Anoka-Ramsey Community College and Ever Cat Fuels, LLC., both located in Minnesota, have teamed up to encourage land owners to plant Energy Crops- The SUSTAINABLE way to produce Biodiesel.

 

Anoka-Ramsey Community College's

Energy Crops and Beneficial Insect study

 

 

 

     Early May 2014, Anoka-Ramsey Community College began their study on energy crops and their influence on beneficial pollinating insects at the demonstration site of Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Cambridge Campus. 

 

Scroll down page for dated project information.

 

October 20-25, 2014:

  • The Genuity Roundup Ready® 2 Yield soybean, donated by WinField, was combined by Ben and Gerald Gelle, with a 13' flexible head. The soybean was purchased by Ecklund's Ag Service of Isanti, MN. The soybean field yielded 246 bushels. Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science Lab students collected data for soil variances and its effect upon soybean growth.  The collected data will be posted shortly. Click HERE for a YouTube Video of the soybean being combined and field prep being completed for next year's research project. Click on photos below to enlarge.

 

10-22-14 A small portion of the demo plot being prepped for next year's research on soil conservation

10-22-14 Roundup Ready soybeans ready to be harvested

10-22-14 Harvesting the Roundup Ready soybeans

10-22-14 Roundup Ready soybean getting ready to be shipped for sale

10-22-14 Roundup Ready soybean getting ready to be shipped for sale

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

10-25-14 Waite-Altringer's Online Environmental Science lab class soil sampling at the ARCC demonstration site

 

September 12, 2014:

  • The Bayer CropScience canola, InVigor L130 & InVigor L160S, was combined by Jeff DeYoung using a John Deere 9560, with a 912 pick up head. The canola is being purchased by Northstar Agri Industries and was hauled away by their "on farm pick-up service". The canola field yielded a clean weight of 26,423lbs. The Winfield soybeans are beginning to yellow and lose their leaves. Frost was on the fields the morning of September 13th.  Click HERE for a YouTube Video of the canola being combined. Click on photos below to enlarge.

9-12-14 Winfield soybeans maturing on the demonstration plot of Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Cambridge campus.

9-12-14 Winfield soybeans maturing on the demonstration plot of Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Cambridge campus.

9-12-14 Winfield soybeans maturing on the demonstration plot of Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Cambridge campus.

9-12-14 Winfield soybeans maturing on the demonstration plot of Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Cambridge campus. Most pods have three beans each.

9-12-14 Winfield soybeans maturing on the demonstration plot of Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Cambridge campus.

9-12-14 Winfield soybeans maturing on the demonstration plot of Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Cambridge campus.

9-12-14 Dried Bayer CropScience canola in wind rows, ready to be combined. Windfiled Soybeans are maturing in field just beyond the canola fields.

9-12-14 Wind rows of Bayer CropScience canola being combined.

9-12-14 Wind rows of Bayer CropScience canola being combined.

9-12-14 Wind rows of Bayer CropScience canola being combined.

9-12-14 Bayer CropScience canola ready to be combined.

9-12-14 Bayer CropScience canola being placed in a grain bin, temporarily.

9-12-14 Dried Bayer CropScience canola on the Anoka-Ramsey Community College's Cambridge campus demonstration plot.

9-12-14 Cab view of the canola being combined.

9-12-14 Cab View of the ARCC demonstration plot.

9-12-14 Bayer CropScience canola in the hopper of Jeff DeYoung's John Deere 9560.

9-12-14 Bayer CropScience canola being placed in the grain bin, temporarily.

9-12-14 Bayer CropScience canola being placed in the Northstar Agri Industries' "on farm pick-up service" trailer.

9-12-14 Bayer CropScience canola being placed in the Northstar Agri Industries' "on farm pick-up service" trailer.

9-12-14 Bayer CropScience canola being placed in the Northstar Agri Industries' "on farm pick-up service" trailer.

9-12-14 Bayer CropScience canola being placed in the Northstar Agri Industries' "on farm pick-up service" trailer.

 

August 16, 2014:

  • All of the Bayer CropScience canola, InVigor L130 & InVigor L160S, was swathed and put into windrows for drying by Jeff DeYoung using a 2012 MacDon M155, with a 20ft draper head.  Click HERE for the data from the beneficial insect study within the canola field. The soybean is growing well, but is becoming infested with aphids.  Brigade will be sprayed on the soybean field within the next several days.  Click HERE for YouTube Video of the canola being swathed. Click on photos below to enlarge.

8-16-14 Swathing canola L130 & L160S using a 2012 MacDon with a 20ft draper head.

8-16-14 Canola swathed at ARCC demonstration site.

8-16-14 Swathing canola L130 & L160S using a 2012 MacDon with a 20ft draper head.

8-16-14 Very dry canola prior to being swathed

8-16-14 Cab view of canola being swathed

8-16-14 Cab view of canola being swathed

8-16-14 Swathing canola

8-16-14 Swathing canola

8-16-14 Swathing canola

8-16-14 Windrows of canola

8-16-14 Canola seeds

8-16-14 Swathed canola

8-16-14 Soybeans at the ARCC demonstration plot

8-16-14 Soybeans at the ARCC demonstration plot

8-16-14 Soybeans at the ARCC demonstration plot

8-16-14 Soybeans at the ARCC demonstration plot - ladybug feeding on aphids

8-16-14 Soybeans at the ARCC demonstration plot

8-16-14 Soybeans at the ARCC demonstration plot

 

 

August 12, 2014:

  • Early maturity canola variety drying out rapidly.    Click on photos below to enlarge.

8-12-14 Canola at the ARCC demo plot

8-12-14 Canola at the ARCC demo plot

8-12-14 Canola at the ARCC demo plot

8-12-14 Canola at the ARCC demo plot

8-12-14 Canola at the ARCC demo plot

8-12-14 Canola pods opened

 

 

July 29, 2014:

  • Soybean growth at the ARCC demonstration plot.   Click on photos below to enlarge.

7-29-14 Soybean field demonstration plot

7-29-14 Soybean field demonstration plot

7-29-14 Soybean field demonstration plot

 

 

July 12 -19, 2014:

  • At our site, the canola flower numbers are reducing and the pods are filling out.  The soybeans are growing well and average around 13" in height.  Waite-Altringer's online environmental science lab students conducted a soil study within the canola field. The soil tests included levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, pH, as well as percolation rates, canola plant counts, and topography. Results will be posted at a later date. Click on photos below to enlarge.

7-12-14 Canola growing within the ARCC demonstration plot

7-12-14 Canola growing within the ARCC demonstration plot

7-16-14 Canola within the ARCC demonstration plot

7-16-14 Soybean field across from the canola field on the Cambridge campus

7-16-14 Soybean field across from the canola field on the Cambridge campus

7-19-14 Environmental science students soil testing within the canola field on the Cambridge campus

7-19-14 Environmental science students soil testing within the canola field on the Cambridge campus

7-19-14 Environmental science students soil testing within the canola field on the Cambridge campus

7-19-14 Environmental science students soil testing within the canola field on the Cambridge campus

7-19-14 Environmental science students soil testing within the canola field on the Cambridge campus

7-19-14 Environmental science students soil testing within the canola field on the Cambridge campus

7-19-14 Environmental science students soil testing within the canola field on the Cambridge campus

 

 

July 9, 2014:

  • The beneficial insect study continues on and the early emergent canola is now beginning to lose its flowers with pods now forming.  The standard length spring canola is just now (7-9-14) in full bloom.  The canola ranges in height from 2 feet to almost 5 feet in some areas.  The majority of the canola field is roughly 4 feet in height. The soybean field was sprayed with RoundUp on 7-3-14 to try to control the heavy weeds that are now growing at the site.  Click on photos below to enlarge.

6-30-14 Early emergent spring canola at ARCC demonstration plot

6-30-14 Pan trap set within ARCC spring canola field

7-9-14 Bee within spring canola field

7-9-14 Typical spring canola height within the ARCC demonstration plot

　

7-9-14 Soybean field a week after being sprayed with RoundUp

7-9-14 Soybean field one week after being sprayed to control weeds

 

 

June 23, 2014:

  • Spring Canola Field is beginning to bloom. Beneficial insect study begins at the demonstration plots early maturity canola field.  Study will include a visual inspection and pan traps (3 colors: blue, white & yellow). The site had been sprayed with  Liberty on June 10th, 2014.  Click on photos below to enlarge.

6-23-14 Pan trap locations within ARCC Canola field

6-23-14 Canola blooming

6-23-14 Canola at ARCC demonstration site

6-23-14 Pan traps set for beneficial insect study within canola field

6-23-14 Canola field at ARCC demonstration plot

6-23-14 Setting pan traps for a beneficial insect study within canola field

 

 

 

June 9, 2014:

  • Soil and its effects upon canola growth study conducted by High School faculty around the state of Minnesota during the E3 conference (Energy Education for Educators) at the ARCC demonstration plot.  Click on photos below to enlarge.

6-9-14 E3 conference work by High School teachers from around the state of MN- Soil testing

6-9-14 E3 conference work by High School teachers from around the state of MN- Soil testing

6-9-14 E3 conference work by High School teachers from around the state of MN- Soil testing

6-9-14 E3 conference work by High School teachers from around the state of MN- Soil testing

6-9-14 E3 conference work by High School teachers from around the state of MN- Soil testing

6-9-14 E3 conference work by High School teachers from around the state of MN- Soil testing

 

 

June 3 - June 4, 2014:

  • Soybeans & Canola both growing at the demonstration plots. No herbicides have been applied at this point. The large ruts seen through the canola fields are due to placing gopher bait, in moist soil, throughout the plot. Click on photos below to enlarge.

6-3-14 Soybean emerging

6-3-14 Soybean emerging at demonstration site

6-3-14 Soybean emerging at demonstration site

6-4-14 Canola growing at ARCC demonstration site

6-4-14 Canola growing at ARCC demonstration site -no herbicide applied

6-4-14 Canola growing at ARCC demonstration site -tracks at site are from placing gopher bait

 

 

May 21 - May 22, 2014:

  • The donated Kelly land across from the College property was disked, harrowed, limed (100lb/A) and fertilized (8-10-34-5 @ 200lbs/A).  The field was then planted with Genuity Roundup Ready® 2 Yield soybean, donated by WinField, in 12" rows at 5 seeds per linear foot. The unfertilized soil consisted mainly of loamy sand with a pH of 5.7-6.8, organic matter at 0.6-1.1%, phosphorus at 43-84ppm, potassium at 45-194ppm, and extremely low nitrogen levels.  This is the first time in MANY years that the donated fields have been cultivated. Canola seedlings have started to emerge on the ARCC demo plot.  Click HERE for YouTube Video of the soybean being planted.  Click on photos below to enlarge.

5-21-14 Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean being planted

5-21-14 Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean planted in 12" rows

5-21-14 Genuity Roundup Ready 2 Yield soybean planted on donated Kelly land

5-21-14 Soybean field (foreground) & Canola field (background) across Spirit River Drive

5-21-14 Invigor Canola seedlings

5-21-14 InVigor Canola seedlings

 

May 6 - May 7, 2014:

  • The College owned 25 acre demonstration plot was disked, harrowed, and fertilized (33-8-0-8 @ 300lbs/A). The field was planted with Canola InVigor hybrids L130 & L160S, donated by Bayer CropScience, using a Brillion seeder at ~8lbs/acre. The unfertilized soil consisted mainly of loamy sand with a pH of 5.7-6.8, organic matter at 0.6-1.1%, phosphorus at 43-84ppm, potassium at 45-194ppm, and extremely low nitrogen levels.  The area had heavy rain (2+") the days just following planting. Click HERE for YouTube Video of prep work & canola being planted.  Click on photos below to enlarge.

5-6-14 Soil temperature and moisture level

5-6-14 Field prep being completed using a plow and harrow

5-6-14 Field after plowed and harrowed

5-7-14 Canola hybrid InVigor L130 & L160S donated by Bayer CropScience

5-7-14 Canola L130 & L160S being planted using a Brillion seeder

5-7-14 Canola L130 & L160S being planted using a Brillion seeder