"Tew Heritage" needs updating

In 1990, a softback publication entitled "Tew Heritage" was printed by Stevenson's Genealogy Center, Provo, Utah, USA. It is, as the cover shows, "A tribute to William Thomas Tew and Clara Elizabeth Snow, their descendents, and pioneer ancestors." Their pictures shown above. The editors of this publication were three of their grandchildren, namely Merlene Tew Colarusso, Clara Allred Smith, and Helen Tew Stirland. Merlene passed away in 1999 (age 85) and Clara passed away only a month ago (age 88). As far as I know, Helen is alive and well, though she is getting along in years too (age 90). I am also a grandchild of William and Clara, and am 1st cousin to Merlene, Clara, and Helen. At age 60, I am the youngest living grandchild. Merlene was the oldest. William and Clara had seven children who grew to adulthood, 44 grandchildren, and as of 1990, had a total of 671 direct descendents. In the last 18 years, the numbers of great grandchildren and beyond have increased greatly. As the youngest, and one of the last of the old guard, I have decided to take on the task of updating the Tew Heritage, and making the information electronically available. We'll soon see whether I am way over my head on this project or not. It will obviously require considerable cooperation from extended family members.

Genetic Improvement of Bioenergy Crops

Dr. Wilfred Vermerris, Associate Professor at the Genetics Institute and Agronomy department at the University of Florida in Gainesville, FL, edited a book entitled, "Genetic Improvement of Bioenergy Crops," that was published by Springer. Dr. Vermerris invited me to write the chapter on energy cane, which I agreed to do. I entitled the chapter, "Genetic Improvement of Sugarcane (Saccharum spp.) as an Energy Crop." Robert Cobill, formerly on the staff of the USDA Sugarcane Research Laboratory in Houma, LA, is co-author. The book is out now, and available through Amazon. Dr. Vermerris will be using this as his textbook when he teaches a course on the same subject.

Hawaiian sugar industry reduced to one plantation

Somehow, I missed the announcement two months ago that Gay and Robinson, Inc. (Island of Kauai) was leaving the sugar business after 119 years. This leaves Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. (Island of Maui) as the one remaining sugar producer in the State. How long HC&S will survive remains to be seen. I have heard rumors that HC&S's per acre sugar yields will be dismal this year, and not likely much better in the near-term future. They used to boast yields in the order of 13 tons sugar per harvested acre (2-year crop). It's been rumored that they will be substantially below this number this year, perhaps even below 10 tons, and that their yields won't likely be much better next year. If true, that certainly does not bode well for the future of the sugar industry in Hawaii.

The demise of the sugar industry in Hawaii really saddens me, in part because I am not aware of any crop anywhere else in the United States that comes close to having the energy potential that sugarcane has been demonstrated to have on a commercial scale in Hawaii. Even though Hawaii has consistently had far higher sugar yields than Brazil, and, in my mind, was the perfect proving ground in the U.S. to either prove or disprove the sustainability of ethanol production from biomass (having the nation's highest gas prices, being isolated, etc.), it could never overcome all the hurdles placed in front of it to actually launch a sugarcane-based ethanol industry. Ironically, as recently as the 1980's, sugarcane mills in Hawaii were not only energy self-sufficient, but contributed substantially to the surrounding communities, producing around 40% of the total electricity generated on three of the four major islands, with the burning of bagasse (fibrous residue).

The sugar industry had a profound effect on Hawaii's recent history, and the makeup of the ethnic groups that constitute Hawaii today. Admittedly, the history is not all glamorous. But there is a certain nostalgia associated with the fading of an important industry that even some its sharpest critics acknowledge.

Monsanto acquires major Brazilian sugarcane breeding program

Monsanto has expanded its interests in Brazilian agriculture with the acquisition of CanaVialis and Alellyx. Acquisition of CanaVialis will make Monsanto the proud owner of the largest private sugarcane breeding program in the world. With this deal, Monsanto will also acquire Alellyx, a genomics company founded by Brazilian scientists that has already partnered with CanaVialis toward the development of Bt/Roundup Ready sugarcane varieties; and and development of varieties that are sweeter, more energy efficient, more drought tolerant and so on through genetic modification. I suspect they plan to find and further modify organisms capable of fixing nitrogen in sugarcane, since it is already known that such organisms exist. Brazil is far and away the largest sugarcane-based ethanol producer, though there are other countries who are following their lead, most notably India and Colombia.

Obama-Biden Energy Plan for America

I will be following with interest how steadfast the Obama-Biden ticket holds to the energy plan they have outlined on their “New Energy for America” webpage once in office, particularly as it relates to support for ethanol. Obama and McCain have differed sharply on the ethanol issue, an issue that has become increasingly controversial in recent months. Obama represents a corn-growing ethanol-producing state, Illinois, and to this point, supports the continuation of ethanol subsidies. He sees the need to move in the direction of cellulosic ethanol (2nd generation biofuel) that has been touted as being more sustainable, more environmentally friendly, and less controversial than corn (food vs. fuel). McCain, on the other hand, represents a desert state, Arizona, and has been critical of agricultural subsidies generally, and ethanol subsidies in particular. During his presidential campaign, when asked about cutting excessive government spending, ethanol subsidies were right at the top of his short list.

The sustainability of cellulosic ethanol is controversial as well, as shown in the following blogsites, Treehugger and R-Squared Energy Blog (Nov 9). When it comes to liquid fuels, do we want to cut research dedicated toward improving the sustainability of renewable resources, such as second-generation biofuels, until non-renewable resources (oil and natural gas) are nearly depleted, or do we continue to support this research irrespective of gas price and public mood swings with the expectation that this research will pay off down the road when non-renewable resources become scarce.