URBANA, Ill. — Aspiring Illinois farmers, new growers with less than five years’ experience, commodity farmers interested in diversifying to include fruit or vegetable production, and high school and community college agriculture teachers are invited to apply now for the next session of a free training program offered through the University of Illinois crop sciences department. 

 “Preparing a New Generation of Illinois Fruit and Vegetable Farmers” opened the application process for its second session on July 1. The application period will be open through Oct. 15, 2013, or until capacity is reached. Participants can apply for the program at www.newillinoisfarmers.org/new_generation_app.php There is no fee for participants who complete the program.  

The year-long program, which features classroom, hands-on, and in-field instruction on essential skills and information, is offered at three locations in Illinois: the UIUC campus in Urbana, U of I’s Dixon Springs Agricultural Center in Simpson, and at the Kane County U of I Extension office in St. Charles. Classes for this session will be held one Saturday a month at each location from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., running December 2013 through November 2014.

U of I crop sciences professor Rick Weinzierl and co-workers received a grant last year from the Beginning Farmer-Rancher Development Program of the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA, to implement the three-year project to provide education to aspiring Illinois farmers. 

Mary Hosier, project manager for the program, said that next year, through a partnership with the Illinois Migrant Council, the goal is that classes will be offered in Spanish and in English at all locations. Hosier added that nearly 100 people participated in the first session across the three locations.

The program will also include visits to established produce farms, discussions with experienced farmers, and access to incubator plots. 

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Key corn and corn stover supply chain groups have joined forces with Purdue University to review the potential economics behind the innovative market of aviation biofuels.

Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Iowa Corn Promotion Board – state corn checkoff organizations – are both funding the project. Boeing, United Airlines, and Honeywell UOP are contributing technical expertise to the project as well as financial support.

Dr. Wally Tyner, professor in the Department of Agricultural Economics at Purdue University, is leading the project to develop a complete economic analysis of the production of aviation biofuels from Midwest corn stover.  In addition to analyzing the manufacturing of aviation biofuels, the project will evaluate policy options which could be enacted to provide momentum for the biofuels industry. 

Last year, 21.5 billion gallons of aviation jet fuel was used. According to industry experts, biofuels could potentially meet up to half that demand in the future.

Rosalind Leeck, director of biofuels for Indiana Corn Marketing Council, explained that the organization is excited to join with this diverse group of industry and corn leaders to sponsor this research.  

“This economic analysis will build upon other research the Indiana corn checkoff has supported on stover collection, storage and transport and reveal potential market opportunities for corn farmers while offering environmental benefits for the aviation industry,” Leeck said.

In late June, representatives from Boeing, United Airlines, and Honeywell UOP announced this partnership with corn farmers during the rollout of the Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative (MASBI) report in Chicago. 

“This effort is a great example of how corn growers can work with their corn ethanol customers to advance the use of renewable fuels,” said Shannon Textor, director of market development for Iowa Corn Promotion Board.

The research was scheduled to be  completed by late July.