AGRICULTURE AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

Today, farms are significant contributors to our nation’s energy supply, primarily through biofuels made from crops and crop residues, as well as solar and wind energy installations on farms.

 

The U.S. is the world’s largest producer of ethanol, usually made from corn and blended into gasoline to help lower vehicle emissions and increase U.S. energy independence. Nearly all U.S. gasoline contains 10% ethanol, with higher blends becoming more common. Today, nearly 40% of the U.S. corn crop is processed at ethanol plants. During production, valuable co-products (known as dried distillers grains) are created and later used as livestock feed.

 

In addition to corn-based ethanol, the agriculture sector also contributes to other forms of renewable energy. Biodiesel, primarily made from soybean oil, can be blended into diesel-based fuel, and cellulosic ethanol made from grass, wood, or plant residues leftover from farming (such as corn leaves or stalks) is another renewable fuel being developed and produced in the U.S. Farmers are also increasingly building energy production systems on their farms, such as wind turbines, solar panels, and methane digesters that generate electricity from livestock waste. Over 145,000 farmers have renewable energy-producing systems.