Infromation and Education

Department of Energy recognizes the Chariton Valley RC&D's Biomass Project

A group of Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors with the Kentucky Natural Resources and Conservation Service gather in a switchgrass storage facility located on the Loren Eddy farm. Dora Guffey, Chariton Valley RC&D coordinator, Velvet Glenn, Chariton Valley Biomass Project coordinator, and John Sellers, Chariton Valley Biomass Project field coordinator discussed the environmental benefits of growing switchgrass as well as providing the group information regarding the co-fire testing activities at Alliant Energy's Ottuwma Generating Station.

Soil and Water Conservation District Supervisors from Logan County, Kentucky examine switchgrass field located on the Loren Eddy farm in southern Iowa.

Project receives additional funding

Prairie Lands Bio-Products, Inc. President, John Sellers, discusses the Chariton Valley Biomass Project with one of more than 500 who attended the conference, "Carbon: Exploring the Benefits to Farmers and Society," which was held recently at the Polk County Convention Center in Des Moines, Iowa. The three-day event served as a forum to discuss ways in which farmers can be compensated for management practices that keep carbon out of the air and in the soil. The conference drew participants from as far as Australia, Germany, Alaska, and Canada. The Chariton Valley Biomass Project presented information to those in attendance through an exhibit that explained the role of switchgrass in sequestering carbon. Also attending the conference was Jim Cooper, Chariton Valley RC&D Coordinator, who served on the conference planning committee.

Vice President Al Gore Visits Biomass Project.

Gore listens as Biomass project coordinators explain our project.

As Vice President Al Gore passed through the Centerville area recently as part of a Southern Iowa tour, coordinators of the Chariton Valley Biomass Project were given the opportunity to board the vice president's tour bus and discuss project highlights. Jim Cooper, Chariton Valley RC&D coordinator and John Sellers, Chariton Valley Biomass Project field coordinator traveled with Gore by bus from Centerville to Ottumwa.

While in transit, Gore listened as Cooper explained that farmers are faced with an impossible choice in dealing with the reality that land that should be in grass has no sustainable economic use when placed in grass. He explained that land use has a major impact on Rathbun Lake and the rural water supply, however the current economy can not sustain the acres of grassland needed to protect soil and water. Cooper emphasized the need to develop alternative markets for grassland such as fuel and fiber.

Cooper says, "Vice President Gore seemed to understand the issues surrounding the biomass project and the importance of increasing Southern Iowa grassland, to both the economy and the environment."

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture, Senator Tom Harkin Discusses Biomass.

Congressional staff tours Eddy farm.

The Chariton Valley RC&D and the Farm Bureau teamed up to host a congressional staff tour recently. During the morning portion of the tour, Jim Cooper discussed the Chariton Valley Biomass Project as well as other projects conducted within the Chariton Valley area.

Those in attendance, included staff members of the congressional districts of Leonard Boswell, Greg Ganske, and Jim Nussel, along with a representative for Senator Charles Grassley.

The first stop on the afternoon tour was the farm of Prairie Lands member, Loren Eddy where John Sellers, project field coordinator, explained the benefits of growing switchgrass on marginal land in southern Iowa.

After a stop at the farm of Bob and Rick Henderson in Monroe County, tour participants traveled to an on-road structure, while Monroe County engineer John Goode explained that the structure is a win, win, win situation.

"Everyone involved benefits, from safer roads for the public to reduced erosion for the landowners," he said.

Before concluding the tour, the group viewed the Rathbun Regional Water plant.

Staff testifies before Senate Agriculture Committee.

Prairie Lands member, John Sellers, was invited to testify before the Senate Agriculture Committee in Washington, D.C. recently. He was accompanied by Jim Cooper, Chariton Valley RC&D coordinator.

The two provided information about the use of biomass as a renewable fuel. While in Washington, they met with Senators Tom Harkin and Chuck Grassley and their staff, as well as Senator Lugar, chairman of the Senate Ag Committee.