Agri News, MN
05-08-07
Iowa statewide news and notes
Sioux County Extension office gets new home
ORANGE CITY, Iowa -- Sioux County Extension held a ribbon cutting May 1 to
celebrate its new location at 400 Central Avenue Northwest in Orange City.
Extension Education director Cheryl Heronemus provided some history on
Extension.
"A farmer near Hull wanted to know if the research being done at the university
helped farmers in this area. Corn trains were launched to teach farmers about
corn traits. There were canning clubs to teach farm wives how to preserve the
abundance of garden produce. With the advent of 4-H, the whole family benefited
from the Extension Service. The mission of the Extension hasn't changed
through the years. It continues to take the university to the people."
Anaerobic ag waste treatment focus of course
DES MOINES -- On May 21-22 the Iowa State University Agricultural and
Biosystems Engineering Department is offering an Anaerobic Treatment of
Agricultural Wastes course at the Hotel Fort Des Moines in Des Moines.
As energy costs increase, more interest is seen in anaerobic digestion of animal
manures to generate energy.
This interest has included the direct use of biogas on the farm, centralized
digestion systems, co-digestion facilities and digestion of manures as an energy
source for ethanol plants.
Information about the course, lodging and registration is available by calling call
Lara Moody at (515) 294-7355 or Robert Burns at (515) 294-4203.