title: Economic analysis of ethanol production in california using traditional and innovative feedstock supplies.
abstract: In this article, we estimate the costs of using alternative feedstocks to produce ethanol in a 40 million-gal facility in California's San Joaquin Valley. Feedstocks include corn imported from Midwestern states and locally grown agricultural products such as corn, grapes, raisins, oranges, and other tree fruits. The estimated feedstock costs per gallon of ethanol include 0.92 dollars for Midwestern corn, 1.21 dollars for locally grown corn, 6.79 dollars for grapes, 3.36 dollars for raisins, 3.92 dollars for citrus, and 1.42 dollars for other tree fruit. Adjusting for coproduct values lowers the estimated net feedstock costs to 0.67 dollars/gal of ethanol for Midwestern corn, 0.96 dollars for locally grown corn, 6.53 dollars for grapes, and 3.30 dollars for raisins. We also examine the potential increases in net revenue to raisin producers, made possible by having an alternative outlet available for selling surplus raisins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural Economics, California State University, Fresno, CA 93740, USA.
authors.forename: Ellen I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Burnes
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hagen
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wichelns
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Callens
mesh_terms: D000383:Agriculture / Q000191:economics*; D000821:Animal Feed; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods*; D002140:California; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D000431:Ethanol / Q000378:metabolism*; D005285:Fermentation; D015233:Models, Statistical; D027861:Prunus; D014186:Transportation; D027843:Vitis; D003313:Zea mays
chemical_list: D000431:Ethanol