Farm-Scale Cost of Producing Perennial Energy Cane as a Biofuel Feedstock

Energy cane varieties are high-fiber sugarcane clones which represent a promising feedstock in the production of alternative biofuels and biobased products. This study explored the crop establishment and whole farm production costs of growing energy cane as a biofuel feedstock in the southeastern USA. More specifically, total production costs on a feedstock dry matter biomass basis were estimated for five perennial energy cane varieties over alternative crop cycle lengths. Variable production costs for energy cane production were estimated to be in the $63 to$76 Mg-1 range of biomass dry matter for crop cycles through harvest of fourth through sixth stubble crops. Total production costs, including charges for fixed equipment costs, general farm overhead, and land rent, were estimated to range between $105 and$127 Mg-1 of feedstock biomass dry matter material. © 2013 The Author(s)

Feedstock Crop Production Costs and Biofuel Feedstock Input Costs Associated with the Production of Energy Cane and Sweet Sorghum in the Southeastern USA

© 2017, The Author(s). Concentration of biofuel feedstock crop production in specific regions of the USA is dependent on the relative comparative advantage of production in a specific region based on several agronomic and economic factors. For the southeastern region of the USA, energy cane and sweet sorghum have been identified as two feedstock crops with the greatest potential for further development of production. This study utilized field trial data from yield studies in Louisiana to develop estimates of feedstock crop production costs and biofuel feedstock input costs for these two crops. Results indicated that feedstock production costs on a harvest yield basis, as well as the related dry matter basis, were heavily dependent on yield level. Economic research from this study indicated that energy cane had a slight cost advantage compared with sweet sorghum, although production of sorghum in certain periods during the growing season was very cost competitive with energy cane

Surveys for ticks on wildlife hosts and in the environment at Asian longhorned tick (\u3ci\u3eHaemaphysalis longicornis\u3c/i\u3e)-positive sites in Virginia and New Jersey, 2018

Haemaphysalis longicornis, the Asian longhorned tick (ALT), is native to eastern Asia, but it has become invasive in several countries, including Australia, New Zealand and recently in the eastern United States (US). To identify wild mammal and avian host species in the US, we conducted active wildlife surveillance in two states with known ALT infestations (Virginia and New Jersey). In addition, we conducted environmental surveys in both states. These surveillance efforts resulted in detection of 51 ALTinfested individuals from seven wildlife species, including raccoon (Procyon lotor), Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana), red fox (Vulpes vulpes), woodchuck (Marmota monax), eastern cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus), striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis) and white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). We found ALT in the environment in both states and also collected three native tick species (Amblyomma americanum, Dermacentor variablis and Ixodes scapularis) that are vectors of pathogens of public health and veterinary importance. This study provides important specific information on the wildlife host range of ALT in the US

Accelerated evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in free-ranging white-tailed deer

The zoonotic origin of the COVID-19 pandemic virus highlights the need to fill the vast gaps in our knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 ecology and evolution in non-human hosts. Here, we detected that SARS-CoV-2 was introduced from humans into white-tailed deer more than 30 times in Ohio, USA during November 2021-March 2022. Subsequently, deer-to-deer transmission persisted for 2–8 months, disseminating across hundreds of kilometers. Newly developed Bayesian phylogenetic methods quantified how SARS-CoV-2 evolution is not only three-times faster in white-tailed deer compared to the rate observed in humans but also driven by different mutational biases and selection pressures. The long-term effect of this accelerated evolutionary rate remains to be seen as no critical phenotypic changes were observed in our animal models using white-tailed deer origin viruses. Still, SARS-CoV-2 has transmitted in white-tailed deer populations for a relatively short duration, and the risk of future changes may have serious consequences for humans and livestock

Hybrid Rice Production Possibilities in the Southern Rice Producing Region

Hybrid rice represents a new and increasing popular variety option for rice producers. This study examines the acreage diversification among long grain rice varieties in the southern rice region and presents estimates of thedifferences in expected costs and returns among the production of conventional, Clearfield®, and hybrid rice varieties. Breakeven yield increases required to cover additional hybrid rice production costs are estimated over a range of rough rice market prices for both owner and tenant rental situations. Rough rice market price adjustments resulting from grade differences from milling yields are also discussed

Economically optimal crop sequences using risk-adjusted network flows: Modeling cotton crop rotations in the southeastern United States

Crop rotation is a long-standing agricultural practice whose agronomic and economic benefits are well documented. The crop rotation decision at the farm level is very complex with a myriad of factors which can ultimately impact observed net returns from the decision choice. Network models have been proposed as one method of modeling this decision problem in a logically consistent framework. The aspect of this problem considered in this article is how to incorporate not only expected net returns from alternative rotation sequence choices, but also the relative impacts of net income risk on the decision process. A transshipment network formulation of the crop rotation decision problem is presented with the incorporation of risk constraints, providing the ability to derive sets of optimal solutions, allowing the decision maker to select optimal crop rotation sequence sets based upon net income risk preferences. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd

Comparative Costs of Onboard Module Building Cotton Harvest Systems in the Mid-South

Onboard module building cotton harvesters currently offer cotton producers the potential to improve harvest efficiency and reduce harvest costs as a means of supporting cotton as an economically viable option in many farm crop rotation production systems. Using data provided by producers currently using this technology in a few southern cotton states, this study estimates current capital and operating costs of onboard module cotton pickers based on field experience and makes comparisons with the costs of using traditional basket pickers. Total per acre cotton harvest cost for the onboard module system was estimated to be approximately $26 less expensive than harvesting cotton with comparable sized basket pickers

Economically optimal crop sequences using risk-adjusted network flows: Modeling cotton crop rotations in the southeastern United States

Crop rotation is a long-standing agricultural practice whose agronomic and economic benefits are well documented. The crop rotation decision at the farm level is very complex with a myriad of factors which can ultimately impact observed net returns from the decision choice. Network models have been proposed as one method of modeling this decision problem in a logically consistent framework. The aspect of this problem considered in this article is how to incorporate not only expected net returns from alternative rotation sequence choices, but also the relative impacts of net income risk on the decision process. A transshipment network formulation of the crop rotation decision problem is presented with the incorporation of risk constraints, providing the ability to derive sets of optimal solutions, allowing the decision maker to select optimal crop rotation sequence sets based upon net income risk preferences. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd

Initial comparison: jaws, cables, and cage-traps to capture coyotes

The need for alternative predator capture techniques is increasing because of concerns about the efficiency, selectivity, and injury of currently available capture methods. There also is a need for comparative data evaluating new or seldom used methods. In an initial evaluation, we first surveyed wildlife managers for information on cage-trapping; using these data, we conducted a field study of 4 coyote (Canis latrans) capture systems for animal damage management. We tested the SoftCatch®, Collarum®, Wildlife Services–Turman, and Tomahawk®, systems for capturing coyotes in Arizona and south Texas during 2001 and 2002. We determined capture efficiency and selectivity and performed whole-body necropsies to identify trap-related injuries. Surveys indicated that coyotes usually were captured in large (\u3e1.6-m-length) cage-traps baited with meat or carcasses. In our field evaluation, we estimated a capture efficiency (percentage of coyote captures per capture opportunity) of 0% for the Tomahawk cage-trap, 87% for the Collarum, 88% for the WS–T throw arm, and 100% for the SoftCatch. Cage-traps were the least selective, capturing 34 non-coyote animals, and Collarums were the most selective, capturing no non-coyote animals. The WS–T and SoftCatch devices showed intermediate selectivity of 50% and 69%, respectively. All devices showed low injury scores relative to jawed devices in previous studies; 92%, 57%, and 92% of coyotes captured in the Collarum, WS–T, and SoftCatch showed no indicators of poor welfare, respectively

Economic Potential for Energy Cane Production as a Cellulosic Biofuel Feedstock in the Southeastern United States

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 established the Renewable Fuels Standard which set forth goals for domestic renewable fuel production of cellulosic and advanced biofuels in the United States. A major issue confronting the achievement of these biofuel utilization goals is the probability that the eventual expansion of advanced cellulosic biofuel production would be sufficient to meet the stated goals. Current long range projections of cellulosic biofuel production are expected to remain significantly below statutory targets due to the limited supply and expected development of cellulosic biofuel production. The production capacity expansion of advanced cellulosic biofuel has been identified as a major challenge in meeting the Renewable Fuels Standard. Energy cane has been identified as a crop with having significant potential to be developed as a biofuel feedstock crop. The greatest challenge currently facing the production of energy cane is the ability to expand production of the crop outside temperate zones. Within the six-state study area, approximately 1.15 million hectares were identified as idle cropland having the greatest potential for energy cane production. With a low seed cane expansion planting ratio and harvest through a fourth stubble crop, total energy cane production costs were estimated to be $113 per dry metric ton of feedstock. At higher planting ratios, projected total energy cane production costs were below$70 per metric ton