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NAWG adds biomass to bylaws
By Larry Dreiling As one of their final acts during their recent Washington meeting, the board of the National Association of wheat Growers readjusted their by-laws to reflect their recent positions to expand their role to be the lead advocacy association to represent the nation's biofuels producers. NAWG has taken on the effort primarily because energy crop growth could provide significant economic benefits to wheat growers, improving their financial position and allowing them to provide both wheat and biomass to the market. "Increasing fuel costs have caused all Americans to become more interested in renewable fuels," said NAWG president Dale Schuler. "We hope that wheat growers will be able to participate in the production of biomass crops to supply feedstock for the fuel that is needed by our nation, while also providing economic benefit for our growers." The vote was unanimous save for growers from Minnesota, who believe the new stance will dilute the organization's focus. "I'm afraid we're going to lose focus with the concept," said Bryan Hest, first vice president of the Minnesota Association of wheat Growers. "I don't want that to happen. I'm a wheat grower and I don't want to focus on the business of biomass to the detriment of wheat." Many in the growing biomass industry, including Iogen, a NAWG Foundation Development Committee member, see wheat straw as the most favorable feedstock for cellulosic ethanol. Providing additional biomass through the production of dedicated energy crops could potentially lead to enhanced U.S. energy security but $40 billion in additional farm income and 600,000 new rural jobs, NAWG estimates say.
0 None None Date: 2/15/07
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