Agriculture Producing Electricity

Harvesting Update 11/18

Sorghum harvest began this month with a surge of activity in both the Hermiston and Nyssa areas of the Co-op.  Field choppers and trucks were running hard, dealing with problems and succeeding in bringing in the crop.  The main storage pile in Nyssa grew rapidly receiving between 500 and 2000 tons of Sorghum daily when weather permitted.  As of this update, the harvest is completed in both locations and the Co-op is pleased with the success achieved thus far.

Nyssa, Oregon Storage Day 2

Harvest video Click Here to watch Equipment demonstration day in Boardman, OR. Our thanks for the Krone Big X 1000 Chopper provided by Burks Equipment Co. Nampa, ID   Click here for a video of dry harvesting

Important News and Information Updated 10/1

Board Directors Travel to College Station, Texas for Ceres Ag Day.

News Release
Ontario, Oregon September 3, 2010

AEPA Members Report on Texas Trip

Thursday evening representatives from Agri Energy Producers Association (AEPA) reported to the board of directors on their trip to the College Station, Texas Research facilities of Ceres Seed Company. Board member, Bill Romans, of Vale, described the trip as a valuable learning experience in the development of AEPA here in Eastern Oregon.

“This was an opportunity to see how strong the movement toward dedicated energy crops is and the excellent resources that Ceres Seed has in their 240 acre research center next to research farms owned by Texas A & M University,” Said Bill. “They have 600 trials on different varieties of high biomass sorghum in the ground now and that’s just the one crop. They also are working with sweet sorghum, switch grass and miscanthus as well as some other energy crops.”

Craig Scott, of Hermiston, another board member making the trip added, “There were people from all over the U.S. and from many countries around the world. In all I would say there were about 150 invited guests at the event. We are glad to have the support of Ceres seed as they continue to develop more productive varieties.”

AEPA is a grower owned energy cooperative operating in both Ontario and Hermiston, Oregon with the main office in Ontario. Energy crops being grown during this start-up year total 1500 acres and will be used to produce renewable electricity. AEPA first full year of production will be 2011 and will need additional co-op members and acreage to meet the demand for these energy crops.

left to right, Kurt Christensen, Craig Scott, Bill Romans, Lance Wells