Page 1 of 18
7/15/2016
The Iowa Grain Quality Initiative
Overall Project Plan and Final Report
2007-2008
The Iowa Grain Quality Initiative (IGQI), chaired by Dr. Charles R. Hurburgh, Jr. and operated
by an interdisciplinary management team representing the Agricultural and Biosystems
Engineering, Agronomy, Economics, Animal Science and Food Science and Human Nutrition
Departments, assisted activities in support of its vision, mission, and four objectives.
VISION
Iowa will be the location of choice for commercialization of value-added specialty grains.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the IGQI is to create knowledge and provide information that will improve the
efficiency of traditional commodity grain markets and will assist emerging markets for userspecific grains.
OBJECTIVES
The following four objectives support the mission of IGQI and concentrate its university-private
sector efforts in areas most likely to yield economic gains.
1. Address product quality and acceptability issues that could threaten the stability of Iowa
grain markets.
2. Facilitate the development/application of technologies that will improve marketing efficiency
and value of Iowa’s primary grains as they become products targeted for specific users.
3. Provide educational programs to assist target audiences in capturing opportunities presented
by value-added grains.
4. Provide a rapid response to short-term grain quality issues caused by weather conditions,
biotechnology, or other external forces.
FY2008 Summary
The IGQI supported 9 projects in 2007-2008.
Project Management, Marketing and Information Distribution
VAAP Staff, Ray Hansen, Charles Hurburgh
This project covered the management and operations of the GQI, organization of the monthly
management meetings and two Advisory Committee Meetings
D:\98937439.doc
Page 2 of 18
7/15/2016
Research Assistance and Sample Analysis Program
Glen Rippke and Charles Hurburgh
Composition and other grain quality data was provided for 3790 corn and soybean samples, from 33
research experiments, 18 public strip trial genetic evaluations, and 10 Corn-Soybean Initiative partners.
Stewardship of Transgenic Products-Traceability Protocol for Producers
Charles Hurburgh
Methodology for evaluating the accuracy and effectiveness of traceability programs was developed.
Proposals for application of the methodology to the case of incompletely approved GM crops are pending
with three potential funding sources.
Stewardship of Transgenic Products – Agronomic Needs
Michael D. Owen
The potential for creation of herbicide resistant or tolerant weeds was demonstrated, and the impact on
future yields of herbicide overuse was demonstrated.
Training in Storage and Biosecurity Issues
Howard Shepherd
The IGQI added grain storage questions to the 2007 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll. The “2007 Survey
Report on Grain Storage and Transportation,” reported that twelve percent of the Iowa Farmers intended
to construct on-farm storage over the next three years, with an average of 30,000 bushels of new capacity.
The Grain Storage, Storage Cost and Training Module was developed around three concepts: evaluation
of buildings and equipment; a cost-analysis of construction options, and market decision tools for cost of
storing grain. The training module is on the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative web site, www.iowagrain.org.
Uniformity of Output-Trait Measurement: Traits Related to Biofuels
Charles Hurburgh
Calibrations for measuring corn amino acids were developed for two whole-seed NIRS transmission
analyzers (Bruins OmegAnalyzer G and Foss Infratec™ 1241 Grain Analyzer). Lysine and methionine
have R2 of 0.73 – 0.84, significantly higher than the correlation of each amino acid with the total protein
measured (039 – 0.54). With R2 values in this range for methionine and lysine, these calibrations are
suitable for genetic screening in corn breeding programs (high vs. low genetic evaluations). Cysteine is
more reflective of protein only (R2= 0.797), but this amino acid is less important in poultry and swine
ration formulation than lysine and methionine. This is a significant step in developing efficiency and
speed in the seed breeding industry and in providing accurate nutrient measurements for livestock feeders.
An NIRS-based ethanol yield calibration using laboratory fermentation reference data from Illinois Crop
Improvement Association was compared to a multiple regression against combinations of NIRS-predicted
values of protein, oil, starch, and density. The calibration and the calculation approaches had nearly equal
statistics (r2 =0.8; std dev = 0.03 gallons/bushel), but when validated against 55 new corn samples, the
calculation maintained accuracy while the calibration did not. The calculation approach requires fewer
samples for updates, is easier to use in practice, is not limited to one NIRS unit, and is more accurate.
Application of the calculation to four years of variety trial data showed an 0.6 gal/bu (std dev=0.1 gal/bu)
range across typical corn received by ethanol plants.
Impacts of Increased Local Processing: Soybean Processing Study Continuation
VAAP Staff, Ray Hansen
Impacts of Increased Local Processing: Uses Update
VAAP Staff, Ray Hansen
Plants in current operation or under construction can use approximately 70% of Iowa corn (for ethanol)
and soybean oil (for biodiesel). The relative distribution of corn and soybean acres does not change the
D:\98937439.doc
Page 3 of 18
7/15/2016
total amount of oil, protein, amino acids and other feed constituents produced. Better preprocessing of
grains (fractionation, degerming, dehulling) would make more feed ingredients available in forms useable
by swine and poultry. This report has been presented to the Integrated Crop Management conference
participants (approximately 50 in a concurrent session), the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative Advisory
Committee (20 participants), and to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension field specialists in
the ISU College of Agriculture (approximately 60 participants). It is also posted on the Iowa Grain
Quality Initiative website www.iowagrain.org and on the Value Added Agriculture Program website
www.iavaap.org.
This project provided data for the white paper, Food and Fuel: Enough Grain but Not Enough
Processing, prepared for Bioeconomy Conversations II, November 2008.
Impacts of Increased Local Processing: Caloric balance for food and fuel
Dan Loy, Mark Honeyman and Pete Lammers
About 70% of the Iowa corn crop is not fed to Iowa livestock, rather it was exported out of the state,
processed into ethanol, corn sweetener, or other products such as pet food or other miscellaneous uses.
This analysis shows that there is ample Iowa corn to feed Iowa livestock. The analysis methodology is a
basis on which to develop an ongoing procedure to estimate livestock needs and thus evaluate increases in
yield compared to additional processing capacity. We expect this understanding to result in more policy
and business decisions based on growth of corn supply rather than on allocation control of corn supply.
When taken in connection with new feed ration balancing knowledge, the extension of this study will be
to increase the activity of both the livestock and processing industries.
For each market pig fed a typical corn-soybean meal diet from 18–127 kg, 262 kg (10.0 bushels) of corn
grain is consumed. Proven diets can reduce corn use by about 30% with theoretical diets potentially
lowering corn use by 45%. Typical corn-soybean meal diets use starch to supply approximately 60% of
the total NE. Proven diets can reduce starch use by 26% with theoretical diets potentially reducing starch
use by 45%. Using bioenergy co-products can reduce corn feeding to pigs by 25% and has the potential to
reduce corn feeding to pigs by about 35% to 45%.
More inclusion of biofuel coproducts will alleviate some of the competition for corn between processing
and feeding, and will reduce the transportation needs for hard-to-handle coproducts. Less conflict
between feed and fuel needs will allow both to grow at rates needed to supply world food needs and
domestic fuel demands.
The specific reports that follow are in the format of the ANR Extension Success Stories.
D:\98937439.doc
Page 4 of 18
7/15/2016
Iowa Grain Quality Initiative
FY2008 Final Report
Project Title:
Research Assistance and Sample Analysis Program
Project Objectives:
1. Provide no-cost grain quality analysis services for locally operated third party variety
evaluations.
2. Provide low-cost grain quality analysis services for ISU research projects.
Summary of Results for 2008:
The ISU Grain Quality Laboratory (GQL) analyzes grain samples for a variety of grain quality
factors. The lab has steadily expanded its program offering no-charge analyses for locally
operated third party strip-trial evaluations and for ISU-sponsored agronomic research studies.
The latter is intended to provide seed data for ongoing projects that would not otherwise have
been able to include a grain quality component. In FY08 this service included the corn-soybean
initiative (CSI).
For the 2007 crop, the breakdown of samples was:
Strip-trials
Research projects
CSI
Total
Corn
343
1446
217
2006
Soybeans
292
1341
151
1784
Publications and Other Activities
Website publication of public trial data, 10 sources of corn data and 8 sources of soybean data.
Contact:
Dr. Charles R. Hurburgh, Jr.
Professor, Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Professor in Charge, Iowa Grain Quality Initiative
1541 Food Science
Iowa State University
Ames, Iowa 50011
515-294-8629
515-294-6383 (f)
tatry@iastate.edu
D:\98937439.doc
Page 5 of 18
7/15/2016
ANR CAMPUS SUCCESS STORY
(POW 2008-2012)
Name:
Dr. M. D. Owen
Professor
Agronomy
Date Submitted:
September 11, 2008
Supports Plan of Work Number:
100
Title of Success Story:
The need for herbicide stewardship
Situation:
Weeds continue to remain the principle pest problem plaguing Iowa production agriculture.
Currently, transgenic corn and soybean, specifically cultivars that are resistant to glyphosate,
dominate Iowa production. As a result, growers tend to us only glyphosate when controlling
weeds. This has dramatically increased the risk of selection pressure which will result in weed
population shifts or the evolution of glyphosate resistant weed biotypes. Furthermore, given that
glyphosate can kill larger weeds, growers tend to delay applications such that significant loss of
potential yield is incurred. ISU Extension has an obligation to provide clientele with information
about risks related to various agricultural technologies and the adoption of these technologies.
ISU Extension is the sole source of objective information for Iowa agricultural endeavors and
thus has an obligation to develop and deliver information that is important to the well being of
Iowa Agriculture.
Objective:
Develop and deliver objective information describing the implications of various crop production
and weed management technologies on the evolution of herbicide resistant weed populations and
potential crop yield. Specifically, the implications of transgenic crops and the use of glyphosate
will be the focus of these efforts. Glyphosate resistant weed populations can impact crop yield
and crop production expenditures, and potentially can depreciate land values. Importantly,
delayed glyphosate applications result in significant loss of crop yield potential.
Activities/Output:
The dissemination of information will be via traditional strategies (grower meetings, AgChem
dealer meetings, short courses, conferences, publications, and popular press/radio offerings) and
via web-based education tactics. Also, a national glyphosate stewardship effort continues to
address issues of stewardship and IPM practices. An international stewardship forum is planned
for October 2008. ISU Extension Weed Science continues to provide valuable science-based
objective information about herbicide stewardship for Iowa growers.
D:\98937439.doc
Page 6 of 18
7/15/2016
Outcome Statement (one or more of the following):
Growers will demonstrate a high knowledge level about the implications of the evolution of
glyphosate resistant weed populations and weed population shifts. Furthermore, growers will
understand the implications of weed management tactics on crop yield and profitability.
Growers will begin to understand weed populations dynamics and the implications of weeds on
crop yields. They will adopt more effective weed management practices. The AgChem industry
will promote more effective weed management programs and incorporate stewardship practices
in their marketing of proprietary products.
Stewardship of herbicides and weed management will result in more consistent and
profitable crop production and deter the evolution of herbicide resistant weeds and weed
population shifts. Better IPM practices will be incorporated into crop production. Higher crop
yields and lower input costs for weed management will result from the stewardship programs.
D:\98937439.doc
Page 7 of 18
7/15/2016
ANR CAMPUS SUCCESS STORY
(POW 2008-2012)
Name:
Howard E Shepherd
Program Coordinator
Iowa Grain Quality Initiative
Date Submitted:
31 August 2008
Supports Plan of Work Number: 100
Title of Success Story: GRAIN STORAGE TRAINING MODULE
Situation:
Ethanol processing, government farm program incentives for corn, and increased corn yields
have contributed to a sudden increase in the need for corn storage in Iowa. In the fall of 2004,
there were many grain piles and other temporary grain storages utilized, with mixed success.
Outdoor piles experienced up to 90% mold damage in some cases. Since 2004, there has been a
steady increase in storage construction, but not at the rate of increase in corn production. A webbased training program was started in 2006.
The IGQI has developed a web-based Grain Storage Training Module and has been active in
promoting this cost analysis and reference tool in grain storage meetings.
Objective:
1. Assemble and review projections for the amounts and locations of corn production, demand
and usage during the study years and the five years beyond (through 2011).
2. Project the needs for corn quality traits to meet shifting usage and storage patterns.
3. Project the need and types of storage (maximum cost; minimum damage) that will be needed
to meet usage patterns.
4. Continue web-based programming for farmers, elevator operators and associated grain
industry professionals in optimum storage structure design and quality grain management,
given demand, cost and quality constraints. Link with other training organizations where
possible. In 2008, the focus will be on spreadsheet based decision tools.
Activities/Outputs
A. Inventory of existing corn storage capacity, with projections for future needs, types, and
locations for storage.
 Monitor existing carryover and farm storage estimates from NASS statistics.
 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll – 2007 Survey Report on Grain Storage and
Transportation – by Paul Lasley – Extension Sociologist was completed.
 Data is included in the Grain Storage Training Module, posted on the IQGI web site.
B. Estimates of the interaction among corn quality traits, changing user demands, and storage
success/costs.
D:\98937439.doc
Page 8 of 18

7/15/2016
The Cost of Storing Grain – Ag Decision Maker spread sheet is incorporated into the
Grain Storage Training Module.
 Developing spread sheet Combine field capacity and harvest logistics for drying capacity.
C. Spreadsheets to evaluate storage performance versus construction and operating costs.
 The Grain Storage Training Module – Cost of storage equipment and construction costs
were gathered from bin company contacts (Brock, GSI, and Hawkeye Steel).
D. A major effort documented through web programs, meetings, and print materials to provide
awareness and training for producers and elevator operators in current storage/quality needs
and interactions.
Meetings and Presentations
 Grain Management & Storage Strategies meeting – Sheldon, IA – 8 August 2007 –
Storage Planning Web Module
 Grain Management & Storage Strategies meeting – Dows, IA – 9 August 2007 – Storage
Planning Web Module
 AAI Visioning Committee – 142 Curtis Hall – 22 August 2007 – Storage Challenges for
2007 Crop
 ANR – Hot Topics – Extension – 29 August 2007 – Storage Planning Web Module
 Field Extension Storage work shops – Indianola, IA – 12 November 2007 – Storage
Planning Web Module
 Field Extension Storage work shop – Lynnville, IA – 13 November 2007 – Storage
Planning Web Module
 Field Extension Storage work shop – Conrad, IA – 14 November 2007 – Storage
Planning Web Module
 Field Extension Storage work shop – Ogden, IA – 15 November 2007 – Storage Planning
Web Module
 International Grain Quality and Technology Congress – Chicago, IL – 15 July 2008 –
Storage Planning Web Module
Articles
 Bumper Crops of Corn, Problems by the Bushel – The Wall Street Journal – 10 August
2007 – by Shelley Banjo
 Grain Bin Upkeep Worth the Effort – Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier – 9 September 2007
– by Matthew Wielde
 Grain Bin Upkeep Worth the Effort – Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier – 9 September 2007
– by Matthew Wielde – Reprinted in GEAPS In-Grain – September 2007
 Ethanol’s Growing Pains – The Corn & Soybean Digest – 1 October 2007 – by Liz
Morrison
E. Comprehensive training modules (web and print) for traceability, bioterror rules and quality
management systems. Modules will individually target producers, handlers and processors.
 Grain Storage Module – Training module, cost analysis for storing grain, cost analysis for
construction of storage site, and reference material – final posting on IGQI website – 1
July 2008
D:\98937439.doc
Page 9 of 18
7/15/2016
Outcomes
As more corn is used locally in fuel production, less is available for export, feed applications and
other processing. This has led to changes in grain transport, on-farm grain storage and the
function of local grain elevators.
The target of the IGQI training module is on-farm grain storage, which was clearly defined by a
survey of the Iowa Ethanol industry as the primary source of corn. The survey indicated 62
percent of the corn was coming directly from the farm to the ethanol plant, and that this share
would not change as production capacities increased.
The IGQI added grain storage questions to the 2007 Iowa Farm and Rural Life Poll. The “2007
Survey Report on Grain Storage and Transportation,” reported that twelve percent of the Iowa
Farmers intended to construct on-farm storage over the next three years, with an average of
30,000 bushels of new capacity. The addition of on-farm storage was a direct response to the
demand for corn by the ethanol industry. Delivery or corn from on-farm storage will require
greater attention to quality management and year long. This longer storage time will require
better up front conditioning, and cleaner bins, and better air flow processes for storage.
The Grain Storage, Storage Cost and Training Module was developed including three concepts:
The over all design of the module is a pick and choose flow model for decision making on what
is needed to develop a storage site and what equipment would be best for the site. The grain flow
model leads to a decision maker of what it will cost to construct storage options. The final
section is market decision tools for cost of storing grain. The training module can be accessed
from the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative web site, www.iowagrain.org.
The short term results were achieved in August 2007 when two extension meetings averaged 20
farm and elevator participants. Also, in November 2007 four extension meetings averaged 50
farm and elevator participants. The International Grain Quality and Technology Congress were
attended by 180 participants for 18 different countries and many levels of business and
academia.
The long term results will be to monitor the contacts to the Grain Storage and Training Module
and address any questions from costumers using the training module.
D:\98937439.doc
Page 10 of 18
7/15/2016
ANR CAMPUS SUCCESS STORY
(POW 2008-2012)
Name:
Position:
Department:
Date Submitted:
Supports Plan of Work Number:
Connie Hardy
Program Specialist
Value Added Agriculture Program
September 30, 2008
100 (106), 180
Title of Success Story:
Update on Ethanol and Soy Processing in Iowa
(a project of the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative)
Situation:
Local processing of corn and soybeans in Iowa continues to expand production of food, feed, and
fuel products creating opportunities for farmers to sell crops locally to processing plants as well
as to grain handling facilities. In 2007, Iowa farmers produced 2.37 billion bushels of corn and
439 million bushels of soybeans With the rapid expansion in biofuels production, Iowa has
become the national leader in both ethanol and biodiesel production. These two industries alone
offer markets for 43% of Iowa’s corn production and the oil from 42% of Iowa’s soybeans at
current operating capacities. Biodiesel production differs from ethanol production in that
biodiesel uses one of two primary soybean crush products (oil) rather than whole grain.
Project Objectives:
1. Maintain an objective data set to define the scope and variation involved in the current
industry activities surrounding grain origination methods, impact on grain storage and coproduct handling/marketing.
2. Update data to track changes in corn processing capacities and estimate corn production
and storage needs.
3. Estimate soy processing capacity in Iowa and estimate the potential supply of vegetable
oil that could be used for biodiesel production if
Activities/Output:
Update on Ethanol Processing
In 2007, four additional dry grind plants began operations to total 25 dry grind ethanol plants and
4 wet mill operations that were currently producing fuel ethanol. There are 15 dry grind plants
under construction expected to open in 2008-2009. In addition, six ethanol plants are located
just across Iowa borders and expect to access 50 percent of their inbound corn from Iowa farms.
Table 1. shows the total ethanol production capacity of these plants and estimates total corn
usage and distillers grains production when plants are operating at capacity. Estimated corn
usage is based on 2.8 gallons of ethanol per bushel of corn.
D:\98937439.doc
Page 11 of 18
7/15/2016
Table 1. Iowa ethanol production and corn usage (April 1, 2008)
Summary Statistics
n
Ethanol
Produced
Mil/gal/yr
Current dry grind 25
plants
Construction/
15
expansions
Wet mills
7
Nearby Iowa draw
Subtotal
Announced
Total
Corn used
Million bu
Year
DDGS produced
Million tons
Year
1,740
626
5,325
1,235
480
4,083
990
367
3,020
6
402
144
1,220
53
4,367
1,617
13,648
25
2,318
828
7,037
79
6,685
2,445
20,685
Executive Summary of Soy Processing Study
Iowa’s soybean processing industry has grown steadily in its ability to process commodity and
specialty soybeans. This report summarizes Iowa’s present capacity for soybean processing and
describes soybean quality issues related to processing. Data was gathered through interviews,
written surveys, and industry reports.
Thirteen solvent extraction (crush) plants offer processing capacity for 98.5% of the soybeans
grown in Iowa. These plants are generally bulk processors of commodity soybeans, but some
have developed processing schedules that can accommodate occasional processing runs of
specialty soybeans for which the meal or oil carries a unique trait. Also, some crush plants offer
price premiums to the farmer based on protein and oil content or for farmers who grow particular
varieties of soybeans.
Table 2. Summary of Iowa soybean processing capacity
Biodiesel
Annual Oil
Max Annual
Production
Production
(MM gallons)
(MM gallons)
Summary
Statistics
n
Annual
Capacity
(MM bushels)
Crush plants
13
436.5
610.0
488.0
Expeller plants
11
17.0
17.4
13.9
9
3.5
n/a
n/a
33
457.0
627.4
501.9
Milling
Soyfoods
Total
D:\98937439.doc
and
Page 12 of 18
7/15/2016
Processing plants other than solvent extraction plants have come into being more recently, within
the last 20 years. Iowa’s 11 extrusion-expelling plants separate soybeans into meal and oil using
pressure and heat. Extrusion-expeller (EE) processors usually operate on a smaller scale than
crush plants, and the process does not involve a chemical solvent or other additive, so it is
acceptable for organic products. Because the process involves more heat than crush plants and is
slightly less efficient in removing oil from meal, the proteins in the meal may be less digestible
for some species and the meal contains more oil. Smaller operations, such as EE plants, can
more easily process small runs of specialty soybeans. EE meal is sometimes further processed
into meat substitutes for to include in human foods.
The remaining soy processing plants in Iowa process whole food-grade soybeans into meal,
flour, flakes, and soybean snacks. A wide variety of soy-based food ingredients are made by
these companies, usually requiring preselected varieties (identity-preserved) of soybeans in lots
that have been cleaned and sorted before processing. The products are used by the baking
industry, makers of infant formulas, snack foods, cereals, and energy bars, and by the processors
of soymilk and tofu. A few plants also make finished retail food products, such as soynut snacks
and cookies.
Concerns voiced by soybean processors include accessing adequate supplies of soybeans for
processing, increasing prices for soybeans and vegetable oils, and the role of speculators driving
input prices yet higher. Organic and specialty soybean processors also stated that germplasm for
non-GMO soybeans is diminishing, and maintaining or increasing acreage for these specialties is
challenging, especially in this time of rising prices for commodity soybeans. Organic processors
who are pushed to supply their current US markets see imports from China intruding on these
markets.
Biofuel processing from vegetable oil
Soy biodiesel
The most rapid growth has occurred in biodiesel manufacture. Iowa currently has 14 biodiesel
plants and can process 318 million gallons per year (mgy) of biodiesel fuel and 2 plants yet
under construction representing an additional 35 mgy. This amount of production would require
approximately 72.6% of the oil from Iowa’s 2007 soybean crop. Fourteen more biodiesel plants
are in various stages of planning. If all of these plants come into operation, they will add 485
mgy of biodiesel processing capacity and would, by themselves, require nearly 100% of the
soybean oil in Iowa’s 2007 crop. Many biodiesel plants are designed as “multi-feedstock”
plants, meaning that they can use other vegetable oils and animal fat to make biodiesel. Iowa’s
2007 corn crop could deliver an estimated 350 gallons of oil per acre, which translates into about
500 mgy of biodiesel.
Rapid growth in biofuels production has resulted in 13 new biodiesel plants in Iowa designed to
use soybean oil as a primary feedstock. Biodiesel is not a direct soybean use, but it uses oil
extracted by a soybean processing plant. This represents 258 million gallons per year (mgy) of
processing capacity. Some of these plants are capable of using other vegetable oils and animal fat
as feedstocks. Three plants are under construction that will add another 95 mgy in processing
capacity. In addition, there are 14 plants in various stages of planning that could add another 485
D:\98937439.doc
Page 13 of 18
7/15/2016
mgy of biodiesel processing capacity. Iowa’s 2007 soybean crop (443 mil bu) could potentially
yield 486.6 million gallons of biodiesel fuel. The plants presently operating and those that are
under construction could produce 72.6% of the potential biodiesel yield from Iowa’s 2007
soybean crop. If all of the planned plants are built, Iowa’s total biodiesel processing capacity
would represent 172.2% of the biodiesel that could be made from Iowa’s 2007 soybean crop.
(Table 3.)
Table 3. Iowa Biodiesel Processing Capacity and Soybean Oil Use
Operation
Construction
Subtotal
Planned
Total
n
Production
Capacity
mgy
% Maximum
Biodiesel
Production
14
3
17
14
31
318
35
353
485
838
65.4%
7.2%
72.6%
99.6%
172.2%
As the dry-grind ethanol industry expands and develops, more emphasis is being placed on oil
extraction. New plants are adding fractionation capability to separate corn germ and to extract
the oil from either corn germ or distillers grains. Even at plants where whole corn is used in
fermentation, ethanol processors are extracting oil from the fermentation broth. With a great
percentage of Iowa corn now being processed in Iowa, it is worth considering what contribution
corn oil could make toward the demand for vegetable oil in biodiesel manufacture. The
following estimates consider total oil available from Iowa’s major crops, but they do not address
any quality differences that may exist between corn oil and soybean oil in terms of biodiesel
processing.
Table 4. Per acre oil yield from 2007 Iowa corn and soybean crops.
Grain Yield* Oil Yield†
(bu/acre)
(lb/acre)
Soybeans
Corn
52.0
175.0
567
350
*2007 avg. yields USDA
†10.9 lb oil/bu soybeans, 2.0 lb oil/bu corn
Table 4. estimates the per acre oil yield from soybeans and corn based on 2007 average crop
yields in Iowa, assuming 2.0 lb/bu of corn oil and 10.9 lb/bu of soybean oil. Table 5. estimates
maximum oil yield (9626.5 million lbs) from the total Iowa corn and soybean crops and the
maximum amount of biodiesel yield (987.4 mgy) from all of the corn and soybean oil in Iowa.
The 16 biodiesel plants currently operating and under construction in Iowa would produce 35.8%
of this total if all were operating at full capacity, and the 14 planned plants would produce
another 49.1% of the total if all were built and operating at full capacity.
D:\98937439.doc
Page 14 of 18
7/15/2016
Table 5. Maximum oil and biodiesel yield from 2007 Iowa crops.
Maximum Oil*
Biodiesel†
Percent
(MM lbs)
(MM gal)
of Total
Soybeans
4743.9
486.6
Corn
4882.6
500.8
Total 9626.5
987.4
Operating + Construction
Planned
353
485
838
35.8%
49.1%
84.9%
*8.36
†7.8
million acres soybeans, 13.95 million acres corn
lb/gal of oil and 80% biodiesel yield
Demand for corn from the ethanol industry prompted a significant shift between 2006 and 2007
in the relative number of acres that farmers decided to plant with corn versus soybeans.
However, the acreage shift did not have a significant impact on the total amount of oil that could
potentially be used for biodiesel. (Table 6.)
Table 6. Maximum biodiesel yield from 2006 and 2007 Iowa crops
Corn/SB
Maximum Biodiesel
(billion bu)
(million gal)
2006
2007
2.05/0.51
2.44/0.44
980.7
987.3
Impact/Outcomes:
This report has been presented to the 2007 Integrated Crop Management conference participants
(approximately 50 in a concurrent session), the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative Advisory
Committee (20 participants), and to the Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension field
specialists in the ISU College of Agriculture (approximately 60 participants). It is also posted on
the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative website www.iowagrain.org and on the Value Added
Agriculture Program website www.iavaap.org.
The ethanol and soy processing surveys have served as a basis for the Grain Storage Module, a
web-based decision maker created by the Iowa Grain Quality Initiative for farmers and grain
handlers considering building new storage. It has also helped the IGQI participants better
communicate the implications of new local demand for corn and soybeans and how ISU
Extension can assist farmers to participate in these new markets.
This project provided data for the white paper, Food and Fuel: Enough Grain but Not
Enough Processing, prepared for Bioeconomy Conversations II, November 2008.
D:\98937439.doc
Page 15 of 18
7/15/2016
ANR CAMPUS SUCCESS STORY
(POW 2008-2012)
Name:
Peter. J. Lammers and Mark S. Honeyman
Research Associate and Professor
Animal Science
Date Submitted:
December 2, 2008
Supports Plan of Work Number:
100 (106) for FY2008
Title of Success Story:
Corn Use as Livestock Feed in Iowa
Situation:
Historically, feeding livestock has been a major use of corn in Iowa. Recently corn-based ethanol
plants have become another major user of Iowa corn. Competition for corn has increased.
Questions about the amount of corn fed to Iowa livestock and the interaction of ethanol and
livestock feeding have been raised.
Objective:
The objective of this study was to estimate the amount of corn fed to livestock in Iowa and
compare corn feeding to livestock with corn use by processing in the context of current and
projected corn yields.
Activities/Output:
Current (2006) livestock production numbers for Iowa were multiplied by probable corn
consumption per head of livestock to generate corn usage by species values. The corn
consumption for livestock was based on ISU Extension budgets.
The total amount of corn fed to livestock in Iowa in 2006 was estimated at 607 million bushels
(Table 1). According to Iowa Agricultural Statistics the total bushels of corn produced in Iowa in
2006 was 2 billion bushels. Therefore, Iowa livestock consumed about 30% of the 2006 corn
crop. Iowa finishing pigs were the largest class of livestock consuming corn, approximately 340
million bushels, which is about 16.6% of the Iowa corn crop, or 55% of all the corn fed to
livestock in Iowa. If sows and litters are included, corn feeding for swine in Iowa is about 370
million bushels or 18% of the Iowa corn crop, or 60% of all corn fed to Iowa livestock. In short,
Iowa pigs consume 1 of every 5 or 6 bushels of corn produced in Iowa and consume more corn
than all other Iowa livestock feeding combined.
About 70% of the Iowa crop was not fed to Iowa livestock, rather it was exported out of the
state, processed into ethanol, corn sweetener, or other products such as pet food or other
miscellaneous uses. This analysis shows that there is ample Iowa corn to feed Iowa livestock.
D:\98937439.doc
Page 16 of 18
7/15/2016
The analysis methodology is a basis on which to develop an ongoing procedure to estimate
livestock needs and thus evaluate increases in yield compared to additional processing capacity.
Outcome Statement (one or more of the following):
There is ample corn at present and future production levels to meet processing and feed needs in
Iowa.
We expect this understanding to result in more policy and business decisions based on growth of
corn supply rather than on allocation control of corn supply
When taken in connection with new feed ration balancing knowledge, the extension of this study
will be to increase the activity of both the livestock and processing industries.
D:\98937439.doc
Page 17 of 18
7/15/2016
ANR CAMPUS SUCCESS STORY
(POW 2008-2012)
Name:
Peter. J. Lammers and Mark S. Honeyman
Research Associate and Professor
Animal Science
Date Submitted:
December 2, 2008
Supports Plan of Work Number:
100 (106) for FY2008
Title of Success Story:
Minimizing Starch Consumption by Finishing Pigs: Demonstrated and Theoretical Approaches
Situation:
The connections and tensions among grain production, livestock feeding, and biofuel generation
is well illustrated by conditions in Iowa during the early 21st century. Historically, feeding corn
to livestock, particularly pigs, was the primary method for Iowa farmers to increase the value of
their crop. Perennial surpluses of corn lowered market prices of the crop and encouraged
development of other markets such as ethanol production. Industrial production of ethanol began
in 1978 and has experienced exponential growth since 2002. Production of ethanol from corn
grain results in removal of the starch and concentration of the protein, lipid, fiber, and ash
fractions of the corn kernel. Iowa leads the United States in production of corn, pigs, ethanol, and
biodiesel. Accordingly, Iowa also leads the U.S. in the production of co-products of these
industries—swine manure, distiller’s grains with solubles, and crude glycerol. The challenge for
a successful swine industry is to create linkages that capture the advantages of each resource.
Objective:
The traditional conditions of abundant corn may not continue in the future. It is appropriate to
discuss diets based on alternative energy feed sources for swine in Iowa, the leading corn, pig
and ethanol producing state. Because starch is used to make ethanol from corn, the objective of
this analysis was to explore swine diets that minimize starch usage.
Activities/Output:
Consumer demand and resultant market prices will ultimately determine whether corn is used for
producing ethanol or feeding pigs. For each market pig fed a typical corn-soybean meal diet from
18–127 kg, 262 kg (10.0 bushels) of corn grain is consumed. Proven diets can reduce corn use by
about 30% with theoretical diets potentially lowering corn use by 45%. Typical corn-soybean
meal diets use starch to supply approximately 60% of the total NE. Proven diets can reduce
starch use by 26% with theoretical diets potentially reducing starch use by 45%. Although some
alternative feedstuffs can be incorporated into pig diets, the feasibility of expanding their use is
uncertain. Effects on pork quality, feed delivery systems, feed storage and handling
characteristics, and relative economics of alternatives remain to be explored further. Using
D:\98937439.doc
Page 18 of 18
7/15/2016
bioenergy co-products can reduce corn feeding to pigs by 25% and has the potential to reduce
corn feeding to pigs by about 35% to 45%.
This material has been presented in several scientific and animal production venues.
Outcome Statement (one or more of the following):
Swine diets can utilize more biofuels coproducts than are normally included in rations, in
tradeoff with corn grain.
More inclusion of biofuel coproducts will alleviate some of the competition for corn between
processing and feeding, and will reduce the transportation needs for hard-to-handle coproducts.
Less conflict between feed and fuel needs will allow both to grow at rates needed to supply
world food needs and domestic fuel demands.
D:\98937439.doc