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What does growing corn and other crops have anything to do with natural gas? It takes about 33,000 cubic feet of natural gas to produce one ton of nitrogen fertilizer. About 96 percent of the corn planted in the United States depends on fertilizers. Some 90 percent of the cost of manufacturing nitrogen fertilizer depends upon the price of natural gas.

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This article takes a look at the different ways people view a news event based on the impact of their culture. Using ethanol and corn as a basis for awareness, the article provokes our thoughts as to why cultures clash.

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With fossil fuel prices expected to continue increasing, many people are nervous about future heating bills. Using biomass as an alternative is becoming particularly popular. As strange as it may sound, corn is a popular fuel.

Not Just For Movies Anymore

As mentioned by President Bush in his State of the Union speech, the United States has a bad oil addiction. Throw in the negative environmental impact of using fossil fuels, and it becomes apparent a change is needed. As we look around for alternative energy sources, biomass is becoming a popular choice. Biomass is simply energy derived from the burning of bio fuels such as animal waste and excessive crops.

As people starve around the world, it is sadly ironic that we have a major surplus of corn. Corn makes an excellent biomass power source. This is because corn packs a serious amount of energy in each kernel. When used with a heating system, they produce as much heat as traditional furnaces, but at a much lower cost.

Biomass corn energy is produced using dry shelled corn as the power source. Unlike the edible variety, the corn does not have to be of high quality stock. Pretty much any shelled corn will do so long as it is dry and free of husk fibers.

Corn is turned into heat for a home much the same way as wood. The process involves a fired stove with corn being used instead of wood. If youre picturing standing in the snow with a shovel, you will be happily disappointed. These days, shelled corn is delivered to your home where it is stored in a tank. As the heating system requires additional fuel, a thermostat senses the loss in temperature and opens a door in the storage tank. A pre-set amount of corn falls into the furnace and, ta da, you have more fire and more heat. The heat is then piped into the home through the same duct system used with an electric heating system.

Generally, burning corn for heat will cost you half as much as oil produced energy, 30 percent less than coal produced heat and 70 percent less than heat produced with natural gas. If youre buying energy to heat your house from a utility company, converting to a corn can save you as much as 75 percent.

At first mention, using corn as a fuel source might seem 'out there.' In truth, it is the most searched type of furnace on the Internet. That should tell you something about its popularity and viability.

Rick Chapo

Rick Chapo is with SolarCompanies.com, a directory of solar energy companies. Visit our biomass energy page to read more about corn burning furnaces.

SOARING DEMAND FOR [tag-tec]ETHANOL[/tag-tec] SPIKES CORN PRICES IN US

Increase in the demand for ethanol resulted in spiking prices of corn and shortage of some popular biotech hybrid seeds in US, since farmers are planting the crop in massive amounts.

Owing to the soaring demand for ethanol, corn prices have also jumped to an unparalleled level in US. Since corn is used massively to produce ethanol there. Consequently, the farmers in the country are all set to plant corn‘s crop in massive amounts this spring. This is creating dearth for some popular biotech hybrid seeds.

"It is a nationwide problem. One reason it is so severe in Kansas is that a lot of the seed available for us is being used to replace cotton acres in Texas and Mississippi. But the shortage is nationwide", Terry Vinduska, sales representative for the Pioneer Hybrid International, Marion, said in a statement that THE HUTCHINSON NEWS published on 14 March 2007.

Several acres of cotton would be planted for corn rather than cotton in 2007, said Vinduska, noting that the corn price had almost doubled in comparison to what it was during the same period a year ago (2006).

As a result of this some of the corn growers in Kansas might fail to find the biotech hybrids, which are corn borer, rootworm or herbicides resistant, added she.

In a statement that THE HUTCHINSON NEWS published on 14 March 2007, Kansas Corn Growers Association’s executive director, Jere White said that he anticipated a considerable growth over the year 2006. He also expected those additional core acres would come from farmers who’re shifting from soybean acres in Kansas.

As per the RNCOS report on “US Biotech Market Analysis”, “With the crisis of energy and surge in the prices of gas that surfaced in the US in recent years, there’s been a tremendous increase in the demand of alternative fuels such as ethanol. Growers in America could improve the production of corn by 39 Billion Pounds over the first decade of planting the biotechnology deprived crops.”

This research report on “US Biotech Market Analysis” provides extensive research and objective analysis of The Biotechnology industry in US. It helps clients in analyzing the opportunities critical to the growth of Biotechnology industry in US. The issues analyzed in this report include: market trends in the U.S Biotechnology industry, where the market will be after five years, opportunities that exist in U.S Biotechnology industry, driving factors for the U.S Biotechnology industry, and so on.

About RNCOS E-Services Pvt Ltd.:

RNCOS, incorporated in the year 2002, is an industry research firm. It has a team of industry experts who analyze data collected from credible sources. They provide industry insights and analysis that helps corporations to take timely and accurate business decision in today's globally competitive environment.

For more information visit: http://www.rncos.com/Report/IM0300.htm Current Industry News: http://www.rncos.com/blog

Energy Tags: energy, biotech

The United States has passed legislation requiring a six-fold increase in the production of ethanol by the year 2022. The United States uses 19,650,000 barrels of oil a day, more than three times that of second place Japan according to Wise Geek. Because the US imports most of this oil, they are seeking to reduce their reliance on foreign sources of energy.

However, by requiring corn, in the form of ethanol, to replace foreign oil as a fuel source, they are creating several cultural clashes of note. Here are some questions that might show you how one decision can have an impact on cultures:

* How would you feel if you were a member of the crop-growing farming culture and saw prices rising for the crops you were producing?

* How would you feel if you were a cattle rancher and saw feed prices rising because of the increase demand for corn?

* How would you feel if you were part of a developing nation culture and heard this news while your nation's citizens were dying of hunger each day?

* How would you feel if you are part of the blue-collar culture about seeing new, potential union, jobs being created at ethanol plants?

We know how the United Nations feels. According to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food, Jean Ziegler, turning fields capable of growing edible crops into fields growing crops for pure fuel production is a crime against demanding. He has asked for a five-year moratorium on such activity. He recommends the use of jatropha, a drought-resistant crop easily grown in developing nations. A field of jatropha is easy to establish, grows quickly, and has a lifespan of 50 years.

As you can imagine, the position of the United Nations further contributes to how cultures view the use of corn. Depending on one's viewpoint, the United Nations is either a hero or a villain. Regardless, if we think about the use of corn and supply our thought process to other cultural events, we can begin to understand why a single issue can create a huge cultural disturbance.

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