Agri-women focus on energy By JOYCE BUPP Staff Correspondent DANVILLE - “Energy” was the program focus of the annual convention of Penn’s Agri-Women, held at the Danville Sheraton Inn on Tuesday, October 16. Three guest speaker panelists represented “a cross-section of the state’s energy interests. They were William Matson, general Warren Lamm Pennsylvania House agriculture committee. r HENRY K. FISHER. INC. SAND BLASTING & SPRAY PAINTING AERIAL LADDER EQUIPMENT SPECIALIZE IN FARM BUILDINGS. (Farm buildings ask for Amos Fisher) 667 Hartman Station Rd. Lancaster, PA 17601 717-393-6530 manager of the Penn sylvania Rural Electric Association, Warren Lamm, Pennsylvania House Agriculture Committee and J. Luther Snyder, state Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. Following presentations by the trio of experts, moderator Naomi Spahr opened the program for a lengthy and lively exchange of ideas on the energy situation. “Gasohol is one signal we can send the OPEC nations,” insists Lamm, who’s an authority on the gas-alcohol fuel blend. Every farm, he says, produces at least one commodity that could potentially be converted to gasohol. The fuel is a blend of one gallon of distilled alcohol to nine gallons of unleaded gas. Research shows that gasohol increases the fuel’s octane by three or four percent, reduces exhaust emissions by up to 80 percent and produces better fuel mileage. Mercer, Erie and Warren Counties now have gasohol available through the United Refining Company, Lamm indicated. That fuel is now being hauled in from Cedar Rapids, lowa. A few stations in the eastern part of the state have gasohol and Lamm projects that as many as five hundred Penn sylvania service stations will be pumping the liquid before the end of the year. But, he insists, it should be produced right here, saving hauling costs and providing a market for farm crops. According to Lamm, 17 million gallons of fuel alcohol could be produced from the amount of acreage now set aside under government crop subsidy programs. It would also be a way, he figures, to utilize agriculture waste products, such as whey from cheese products and moisture saturated potatoes that promise to rot in storage. Biggest current roadblock to on-farm production of the alternate fuel is the'Penn sylvania Liquor Control Board’s annual $2500 (Turn to Page 106) Berks County’s chapter had the most representation at the State Convention. They are also the newest chapter affiliated with Penn’s Agri-Women. Who says gasohol hasn’t a ghost of a chance? This fellow at Red Rooster Farms is planning on brewing some out of the pumpkin harvest. Er • maybe that wasn’t exactly what he had In mind. Lancaster Farming, Saturday, October 27,1979 105
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