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Title:   Author  item
                                            SHEAFFER, CRAIG - UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTAitem
                                            Lamb, Joannitem
                                            Martin, Nealitem
                                            Jung, Hans Joachimitem
                                            Samac, Deborah

                                                         - *Debby*
  Submitted to: American Forage and Grassland Council Conference Proceedings
                                    Publication Type: Abstract Only
                                    Publication Acceptance Date: 7/19/2000
                                    Publication  Date: N/A
                                    Citation: N/AInterpretive Summary:
                                Technical Abstract: Alfalfa was the primary biofuel source in the Minnesota Agri-Power project involving a partnership of Minnesota Valley Alfalfa Producers (MnVAP), University of Minnesota, USDA, Department of Energy (DOE), and private sector energy processing and distribution businesses.  The system separated alfalfa hay into leaf and stem fractions.  Leaves were to be used as a  protein feed supplement while the stems were to be gasified to power a 75-megawatt turbine. The electrical generation system was without net carbon dioxide emissions, economic diversification of crop systems, enhancement of environmental quality and wildlife habitat, and rural development. The project began in 1993 when the Minnesota legislature mandated Northern States Power, a major utility, produce a small amount of its electricity from biomass in return for permission to store nuclear wastes. The project was ultimately terminated in 1999 following expenditure eof nearly $6 million of MnVAP member funds and $12 million of DOE funds. Obstacles to project completion included a protracted power purchase contract by Minnesota Public Utility Commission, opposition by alfalfa processing industry, and high cost of alfalfa-based electricity.  Despite political constraints, we were able to complete significant research on biological aspects of the system. Our research showed: successful use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy for rapid prediction of leaf and mineral concentration of hay; newly developed tall, non-lodging alfalfa cultivars for infrequent biofuels-harvest; feeding value of alfalfa meal for dairy, beef, and turkey; merit of alternative harvest frequencies on yield and quality of alfalfa leaves and stems; and the impact of hay storage conditions on the yield of alfalfa leaves and stems.


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