View From The Cab

By David Tollefson, Columnist

My guest columnist this week is Paul Freeman, local farmer and longtime promoter of corn and soybeans through national, state and county ag groups.  Here is his column:

What is this country coming to? It is coming to the middle America for needed solutions NOW. This past December, I, Paul Freeman, a director on the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Board, had the opportunity to oversee farmer investments in New York City markets. We have established a great partnership by providing solutions with Biofuels that consumers are demanding in addressing climate change. Our tour was organized by the Clean Fuels Alliance, previously known as the Biodiesel Board. I first went on this annual tour back in 2015, when the theme was on use of Biodiesel made from soybeans for heating. Inclusion rates of up to 20% Biodiesel in the supply chain for heating homes has made huge improvements in air quality in New York City, as documented by the medical community in the city, with the greatest improvement in health factors in the lower income areas.

Why does New York need middle America? On the most recent tour in December, I learned if New York State planted every possible tillable acre to soybeans, they could not meet their present Biodiesel demand. The tour was positive and upbeat because city officials appreciate the solutions we provide.

One focus on this trip was providing information to the marine transportation industry about the benefits of Biofuels and renewable fuels. This was particularly interesting to me because I am on the Board of Directors for the Upper Mississippi Waterway Association. Getting supplies to dense populations in urban areas is dependent upon the waterway, and those who experienced the 1969 river fire in Ohio can attest to the lasting consequences of not managing your resources properly. The first day of the tour, we traveled to the Bronx to learn about navigation on the nearby rivers. As we approached the dock, I saw an old fort with a recent freeway pillar springing from the middle of its courtyard – old and new blended together. We spent the morning in dialogue with many university and city officials. 

Moving goods by water and water movement has been a competitive advantage for the USA, and the potential for Biofuels is part of the big picture. Some of the largest tugboats carry 55,000 gallons of fuel, and worldwide there are 6,700 container ships. 

In the afternoon we toured the new Empire State boat that is used for training and humanitarian missions. It cost approximately $200 million and four years, with rust already starting to show.

The second day of the trip we held discussions on more of the consumer level because it is the consumer demanding changes to curb our carbon footprint. It was interesting to learn more about the role equality, equity and social justice came into the conversation at the university, where we met a dozen environmental science students. They gave us their perspectives and put us to the test on how we farm. It made for a good dialogue with all gaining greater understanding. Several of the professors at this school did outreach by managing a public garden the size of a common farm shed. It was located near two airports and an industrial park. The soil was so contaminated that they had to haul in fresh soil for the raised beds. In one corner there was a rough-looking 15×15 plot where they had planted 150 trees into the original soil. One of the main insights was how beneficial the garden was for building community among its neighbors.

At every stop there was enthusiasm on how renewable biofuels and sustainable aviation fuels will be a driver on how we look at and use energy. To properly explain this further refinement of a home-grown fuel will take another column in this newspaper slot. I will try to keep it from a science lecture. 

My last stop before catching the subway to the airport was a stroll through Central Park. It was here that the partnership with the Big Apple began back in 1992 when we gave the park service Biodiesel to use in their service vehicles. Immediately they saw it was a good product and a good fit.

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As I write this on Jan. 18, it is zero degrees outside. I think the lows have been below zero every day since 2024 began. Quite a change from December, when many of the lows were not even below freezing.

Looking at the forecasts, this coming Sunday it is supposed to moderate, and seemingly to the end of January the lows will stay above zero.

But we are not alone! Many of you have watched football during the playoffs, and seen the extreme snow and cold in Buffalo, New York, and the game in Kansas City where the quarterback had his helmet broken by a head-to-head hit in zero degree weather after dark.

My brother and family in suburban Maryland have been shoveling 10 inches of snow around their place, and our daughter in Virginia, 40 minutes away from Luther’s, had snow, but only a few inches. It is two years since they’ve had measurable snow!

The other day, after two snowfalls totaling 5 inches and a day of hard winds, I had to scoop and blow one of our township roads. A small row of weeds along the west edge of the road managed to stop that drifting snow – making small drifts that were hard as rock. I had to scoop with the loader bucket first, then blow, since the blower just would not grab those wind-driven drifts.

So, this is Minnesota. Every winter is different, and this one has just begun!

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Please contact David Tollefson with thoughts or comments on this or future columns at: adtollef@hcinet.net