CA: Taking diesel out of farm air - ...replace diesel engines with electric models..

The Sacramento Bee ^ | January 25, 2004 | Jennifer M. Fitzenberger --

[blackdog]

I'm sure Jennifer M. Spitzenberger is an agricultural correspondent? She grew sprouts once on her window sill.

Newsrooms and newspapers would serve us better by crushing their fax machines forever. Maybe then instead of printing spoon fed press releases as news, Ms. Fitzenberger might have to venture out from behind her desk once in a while for something other than a latte'.

[joesnuffy]

Replace diesel tractors with electric motors?
Batteries the size of barns

[joesnuffy]

Replace diesel tractors with electric motors?
Batteries the size of barns

[joesnuffy]

Replace diesel tractors with electric motors?
Batteries the size of barns

[johnb838]

YEah propane seems like it would be perfect for the farm since the equipment is fueled onsite and you don't have to worry about where you're going to get your next tank.

[farmfriend]

"We'd like to see more and more of these be electric," said Dave Jones, planning director for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District.

There is your key sentence. It is just more government control crap if you ask me. I've pinged a CA farmer who may be able to answer better than I.

[blackdog]

Diesel runs the world that makes stuff. The machines used in making the stuff will always be diesel. A diesel engine runs 500,000 hours between overhauls in most cases.

Like using Mexicans for cheap labor, why would a farmer who needs to be price competetive do something as stupid as to connect his livelihood to the grid in california of all places.

Mexicans and diesel engines, the great equalizers for America in a global economy.

[JustAmy]

"JA...what is the standby fee for a 30 HP pump used on a 30 acre vineyard? I know it has gone up significantly"

I'm not sure ..... We retired from farming about 5 years ago. Sold our share of the vineyard to my BIL for his share of the turkey ranch. When we were involved, the standby (demand) charge was getting so high that we disconnected the electricity and irrigated with irrigation district water only. Farmers pay irrigation taxes whether we are in a drought year or not. In dry years, there is enough water for permanent crops but there may not be enough water for row crops. This is the Fresno Irrigation District, other districts may get less.

Farmers have been either selling to home developers or going bankrupt in the San Joaquin for the last few years.

The farm economy is in dire straits and with the liberals who want to share the "wealth", family farms will soon be a thing of the past.

[blackdog]

The first sentence contained "pollution spewing diesel" No advocacy journalism there huh? No need to read further.

[U S Army EOD]

But save enough to drink.

[U S Army EOD]

No I mean steam tractors, we will be real practical, then we can jack up the farm prices about 3000%.

[Amerigomag]

First, no personal criticism was intended. I didn't check the source because I know the guy who posted the article. I didn't know it was a vanity title until you posted this reply.

Second, I think the picture was the most misleading element of the story and I'm sure you didn't make that one up.

[U S Army EOD]

Just put over head wires above your field like the electic buses use. Boy that would really work great.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Just awful what is happening all over!

[76834]

LOL, I catch your drift.
For the sake of argument whatcha going to use to boil the water to make the steam?
Coal, propane etc???

[U S Army EOD]

Because in the city, that is how the democrats get to the voting booth. We got to keep the buses.

[U S Army EOD]

Old growth forest and spotted owls.

[taildragger]

3 solutions:

Burn Bio-Diesel.

Or add a set of these Pistons: www.sonexresearch.com

A third solution is a technology that Mercury Marine is working on. They have taken there Direct Injected "Optimax" 2 Stroke Outboards and have converted them to run on JP-5 for Special Ops Boats, They burn real clean except smell funny according to what I have read.

[ridesthemiles]

This idiot wants all farmers to stop using diesel and start using elect.
Where does he think elect comes from. Power plants, mostly coal fired, and where do they get the coal?
Mines of course, mined by diesel powered equiptment, moved from the mine to the power plant by diesel locomotives.

And what this reporterette doesn't mention (conveniently) is that many of the diesel engines are on standby for when the ELECTRICITY goes down. With all the Blackouts in the last 3 years, someone is using crack to even propose this mess.
I am willing to put a 5 spot on the fact that the same Dems in the Calif Legislation won't vote for any new electric plants.
More BS to drive farmers out of business.
If you don't like being held hostage to the middle east for your oil, wait until you are being held hostage to South and Central America for your FOOD. GET OFF THE FARMERS BACKS.

[deport]

Whatcha think of them lectric tractors?