Web site offers spread sheet to calculate costs for storing ethanol by-products

Atlantic News Telegraph
By Jennifer NicholsNT Staff Writer
Published: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 10:01 AM CST

University of Nebraska Extension Economic Specialist Dr. Darrell Mark gave those who attended the 4-State Beef Conference last week a web site where they can find a spread sheet to help determine how much it would cost producers to store by-products of ethanol that can be fed to livestock.

Previously, Dr. Rick Rasby spoke about producers feeding more by-products, such as distillers grain, and storing the by-products. Mark said there are a number of items that factor into the cost of storing, including equipment, like tractors, grinders and mixers, as well as bags or bunker space for storage, feed costs, transportation costs, labor, fuel and possible interest on money, if it’s loaned to the producer.

Mark said if producers go to the web site http://beef.unl.edu/, they can search for a spread sheet, and input numbers of the following items, and help them get an estimate of cost for storing the by-products. This can help the producer determine the best course of action for his operation.

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