09/13/06 Keeping National Treasures Running

Keeping National Treasure Running. I'm Greg Martin with today's Line On Agriculture. You might say soy biodiesel is becoming another "old faithful" at Yellowstone. This week - Nebraska soybean farmer and United Soybean Board Director Chuck Myers joined with officials of the National Park Service - the National Biodiesel Board - and the U.S Department of Energy to recognize the successful use of soy biodiesel in Yellowstone, Grand Teton and other national parks. MYERS: We're celebrating the use of biodiesel in Yellowstone National Park for 10 years now believe it or not and the Grand Teton National Park has been using it for 4 years so the national parks system, especially Yellowstone, has really taken a lead in using renewable fuels and in particular, biodiesel. Since 1990 - the Soybean Checkoff has sponsored research, development and promotion of soy biodiesel - and Yellowstone represented the first national park to test the new technology. Myers says - as a farmer - he's pleased that he can play a part in preserving an environmental jewel such as Yellowstone... MYERS: I couldn't be happier about it. It makes me proud that as a soybean farmer I can contribute to maintaining our national parks for generations to come and it's doing something for the environment. It's a crop that I raise on my farm that can be used to make this renewable fuel so I'm really glad that our Check-off Dollars are being invested in this. The park boasts over 300 pieces of machinery operating on soy biodiesel - the centerpieces being the park's well-known yellow buses and a 1995 Dodge pickup that has run 181-thousand miles on 100-percent biodiesel. Myers says the 10-year record of success at these parks proves the performance of soy biodiesel. MYERS: It's an extreme environment. A harsh environment in the wintertime out here and they still use those biodiesel blends and they just use common sense in how it's handled and they make sure they buy a quality biodiesel to begin with and they are sold on it. They believe that it's really a great renewable fuel to be using in the national parks. Also showcased at the "clean cities" event at Grand Teton National Park this week were soy products with which the Teton staff has taken on an "early adopter" role. Some examples are soy cleaners, lubricants, solvents and hydraulic fluids - all developed largely due to the efforts of the Soybean Checkoff. That's today's Line On Agriculture. I'm Greg Martin on the Northwest Ag Information Network.