Why US Farmers Grow So Much Corn

[@LauraFarms]

I know people are going to have a lot of opinions about this video! Please be respectful in the comments. Thank you!

[@michaellindsey1543]

@@scottwilliamtoombs You are correct. I could go on for pages on all the things about ethanol that are less wonderful but this isn't the place. I fully believe that Laura and Grant have only the best intentions and I'm very jealous of their life compared to my war zone life in Kalifornia.

[@hammerdick82]

@@michaellindsey1543Is that spelling of California some right wing nonsense?

[@MrOcean419]

Great video! You and Grant are doing great work. There will always be trolls no matter the content. Don't ever worry about opening a can of worms or should that be "corn". 😁 Say it from the heart and never waiver to appease the few trolls.

[@longboardguy]

@@hammerdick82the only nonsense is what the left has done to California actually……

[@jerryarcher1923]

It’s just sad Laura,when you have to make such a statement for people to be civil…people need to pray to do better, don’t be so negative.

[@JeffWarhol]

Grant's talk of the cyclical nature of corn and CO2 was really well explained. Thank you for that insight!

[@BillSkidmoreoutside]

Grant did awesome on the breakdown, from a farmer from Vermont that doesn't grow for grain

[@cantrell0817]

That was the most succinct explanation of corn plant biology and ethanol I've ever heard. Wow

[@Cybergasm01]

Yea he really did a great job explaining that to a non farming dummy like me that i can i could eastly understand it . Great job Grant .

[@steveboling2515]

We do the same process here in KY. We just store it for at least 4 years in charred white oak barrels.

[@WoodWorxGuy]

😂 Yesss! 🥃

[@colinvoss8484]

Cool

[@deepsleep7822]

Expensive fuel.

[@brianhartman5845]

It tastes a lot better that way!!!

[@xSCHEF]

Is bourbon Made from corn yeah?

[@bobd9999]

Excellent commentary and explanation Grant starting around 5:30.

[@craig1lengyel]

Many thanks to Chief for allowing the tour at all, and to Grant thanks for taking us on the tour !

[@coljohn3997]

Such a clear, concise and interesting presentation. Thanks y'all!

[@lancmac]

Thank you CHIEF for allowing the tour... thanx Laura..

[@chiefindustriesinc.1954]

Laura, you and Grand gave a great explanation of the corn growing cycle and how it is then used for Ethanol production! Thanks for taking time to spend with our team and being an amazing partner!

[@Paws4thot]

Many thanks to Chief for allowing the tour at all, and to Grant and yourself for presenting it, particularly during harvest. As an aside, Waffle is usually described as a polydactyl cat.

[@jaronburbidge]

This was really interesting, thanks Larua and Grant :)

[@lewanderson9381]

This is an OUTSTANDING video! The explanation that Grant provides is fascinating! I realize there is a lot of controversy over ethanol, but Grant made his explanation easy to understand and very Informative. You kids do an excellent job of opening our eyes to the work AND rewards of farm life. Kudos to both of you!! And thanks to Chief for the informative tour!

[@michaelbutler1557]

I agree. Outstanding video.

[@tylerdespain760]

That’s industrialized moonshine! Pretty cool plant, thanks for the tour during harvest.

[@whitegrizzleySR]

There are a lot older ethanol plants in eastern USA , they are called moonshine stills 😁 Thanks for showing and telling us what is going on where you dump the corn.

[@deepsleep7822]

That’s what you call a small batch ethanol plant. It has to be sampled during processing, usually by tasting small samples ( it’s a tough job but somebody’s got to do it) for correct ethanol percentage.

[@larrycates7655]

Lmao

[@TomLowers]

Thanks Laura for the tour. Very,very interesting ! Thanks again. GOD BLESS you both !!!!!!❤❤❤❤

[@larjo7690]

43 year cooperative,now retired employee. Truly one of the top-agriculture KZbin channels out there. I enjoy the videos so much. I learn a lot from you and Grant. The tour was very informative. Looking forward to many more videos. Best of luck with your harvest, and God bless.

[@paullynch277]

Interesting Tour. So Ethanol is essentially Moonshine on an Industrial Scale.....

[@robert45tn]

Close too it add yeast and sugar and you would have moonshine

[@bigredmed]

Yeah, but it gets denatured before it leaves the plant.

[@mrrs8118]

I was going to make the same comment! 😂 Interesting though.

[@joemartino6976]

Teaching the greater world beyond Nebraska all about farming is one of the best things about your channel. Thanks for doing that.

[@aarondodge1913]

It's always best when people get the opportunity to gain a better understanding. This video did just that. Thank you. Great job!

[@derekhalford187]

I've been following this channel for a number of months subscribed and it's really growing on me, as it's so interesting, light hearted and fun. Good job Laura and hubby.

[@oldsoldier4209]

Thanks for getting us a peek, Laura and Grant. The process is more technical, but less complicated, than I thought it was. Plus, Waffles is cute. 🤠👍

[@lilshyguy26]

Thank you Laura and Grant for explaining and showing us how it works from dirt to my tank. Much appreciated keep it up! Love the videos you both make for us

[@denisbrisebois7658]

That was well done and well explained… I learned something cool today… 👍😎.

[@FLPhotoCatcher]

Yes, the tour was very interesting! I disagree with the whole corn into fuel thing though. Ethanol takes lots of fossil-fuel, chemicals, etc, to make and transport, so it's not even good for the environment overall. And ethanol fuel when it absorbs water from humidity in the air can also *ruin* small engines.

[@tetedur377]

@@FLPhotoCatcher Yeah, and I noticed that Grant skipped right over the fact that while plants absorb the CO2 from ethanol-powered engines, they also absorb the CO2 from gasoline-powered engines. He makes a clear implication that Ethanol good/gasoline bad. If I recall correctly, you have to have gasoline to mix with ethanol - which I am pretty sure they mix either at the gas stations, or in the holding tanks at the refinery. As far as I know, 85% ethanol is as high as that percentage can go; at least at the current time.

[@Rusty1220]

@@FLPhotoCatcher I run a fuel injected pickup truck engine on e-85 for many years. Today the truck is 20 years old and still on the road with the original engine without any overhauls. The fuel pump lasted around 180,000 miles. ( Well beyond its designed life expectancy). I now have a second truck and it has run on E 85 for 46,000 miles and still going strong.

[@FLPhotoCatcher]

@@Rusty1220 Sure, cars and trucks can be ok with 15% ethanol or e-85. But I was talking about small engines. Specifically rubber seals and some synthetic materials in those small engines. But also, left over winter, water can collect on the bottom of the steel fuel tanks or other steel parts and rust them.

[@johnreed6986]

You did such a good job of explaining the process Laura.

[@danielvogt9371]

For me as a german guy I did not understand every word you said, so I had to look up some of them. But it was very interesting. Thanks

[@bernardsteffen2788]

A simple "Thank you" is not enough, but that is all that I have.

[@kerryconnors3309]

Laura and Grant this was one of your best video's for information!!!!

[@lardo666]

A molecular sieve is what it sounds like. You can engineer certain minerals (e.g. zeolites) to have precise sized spaces in their structure. They have one that's tuned to grab water and reject ethanol - it removes the last bit of water (distillation can only reach 95% (190 US proof))

[@Paws4thot]

That's a similar idea to the artificial kidney that's used in my haemodialysis, yes?

[@louislockhart5162]

yes

[@johnm7249]

An oxygen concentrator also uses a molecular sieve to provide oxygen for breathing, and high temperature processes like glass blowing and welding.

[@JimmyGrids]

Brings back memories of my plastic processing days, we used a molecular sieve to grab water molecules out of the air before we heated it up and used it to dry the plastic before melting. Talk about air conditioning - we required the dew point of the air to be 40 degrees below zero!

[@jayglosser2014]

What happens to the soupy corn being loaded onto the semi?

[@stevenlageson1868]

thank you for the tour. Very interesting. Anything this country can do to lesson our dependence on foreign oil I’m all for.

[@joebledsoe257]

The co2 or carbon in petroleum was previously in the air. The plants of the time captured it same as your corn and then as it was buried by geologic processes to eventually be processed into methane, oil, and coal. Our efforts to make ethanol are just a short cut in the carbon cycle. Thanks love your feed. Keep the episodes coming.

[@deepsleep7822]

The Law of Conservation of Energy.

[@bernardburdick9264]

Thanks for clarifying that. By our use of fossil fuels, we are recycling the carbon that was in the air millions of years ago, which had been many times higher than it is today. If the CO2 in the air were to drop below 200 ppm, which is where it was heading not too long ago, plants would be in dire straits. CO2 is essential for life on earth, it is not a pollutant.

[@stevenicoson6670]

Thanks for another great video Laura and Grant. It was interesting and enjoyable. Thanks for showing us the Chiefs corn plant operation. It was interesting and produces a lot of gasoline for our vehicles. Thanks again for the tour. It was interesting and involves a lot of scientific processes at which I do not understand. But oh well it works. Thanks to Laura and Grant for the tour and Chiefs. You all take care and be safe. Thanks. The Iowa Farm Boy. Steve.

[@bigredmed]

During the off season, see if you can get a tour of the Lactic acid plant by Blair. See them turn corn into plastic.

[@philipzocco7377]

Hi Laura. I was out in Nebraska last month chasing trains on the Union Pacific Railroad and I am so amazed at the amount of corn that is grown. After seeing your video, I can understand why. Thanks to you and Grant and ALL of the farmers for what you do. This Connecticut Yankee greatly appreciates it. Hope to be back out there next October.

[@loganpass]

Somewhere in your future Laura is a school teacher. You started to slip into the role in this video! And I mean that as the greatest compliment, you have the natural skillset. Thanks for the hard work cranking out these videos all the while slaving over a hot farm!

[@pieteragema2527]

Thanks Grant for the clear explanation, this answers the question i had a couple of videaos ago.

[@user-vx7wz5yb5w]

Laura and Grant, Always enjoyed your videos but you've really stepped them up to a new and more sophisticated level with these last two. Really great work! (And thanks to Chief for offering the tour.)

[@samspade7360]

What a great conceptualization, Grant. You paint perfect picture of the cycle! Laura, Grant and Chief, thank you very much for the tour. Very interesting. ❤

[@nigelcanuck5943]

Thanks Grant for explaining the Carbon Cycle that is corn growing. The yellow "batteries" you are growing are very helpful. Trust Laura to find Chief's cat! ☺

[@TroyCenter]

Laura your voice is so much deeper when you don’t have to yell. You were in the office. I like the heavy equipment voice Laura. Takes effort! Grant. Fantastic add ons. Your a lucky man.

[@raymondcarl1804]

Professor Grant great job on your explanation of the corn growing process. You could easily be a teacher.

[@talegunner4414]

I love Waffle! I learned a bunch. Thank you both for my education .

[@jls1045]

Thanks for the awesome tour of the ethanol plant! When you mentioned, "look at all the electric motors", it brought back memories of my career at General Electric, working in the Motor Division. I worked a few years in purchasing/inventory control, but ended my career in sales/customer service. I sold both horizontal & vertical electric motors to customers all across the country, until GE sold the motor business in the 1990's. By the way, you & Grant look great in those hard hats!😊❤

[@richhoward596]

What a great explanation of the cycle and for explaining the technical side of where the corn goes. Definitely an eye opener. I just love this channel as I learn something every video.

[@rockercover]

Very interesting, Grant did a good job also, explaining some plant science. Thank You!

[@johnensminger7675]

You look great in a hard hat, Laura!! 😊Thanks for sharing this with us! So interesting! You are so close to your goal! 500k

[@stewarttate]

CO2 Cycle, so true Grant! Thank you for the plant tour and internal process details Laura. Chief was really nice to provide the tour; I luv the plant cat, which I assume is cats! Just smart in my book. My Dad always had well cared for Shop Cats. And, I've always done the same. They are members of our family whom we luv and care for. Please thank Chief. Everything I've read about Chief is really interesting, good ideas in unique product areas.

[@heinzruffieux5817]

Wow! Finally a farmer who understands the energy- and carbon cycle! Thank you very much for this video. Well done! Did they tell you how the plant is heating up all that corn? Do they also use some carbon neutral sources or still plain oil?

[@bryanminer9110]

Grant teaches us more in about 4 minutes than my school ever did. I knew photosynthesis. The tour was awesome thanks chief for letting the best tour guides in Nebraska in for us to tag along.

[@jollyrogerhobbies2386]

Thank you Grant for that explanation at the end! I'm 43 years old and I learned alot, thank you!!

[@Kexya]

10k! you got this!🎉

[@hfc1230]

Hearing about ethanol is so cool. Watching you give the tour and explain everything is awesome. You have beautiful eyes as well. Thank you for your explanation of ethanol and giving us all a tour.

[@tylergilmore2050]

Ok, great video. Educational. Especially grants lesson on corn and ethanol. My question is why use corn( aka food source) for fuel and not for food usuage??

[@raprock5000]

Exactly 💯%

[@leooosterhof241]

Laura I live near a ethenol plant here in Ontario Canada. Now that you had a tour I do not need to take one. I really enjoy watching your flogs Thankyou

[@BrianJones-vr9lc]

Love ya'lls videos how many gallons of diesel, propane or gasoline is used to produce corn a year this is the part of "Green" that marketing always leaves out.

[@kenstringer9756]

I use to work in a refinery so I do understand the process and you did a good job for a quick tour and grant did a grea t job as well!

[@gregaustin8320]

That was awesome! Thanks guys! Look forward to the next one. Be safe.

[@greyrideroutlaw7826]

Thanks, Chief and L & G, for the tour.

[@johngittins6244]

Really interesting video and explaining the corn as batteries and crop as a solar farm is genius - love it ! 👍👍

[@zandanse]

Thank you for the tour! Grant's explanation of the corn to energy cycle was great!

[@myronbeachy3727]

Hi Laura and Grant! Love your videos! So cool with the ethanol plant tour. Keep up the great work! Just curious, what affect, if any, does it have on your channel, if I skip the commercials? If it has a negative effect, I will most certainly watch them all. Love you guys!!

[@LauraFarms]

No negative effect!

[@robertflagle7076]

Thanks for the tour of the ethanol plant. It has really expanded and changed over the years. Many years ago when it was first constructed, I was friends with the construction manager. When the plant first went online, they made small souvenir bottles with the first run or alcohol. I used to have one of those bottles, but it has gotten lost over the years.

[@michaelwilliams7481]

Wow, thank Laura and Grant. That is some large processing plant, so much work to make fuel, it can't be cheap. Love from Mike. ❤

[@michaelbutler1557]

Great job explaining the ethanol plant and the commercial use of corn. Good job explaining the plant cycle in relation to carbon. Nice video to watch and very interesting.

[@normnicholson4689]

Loved the tour! That's awesome, and I've always wanted to learn more about ethanol production! I've been involved in agriculture changes for many years. The soybeans are so diverse in the byproducts that can be produced also! I just LOVE your channel, Laura, and Grant! So, VERY educational ❤ Thanks so much for helping everyone learn! "Well done, good and faithful servants!"👏👏💯💖🙏🙏🤠🇺🇲

[@ronwhites1432]

Grant did a good job of explaining the carbon cycle, also what was not talked about is that corn is mostly startch and a not good for long term feed for cattle, the fermentation process uses the starch for making fuel and leaves high protein mash that good feed so the corn is still used for feed

[@poppadoc57]

I learned the HARD way...to capitalize on farming and ranching is hard as it gets. (Lost my ass over and over again). Then I see young people doing the research and the leg work to make it happen and then to capitalize on capitalizing gives me HOPE for the future. I am amazed at the new generation! Thank Laura and Grant!

[@massey35]

Laura and Grant, the video was awesome to show all about the ethanol plant, thank you so much

[@richardhumble2296]

I realized after I clicked on your video that I did not pay attention to the title. Just proves that you and Grant always produce a good video so who cares what the title is!!

[@wolfsix3713]

Thank you for the behind the scenes tour of the factory. My wife and I really enjoy your videos.

[@markwestcott3414]

Thank you for sharing the concept of the corn field as a solar panel, and the ear as the battery, using carbon to grow and store energy. Taken one step further, plants and animals from thousands/millions of years ago, absorbed carbon and solar energy as they grew, then they ended up in the earth to decompose into densely packed energy that we use today through the consumption of fossil fuels. It's all, literally, solar energy... and some carbon.

[@Rusty1220]

You are 100 % right. I like all the fuels, natural gas, oil, and coal. Yet I also use E 85 because it helps keep the money in the heartland of the United States. I also drive Electric car because I am a retired coal miner and the electric is produced from our local coal mine. One ton of coal will power a car for roughly 8,000 miles. One ton of coal would be 3 ft solid cube square of volume.

[@ricksuydam5718]

Great video, good explanation of the process. I found Grant's explanation of the corn's life cycle fascinating, never had any idea it worked like that!

[@davemccracken3457]

I'm curious about the waste byproduct that they ship out. What is it used for? Is it good for animal feed? Or is it just discarded?

[@jerryfischer3988]

Animal feed it's great for cattle 😊

[@davemccracken3457]

It's good to know that the corn is providing both ethanol and animal feed. An efficient use of the crop.

[@FLPhotoCatcher]

@@davemccracken3457 It would be better if it was all used for feed, human and animal feed. We could export more grain and help the trade imbalance. And too many engines are being ruined by ethanol fuel, leading to more expense for American families. I don't like being negative, but these facts are actually known. I did like the plant tour. 🙂

[@Ed_in_Md]

Thanks very much for the tour. Thanks to Chief for allowing it.

[@DCS026]

Now, that brought back memories of my days of working in Chemical plants. I retired after 32 years from Dow Chemical in Freeport, Texas. Now, you should do the business side of running a farm, not using your numbers of course. I think young people coming up would find this real-world information interesting.

[@alanmccalla6737]

Kudos on another great explanation of a very complex operation

[@pilialoha21]

So cool learning along side with great knowledgeable farmers, thanks Grant and Laura.

[@dougdemaree1963]

Good Job...!!!

[@johndoyle6697]

Hi again. Was watching the weather channel. Bad weather headed your way Wednesday and Thursday. High winds with Rain and snow. Stay safe on them narrow roads .

[@kosamui]

10k to go!

[@stevenbelsky1652]

I Really enjoyed learning how ethanol is made

[@sorehair7075]

Im much more thankful for diesel though. All my vehicles are diesel. My boat, chainsaws , quads, lawnmower etc. are, however , all run on non ethanol gas as it doesnt destroy any of the rubber internals and does not cause them to run hotter as ethanol fuel does. I wont get into the political side of it (we already have enough of that today) Wouldnt mind me some corn 'shine' tho!

[@justplaintommy63]

I absolutely love, how Grant explained that. Perfect. Thanks you guys

[@georgeroy8509]

Thanks for this video. Most people don't know (or even care) about how important it is for us to recognize the effects of the carbon cycle is in our day-to-day lives. I have been subscribed since day one and I have to tell you, as a former dairy farmer in New England, your efforts to inform your subscribers of the importance of agricultural efforts throughout this great nation should never be diminished or marginalized.

[@PatrickGilmore-yf6hx]

This video is why I continue to watch. Thank you Laura and Grant for all the information you provide.

[@harolderwin5354]

Part of my last paying job before I officially retired from working for a living, I was a fuel hauler for one of the if not the largest truck stop industries in North America. A good part of that hauling was the hauling of ethanol to various gasoline distributors around the country. Ethanol is not that popular amongst the automobile making industry due to the corrosive effects of ethanol fuel. They probably didn't mention that on your tour. The gasoline engine had to be re-engineered in order to negate the effects of the ethanol combustion within those engines. The "Green Energy Policy" has really impacted the entire fossil fuel refining process. I honestly am not convinced that it will ever take over the fossil fuel industry. Diesel fuel is still way more efficient as a fuel for maritime shipping, Over the road trucking industry, agricultural farm equipment, etc.

[@tommosher8271]

I think the end goal is we will be walking everywhere we go in our smart cities eating bugs and we will be happy.

[@ronaldbollinger950]

DDG makes animal feeds rich in nutrients, I’ve hauled a lot of it from plants in Missouri to feed mills in Missouri and Arkansas, mainly chicken producers!

[@tetedur377]

Yeah, I've had thoughts on ethanol ever since the days of "gasohol," back in the early '70s. And yes, I was around then. It was, if I remember, 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline - which was further made up of who knows how many additives, including lead, which was finally phased out in this country in 1996. Ethanol produces less energy than gasoline. It gets poorer fuel mileage than gasoline, and one of the major drawbacks, besides not being good for the environment, is that it attracts moisture. Okay for transportation and heavy equipment; not so good for passenger cars, and even worse for small engines. And, they plan on raising the amount of ethanol in the gasoline. Currently, most ethanol blend is E10, or 10% ethanol. You can find E85. In the future, that will probably be the standard blend. Not to worry, though; states like California are banning small engine-powered equipment. Ever wonder why? Somebody somewhere is making a lot of money, and while it looks to be job security for farmers, it's not good for people and for the environment.

[@Rusty1220]

I drove a truck on E-85 for many years. The truck is now 20 years old and still on the road every day. Still the original engine with no overhauls ever performed. Yes ethanol attracts some water but gasoline produces waters when it explodes within the cylinder. The hydrogen in the gasoline combines with the oxygen from the air thereby producing steam water. That is why you can see steam from gasoline engines on cold mornings.

[@Rusty1220]

But should only run E85 in fuel injected engines.

[@peterdohring1710]

I would like to thank you for this very good comment. You both are doing a very good job, keep going, so it's always fun to watch you. Greetings from Germany.

[@caseymac2014]

I don't know if I missed it or not but the waist where does that go? Can it be used as compost or hog feed or something like that or does it go to a dump?

[@LauraFarms]

Animal food!

[@daveklein2826]

Animal feed, nothing goes to waste

[@davidknudson6382]

Very interesting. I learned a lot. I did not know that the ethanol plants also produced cattle feed, corn syrup, AND ethanol. Nothing is wasted. Keep up the great content. The American dream team.

[@christopherellington8428]

Another excellent video. You should explore the benefits of growing the hemp plant (because there are so many) and possibly adding a certain percentage to your yearly farming.

[@FLPhotoCatcher]

If they raised hemp and made a video about it, they could make a very interesting thumbnail. 😆

[@AnonYmous-k3h5m]

Thank you for getting us a tour

[@westrotter7847]

We must make every effort to be energy independent that includes drilling for oil in our own country. Every effort should be made to reach this goal its a matter of national security.

[@rayfreeman2305]

Great job. I was surprised to hear that corn syrup was a byproduct of the operation. Thank you to Grant for an excellent description of the process of what happens with the corn and how it is developed.

[@bookooc5605]

Well....to be honest there are many cons with ethanol production. But I still admire what you farmers do and wish you the best.

[@claudairsocoll]

now I know where that yellow folder that your dad bought a few videos ago comes from, it reminds me of Laura wow so that's cool

[@rickm4938]

would like to see the stats on ethanol corn vs sweet corn profits for farmers, pretty sure the ethanol wins out considerably, along with the gov grants, crop insurance, etc,, the farmers that feed us, get left out of the fringe benefits, all that acreage for ethanol, just doesnt seem right

[@42base13]

Sweet corn contracts are much more profitable per acre. But the contracts are quite limited. There's only so much canned sweet corn that the stores can sell.

[@bruuuuhhh5918]

THAT WAS SO COOL! I love yall's channel & how you teach us city folk not only where it comes from but where it goes! AWESOME!!!!!

[@randyray435]

Excellent vlog, Laura and Grant. You explained it well. Too bad our school’s don’t teach it as well as you did.

[@larrymumby495]

Thank you Laura and Grant

[@HR-1951]

Cat has extra toes

[@lucas.2.3.9.4]

he's a polydactyl kitty

[@biglouie9547]

It's from the ethanol fumes it's breathing

[@lucas.2.3.9.4]

@@biglouie9547 no its not