Breakout Session I
Biomass Harvest Equipment
Moderator: Stuart Birrell, Iowa State University
Stuart Birrell
Stuart Birrell is an associate professor of agricultural and biosystems engineering at Iowa State University. His research is concentrated in two areas: the development of sensors and controls that can be applied in advanced machinery control and in precision agriculture; and harvest technologies and biomass harvesting and logistics. Some of his present projects include developing a real-time soil nitrate sensor system for precision nitrogen applications, development of sensors based on dielectric measurements, industry sponsored combine harvesting projects and development of biomass harvesting systems.
Ty and Jay
Stukenholtz
Ty and Jay Stukenholtz are graduates of the University of Nebraska School of Agricultural Engineering. They have 10 years of experience researching biomass collection techniques and developing harvesting equipment for several types of agricultural crops and residues. They have developed and patented a unique system that fits on any rotary combine to simultaneously harvest grain and collect cellulosic residues without slowing down the harvesting process or utilizing extra fossil fuels. Their first-hand experience as farmers in addition to equipment engineering and biomass handling gives them unique insight into the challenges facing the biomass collection, transportation and storage industries.
Kevin Shinners
Kevin Shinners is a professor of agricultural engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research interests include the engineering aspects of systems to cut, dry, harvest, package, store, fractionate and process biological plant material to be used as ruminant animal feed or as a biomass feedstock for production of bio-energy and bio-products. He is also interested in sensors and sensor systems to measure machine performance and crop material properties for Precision Farming systems as applied to hay, forage and bio-mass crops.
Vernon Flamme
Vernon Flamme, a Nebraska entrepreneur, has found a way to remove the cob from the cornfield. Flamme, of North Bend, invented the Cob Caddy, an easy-to-use addition to a combine that collects the cobs as they exit with the stalks and husks. The concept for the Cob Caddy began 12 years ago when a company approached him. The way the machine works is that the cobs are moved from the combine to a wagon on conveyor belts. The cobs drop into the wagon as the stalks are sucked out. The Cob Caddy is equipped with a 100 hp Kubota engine. A hydraulic lift raises the wagon 14 feet 6 inches and can dump 4 to 5 tons of cobs into a trailer in about one minute without leaving the field. The wagon is remote-controlled from the combine cab. As valuable biomass, the cobs are sold to ethanol plants and used as fuel to replace costly natural gas. Given the fact that they have no fertilizer value, their removal in no way depletes the soil.