Illinois: The U.S. Department of Energy has announced more than $1,703,665 has been awarded for alternative fuel projects through the State Energy Program (SEP). Of that, more than $355,000 has been slated for E85 marketing and infrastructure, including $90,000 targeting efforts in Illinois. ICGA President Roger Sy and Curtis Donaldson, Chairman of the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition applauded the DOE program because it will continue to advance the establishment of E85 fueling facilities and ethanol promotion. The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) will administer the Illinois grants for 5 new E85 locations. Funding will help offset costs of installing things such as new fuel tanks and pumps. DCEO says the grants will lead to new fueling sites in Litchfield, Springfield, Normal, Effingham, and Marion.

Minnesota: Most of the time, farm operators first learn about research into the value (or lack of it) of new techniques, new equipment, new seed varieties by reading the end results. However, the real proof to farmers comes in trying out new opportunities for themselves. The University of Minnesota Southwest Research and Outreach Center in Lamberton decided to let the farm operators and ag professionals do just that, by allowing them a firsthand look at trials and decide for themselves. A tour took place on Friday, Sept. 9, at the Lamberton center that allowed folks to "come out and see the experiments before the combine has come through," said Bruce Potter, a pest management expert at Lamberton. The tours included several experiments supported by the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council, including a look at the performance of high-yield corn varieties within different rotations, and also an attempt to "push" the fertility using a three-part application of nitrogen fertilizer, compared with the conventional one-shot.