Ethanol: Impacts on Soil and
Water Quality
Bob Broz
University of Missouri Extension
Water Quality Program
(573) 882-0085
Ethanol Plant
Increase corn
acreages
Increase pesticide
Use
Water use surface
Or ground water
Take land out of
CRP
Drinking water
Reservoirs
How will it affect
Other industry
in the area
Marginal land not as
productive
How will it affect
Private water supplies
Some will increase
Some will decline
Apply to
Atrazine TMDL set
At 3 ppb in raw water
Chance of nutrient
Runoff or leaching
Creates Feed Stuff for
Livestock
Crop ground
Increase livestock
Numberss in
Area
How will it affect
irrigation wells
Provides increased
Tax base for county
Increase Jobs
May cause livestock
Price to decline
Due to over
Supply
reduce need
for
commercial
fertilizer
What will we do
With manure
Road maintenance
Cost may increase
Air and Water
Quality issues
County health
Ordinance
Ethanol Production and Land
As land managers we need to recognize
the limits of the land and manage the
land accordingly. Will marginal acres be
put into corn production that over time
will deplete the soil.
Is production of corn the driving factor or
managing the land for economic and
environmental security?
Ethanol Production and land
May see an increase in corn acreage
production
– Marginal land that was in CRP may be
put back into production
Doesn’t produce as well so we may see poor
production so requires higher management
to prevent nutrient runoff/leaching and
pesticide loss.
– Increased pesticide use
– May see increase in nutrient loading
Ethanol and Economics
The role of science and economics of
production
– There are some fields that do not turn
a profit for corn. These fields should
be used for other aspects of
agricultural production, haylage,
soybeans, pasture, etc.
Ethanol and Economics
20 Year Case Study – one field
shows that it has only turned a profit
once in ten years of corn production.
Bean production has supported the
field.
– Producing rape that is sold as haylage
and then full season beans. Builds up
soil and reduces need for pesticide and
fertilizer.
Ethanol and Economics
Just looking at increased corn prices is
not enough. (an increase from 3 to 5
cents per pound is estimated right now)
We need to look at the bottom line to see
if the producer is better off
Are the practices being implemented
sustainable for future generations on the
farm
Look at the entire farming enterprise and
see how corn production for ethanol is a
component
Ethanol and Economics
Presently 46% of the 105 ethanol
plants are farmer owned. Farmers
are reaping the benefits of
cooperative owned plants and are
learning to work more closely
together and respond to questions
about the environment. Corn prices
have gone up so farmers are
receiving the benefits from both
sides of production.
Ethanol and Livestock
To utilize the products from ethanol
production we may see more diverse
farms – with both livestock and
crop.
Marginal land can be used for hay or
pasture and fertilized with manure
from the livestock.
– Reduces need for commercial fertilizer
and may reduce need for pesticides.
Ethanol and Livestock Production
1 gallon ethanol produces
approximately 6-7 pounds of distiller
grain.
– High protein (23-30%) but may see
variability in nutrient content due to
corn and processing.
Mo. Produced 498,200 tons from 4
facilities in 2005, need approx. 3.1
million head eating 3 pounds per day
Ethanol and Livestock
Inexpensive feed source more suited for
ruminants
Could cause an increase in livestock
numbers to utilize the feedstuff
– May cause decrease in market due to over
production
– Need to determine how to dispose of manure
being produced – back to the land
– Should increase county revenue base from
livestock sales in the area
Ethanol and Livestock
Increased livestock numbers will
– increase need for more water supply
– Produce more manure
May have more potential for nutrient runoff
– Provide stronger economic base for the
area
– May create more jobs
– May cause counties to want to
implement county ordinances to control
livestock numbers.
Ethanol and Water Quality and
Quantity
If we have an increase in corn acreages
we have potential for:
– Soil Erosion
Farming marginal farmland
– Increase pesticide use
Mo has over 100 surface water reservoirs
– Atrazine has been identified in several in the past
– Increase nitrogen use
More leaching and/or runoff potential
Nutrient loading
– Algal bloom
Ethanol and Water Quality and
Quantity
One bushel of corn can produce 3 gallons
of ethanol but requires 4-8 gallons of
water/gallon of ethanol produced
– 80 million gallons of ethanol may require
approximately 400 million gallons of water
(1.1 million gallons/day)
What other industries may be effected
– Crop irrigation
– Manufacturing
Will private or public wells be effected?
– Not enough information known to know the
severity or overall impact
Summary
Soil
– Marginal land may go into corn
production
Possible runoff from soil, nutrients and
pesticides
– Manure from livestock operations can
be used to build up the soil and reduce
commercial fertilizer cost
– Causes strong management to insure
economic and environmental integrity
Summary
Water Quality
– Possible erosion and sediment issues
– Possible pesticide issues
– Possible nutrient loading issues
All these issues can cause drinking water concerns
and higher cost for treated water
Water Quantity
– Will high volume of water use deplete local
aquifer or surface water supplies
– Will other businesses be affected by need for
water
Irrigation of crops, production of products
Ethanol: Impacts on Soil and
Water
Provides local jobs
May increase value of corn
Provides inexpensive livestock feed
Improves tax base for county
– Ethanol and livestock production
May increase other industry in area
Other benefits
– Smaller farmers that may not be investors
may recognize higher prices for their grain
and reduced feed cost.
Ethanol: Impacts on Soil and
Water
Creates the need for higher land
management
Creates the need for reviewing economic
impacts
Creates potential natural resource
problems if we aren’t careful
Can improve bottom line for producers
Can promote diversity in farm operations
Become better stewards of the land
Creates the need for more science based
information
Ethanol: Impacts on Soil and
Water
Ethanol production creates many
opportunities but it is the decisions
that we make that will determine if
this is a benefit for us or if ethanol
production becomes a sinking ship.
Whiskey is for drinking, water is for
fighting over. Mark Twain
Ethanol: Impacts on Soil and
Water Quality
Questions??????
Bob Broz
– brozr@missouri.edu
– University of Missouri Extension Water
Quality Program
– (573) 882-0085
– 205 Ag Engineering
– Columbia MO 65211