Feedstox biomass harvesting fleet nearly fully assembled

Ethanol Producer Magazine
By Holly Jessen
May 22, 2012

With the purchase of two new pieces of equipment Feedstox is prepared to begin executing contracts to harvest biomass in less than two weeks, says Jeff Roskam, CEO of the Kansas Alliance for Biorefining and Bioenergy. The recently purchased Challenger combine-baler combination equipment has a unique capability. “It harvests the wheat and bales in the same pass and the straw never hits the ground,” he said.

The equipment, which is manufactured by Agco Corp., can be utilized the same way in corn fields or to harvest switchgrass and miscanthus. Because the biomass never hits the ground, cellulosic ethanol producers would see 5 to 6 percent ash content. Ash is material that cannot be converted into useable product, including dirt. “Very few of these models are on the global market today,” said Todd Stucke, director of marketing hay and harvesting for Agco.

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Direct baling system may benefit biomass industry

Biomass Magazine June 2009
By Anna Austin
Posted May 28, 2009, at 2:30 p.m. CST

Australia-based agriculture technology company Glenvar has developed a direct baling system which it said could be beneficial to the biomass and cellulosic ethanol industries.

The Glenvar Bale Direct System combines a conventional baler and a conventional combine, enabling grain growers to harvest and bale simultaneously. The combine tows the baler using a drawbar attached to the main drive axle. Residue exiting the rear of the combine is directed onto a conveyor and then fed into the baler, which is driven by a hydraulic motor powered from an independent hydraulic pump mounted on the combine.

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