NCERC

DECATUR - The NCERC at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville presented two exhibits are the Farm Progress Show in Decatur Tuesday-Thursday, August 27-29. 

In the Illinois Corn Growers Association (ICGA) tent, NCERC showcased renewable products made from corn to exemplify new uses in order to increase demand for the U.S. grown feedstock. Meanwhile, in another tent hosted by SIUE Carbondale, NCERC highlighted its collaborative aquaculture project in partnership with the Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture and Aquatic Sciences at SIUC. 

NCERC staff attended an Ag Policy Forum on Wednesday hosted by Illinois Congressmen Rodney Davis (IL-13), Mike Bost (IL-12), John Shimkus (IL-15) and Darin LaHood (IL-18). U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was the featured speaker, and answered a number of audience questions about the current state and potential future of agriculture.

Forum topics included renewing the biodiesel tax credit, this year's growing season and weather conditions, farmers' mental health awareness, the opioid crisis, tariffs and trade deals, African swine fever, crop insurance, small refinery exemptions, rural broadband and more. Representatives from organizations such as Illinois Farm Bureau, Illinois Pork Producers, ICGA, Illinois Soy Association, Illinois Beef Association and ethanol producers were in attendance.

The Farm Progress Show is the nation's largest outdoor farm event, hosting more than 600 exhibitors displaying new farm equipment, tractors, combines and other farm implements, seed and crop protection products, new technologies, and more.

About the NCERC
The NCERC is a nationally recognized research center dedicated to the development and commercialization of biofuels, specialty chemicals and other renewable compounds. The Center’s fully functional dry grind pilot plant and laboratories are equipped with advanced biofuels capabilities including corn fractionation, pretreatment, and a fermentation suite with 5, 30, 150 and 1500L scale-up. Facilities are staffed by industry veterans with more than 100 years of collective experience in fermentation and biofuels production. This knowledgeable team has the flexibility and expertise to design and carry out projects in any region of the advanced biofuels or specialty chemicals space.  For more information, contact Courtney Breckenridge, (618) 659-6737 ext. 230, cbreckenridge@ethanolresearch.com, or visit http://www.ethanolresearch.com.