•WEDNESDAY, MARCH 19.1980 Future Of Alcohol / (Town and Country Tips by Dave Plocher) Reduce Home Energy Costs Participants in the recent Gasahol seminar held at McHenry County college with our cooperation went away more knowledgeable but not quite ready to install a still on their farm. While the speakers were positive they also discussed, the problems involved in producing alcohol on the farm. In simple terms, 28 gallons of water plus 1 bushel of corn, cooked, fermented and distilled, should yield 2.5 gallons of nearly 200 proof ethyl alcohol, plus of course, by products that include 18 pounds of carbon dioxide gas and 20 pounds of 28-32 per cent protein mash. This is about where the simplicity ends. You need a good deal of energy and a sophisticated apparatus called a still to do the real work, and this needs to be managed. I have no doubt farmers can manage this, but I urge only those with the available labor to consider getting involved. Most farmers now have all the work they need to keep on top of managing the production of crops and livestock on their farms. A lot of concern over the regulatory aspects of alcohol production were put to rest at the program by the Bureau of alcohol, Firearms and Tobacco representative. A six-page pamphlet handed out and explained tells one most of what they need to know. An encouraging display of alcohol's benefits were pointed out by a still manufacturer. "We are on the tip of the iceberg with technology for alcohol production...oil furnaces can burn pure alcohol (with the addition of a chemical for seal and wear protec tion) . . . . the carbon dioxide and extra heat generated is being used in greenhouses in c o n j u n c t i o n w i t h stills.... vegetable products are grown in less time and the quality is very good." New Swine Directors - The McHenry-Lake Pork producers celebrated their fifth birthday at their annual meeting and dinner last week. President Chuck Beard outlined programs and goals for 1980. Goals included membership in creases, new pork promotion projects and conducting mini clinics for producers and members. He also an nounced a July Carcass show, the 2nd Annual Pork Chop open in August and a cookout in September. Swine Rations -- Swine producers have heard about the values of fat sup plementation during late gestation. This extra energy may be important in cutting the 20-30 percent mortality rate commonly observed among baby pigs. But there are problems in adding the additional fat to the ration. The positive results of research have results lead us to tell producers not to add sup plemental fat. Nevertheless, individual situations may warrant its use. Swine Report - Thirty-plus pages of the latest research findings in swine feeding, breeding, housing and management are in the 1980 Illinois Swine Seminar proceedings. Call or stop by for your copy. (338-3737 or 4747, P.O. Box 431, 789 McHenry Ave., Woodstock, 111 60098) Grow Soybeans for Profit •• Farmers can do little it seems to cut the never en ding production cost in creases. They can though, become more efficient and increase yields. The average soybean yields last year was 34.4 bushels, but many farmers have 40 16 50 bushel yields. Here are some management tips to increase yields. Higher "K" tests and added "K" boost yields on some soils; early planting and narrow rows can boost yields; and varieties make a difference; even nitrogen additions can boost yields. Help Guide Future Con servation Programs - The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking comments from the public on seven proposals for possible changes in the nation's soil conservation programs. The strategies include a proposal for making soil 1 TAX FACTS I Eligible workers have until Tuesday, April 15, to make their 1979 con tributions to their Individual Retirement Savings Arrangements (IRA's); however, if they file their 1979 income tax returns after April 15 on an extension, they have until the date that they file their returns to make their contributions. Since penalties are assessed for excessive contributions, this period for making contributions allows taxpayers to closely calculate the amount of the contribution, make the contribution, and still be able to deduct it from their 1979 taxable income, the IRS explains. IRA's are taxpayer- initiated retirement plans set up by workers not covered by qualified pension or retirement plans where they are employed. IRA's also are available to non- working spouses of eligible workers. Many banks, insurance companies, credit unions, and other financial in stitutions can provide ad ditional information on setting up and maintaining IRA's In addition, the IRS has a free booklet, IRS Publication 590, "Tax In formation on Individual Retirement Arrangements," which can be ordered by mail using the order form in the tax package. conservation mandatory through national and state laws; a suggestion that farmers be required to carry out soil conservation measures before receiving crop insurance; price support payments or other help from USDA's farm programs; and a proposal for offering landowners stronger incentives to practice soil conservation through cash bonuses, low interest loans and other methods Interested McHenry county residents can review the material at the local Soil Conservation Service office. Contact Ed Weilbacher, district Soil Con servationists, at 1143 N. Seminary Avenue, Wood- • stock. Written comments on the soil conservation program can be sent to: RCA Response Analysis Center, P.O. Box 888, Athens. Ga. 30603. This study assesses die potential for home heating savings in Illinois from setting back temperatures at night and during periods when no one is home. The range of potential savings is based on annual cost estimates for heating typical size houses in each of four major cities in Illinois: Chicago, East St. Louis, Peoria and Springfield. The costs are estimated for No. 2 heating oil and natural gas{ the principal fuels used fc oil are based on price quotation obtained from local and regional suppliers. Cost estimates for natural gas are based on rate data supplied by local and regional utilities. Data for both fuels are representative of winter 1980 heating prices. Savings vary depending on the size and type of dwelling, type and efficiency of heating system, amount of insulation, hours of oc-M c u p a n c y , p h y s i c a l surroundings, location and heating in the state. utility rates The four cities I Basic heating fuel con sumption and cost data wercP 1 provided by Foster Associates, Inc., an in dependent Washington, D.C. j energy and economic con- I suiting firm. These f estimates are typical for a single-family household in each of the four cities. To estimate annual heating fuel consumption and costs, the study assumes that no significant thermostat selected for the sample provide a reasonable range of costs, aUowing for dif ferences in climate, utility rates and consumption patterns. Findings are based on data . from the U.S. Department of Energy, the Federal Power commission, the Bureau of the Census, the Illinois Department of Business and Economic Development, Foster Associates Inc. and conservation measures are various gas utilities and fuel already in effect. fi oil dealers in the state. Cost estimates for heating Vt The study is part of a national education program by an energy management information center ,;to focus attention on practical ways to save money by reducing the use of energy in homes, businesses and industrial facilities. This study on savings through thermostat conservation is one of ten such reports on northeastern and midwestern states. The highlights of the study are: ... Setting back the ther mostat 10 degrees, from 70 to 60, for two eight-hour periods daily, with* weekend ad justments, saves 18 to 21 percent in heating costs. The setback periods cover sleeping hours and items when no one is home. ... Setting back the ther mostat 10 degrees for only one eight-hour period saves 10 to 13 percent. ... Setting back the ther mostat 5 degrees, from 70 to 65, for the two eight-hour periods daily with weekend adjustments saves 12 to 15 percent. A 5-degree setback for one eight-hour period daily saves 7 to 9 percent. These savings would be best assured by the use of thermostats that m<ake temperature adjustments automatically. These automatic-setback ther mostats ensure savings that residents forfeit if they have a manual thermostat and forget to reset it. S PUMP ARTHRITIS HOT LINE Victims of arthritis who live outside the metropolitan Chicago area can now call the Arthritis foundation for help on a new toll-free number, 800-572-2397. The Illinois chapter of the Ar thritis foundation, serving the 19 northern Illinois counties, is where the ar thritis patient and his family turn for information, assurance and assistance. The foundation provides for research grants, patient services, public information and professional education. Over 32 million Americans suffer with arthritis, which strikes 1 in 3 families. A surprising 1 out of 21 ar- thritics is under 45. Getting into high gear fast is one of the economy mea sures you can take. Skip a gear when you can, shift di rectly from low to high if conditions permit. Level or downhill starts are gbod times to skip second gear and go directly to third. The less time in the low gas- consuming gears and the more time in higher gears the better. Life is so short and there is so much to learn. For instance, I've been going to the movies for thirty years and i* , still haven't been able to figure out why the horse falls down when the Indian gets shot. SPRING SPECTACULAR Wed., March 19 thru Sal., March 22 --P Special buy. 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