Though he's passionate about the future of agricultural production, Luther Welch also wants producers to remember how farming has evolved over the years. That’s why he’s worked to establish the Northern Neck Farm Museum in Heathsville, Va.

The harvesting of corn residue, referred to as stover, as ethanol fodder will focus on “flat soils with high yields in wet areas. That’s where to start,” according to Jim Hettenhaus, a chemical engineer who works on ethanol-related issues with the U.S. Department of Energy and private companies.