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As the ITLUS tour moved south into Missouri, the maize crops looked visibly more advanced. Many of the early sown crops had tassels emerged and the picture above is of a 4 April down crop on the farm of Irish Farmers Journal contributor Kevin Rosenbohm.
Crossed into Iowa now. Much more intensive. Cropped to road edge with corn or soya. Saw no other crop for 150 miles. pic.twitter.com/cGzgTPBLuJ
— ITLUS (@itlusie) June 28, 2016
As we travelled down through Iowa crops were all very good in the north west of the state, but less good towards the south west end. Crops improved again as we got into north western Missouri.
Into Missouri - lots of rain this spring. Forecast temps are benign for next week during critical pollination time. pic.twitter.com/5qXLA7IuGI
— ITLUS (@itlusie) June 28, 2016
The group also visited cattle feedlots and an ethanol plant. The factory distillates maize with yeast and water. The process yields 33% ethanol (200 proof alcohol), 33% CO2 and 33% distillers' grains, which are returned to the feed chain.
Onto Plymouth Energy, Merril, IA. Very efficient plant making 50 million gals ethanol from corn (50 miles radius). pic.twitter.com/znJGI8XXiB
— ITLUS (@itlusie) June 28, 2016
A lot of the raw corn is returned to the feed chain as distillers and corn oil. Here - driers used to recycle water. pic.twitter.com/OzQvusropu
— ITLUS (@itlusie) June 28, 2016
All ethanol from here is moved via rail to ports. 100 truck trains are common across the states we visited. pic.twitter.com/A9JdZYhbVk
— ITLUS (@itlusie) June 28, 2016
Processing capacity in US Midwest unable to handle milk volumes
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