Dust is part of summer in Kansas. It trails trucks on dirt roads, settles near tractors in the field and kicks up under the feet of cattle moving through the pasture. But the Environmental Protection Agency, through its Clean Air Act, is taking a second look at dust and how it affects human health.
When first introduced on the market, ethanol was believed to be the life-saver of the nation’s energy industry. The corn-by-product fuel was thought to be the nation’s replacement for its domestic gasoline supply and provide corn producers a must-needed monetary bonus. But the the ethanol industry seems to be at a cross-roads. Congress has yet to act on an extension for a tax credit that will expire at the end of the year and the Environmental Protection Agency is standing in the way of higher blend levels.
Brad Wedel is the location manager at Mid-Kansas Co-op in Moundridge. He has been working with the co-op for 20 years, but has been in his current position for about a year. When harvest rolls around, his duties gain momentum as he is in charge of overseeing the transfer of grain into the bins, managing other workers at the elevator and ensuring that producers are satisfied with their service.
