The loan of two tractors by New Holland Agriculture to Iowa State University’s BioCentury Research Farm has provided new options for its biomass research projects.
The BioCentury Research Farm combines biomass feedstock production, harvesting, storing, transporting and biorefinery processing into a complete system to develop the next generation of biofuels and biobased products. A New Holland baler also was provided for a corn stover research project conducted by Matt Darr, an associate professor in agricultural and biosystems engineering.
“The facility has needed a utility tractor for research projects related to biomass handling, storage and processing,” said Larry Johnson, farm director and professor of food science and human nutrition.
Companies frequently loan or donate equipment to the farm or its bioprocessing facility, he said. The New Holland Agriculture loan arose from a tour Andy Suby, manager of the research farm, gave to company officials last year.
“We appreciate the equipment and research funding provided by New Holland Agriculture,” Johnson said. “The BioCentury Research Farm was intended to be a partnership with private companies.”
New Holland Agriculture provides the use of a model T8.330 and a T5.115 tractor with a loader to be used in research and education projects conducted at the facility. The tractors will be replaced with similar models when they reach 200 hours of operation.
The company provided the baler and funding to evaluate its use in baling corn stover for supplying to cellulosic ethanol plants. This “Leading the Bioeconomy Initiative” project was supported by an appropriation from the Iowa legislature. Suby said the possibility for funding more projects with gifts or loans of other equipment has been discussed.
The farm began in 2009 as the first integrated research and demonstration facility dedicated to biomass production and processing in the nation.
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