Farm equipment for the emerging biofuel economy

Harvesting, storing, and transporting the huge quantities of biomass will create opportunities for equipment manufacturers, construction contractors, the rural workforce, and a whole range of services to support this emerging biofuel economy. It is estimated that the annual purchase of new and replacement equipment for harvest, handling, and transport of biomass could exceed $4 billion annually. Some technologies have been developed to harvest, process, and store high-moisture materials. Natural and artificial drying methods have been developed for food grains and other perishables. Agricultural and biological engineers must understand the factors that govern the interactions between biological materials and machines, along with the environmental factors of traditional agricultural operations to address the related challenges.