacity it has to pull off the harvest season can go unnoticed. Farmers are the front runners of biofuel production and play a key role in reducing carbon emissions from the roads in downtown Minneapolis.
They too understand the effects of climate change that led to risky planting and harvests with volatile weather conditions. By being closest to creation, they want harmony and environmental success. The labor and heart that goes into producing corn demonstrates a devotion for sustainability few can match.
Pinedale Farms sends some of their corn over to Guardian Energy for ethanol production and they had this to say of their involvement:
“I see where when we depend on others for our energy where that gets us. I am glad that I am part of making America energy independent. I feel very very proud to be part of that system. As an environmentalist I am even more happy that I am part of a renewable fuel source that can be perpetuated and help our environment. It is a WIN for AMERICA."
So, thank you, farmers! They make the entire biofuel industry not only possible but incredibly successful year after year.
Happy Harvest!
By Mackenzie Zimmerman