A setup where the farmers can produce their own biodiesel on site would be a nice way of controling one of their major costs. Can this be done efficiently?

Almost chicken and egg thing. CaseIH promoting bidiesel to help soybean farmers sell more soybeans to make biodiesel, ultimately so these same farmers to make more money to upgrade their equipment, perhaps buying CaseIH. Nothing wrong with that, nonetheless.......

But why warranty to B5 only, and not B20? What will B20 do to damage an engine that B5 does not. Does Willie Nelson, and his biodiesel idea know about this, along with all the other proponents of biodiesel? Especially when most are proposing to plant every available open square inch of our nations cropland to make biodiesel, to use at the much higher B100!!

Wasnt making any point. Was just, sarcastically, stating the obvious. CaseIH promoting biodiesel because their potential customers supply the feedstock to make BIODIESEL. Sorta obvious, wouldnt that be, so no story here. Just like the cattle industry promoting steakhouses!
The bigger question is why will CaseIH warranty B5 on all engines, but not warranty B20 on all engines??? This is far short of the full B100 that many, especially soybean farmers, are promoting.

I realize that farmers can plant whatever they want. But one year it may be for biodiesel, and create shortages, and higher prices, for E85. The next may be E85, creating shortages for biodiesel. We do not have enough land to plant for biodiesel, E85 ethanol, and food for human consumption all at the same time. Most farmers, if they have a choice, will want a glut of biodiesel, as that will lower their fuel costs. Doesnt take an Einstein there.

I hear about the Salton Sea concept quite a bit, but hear of major benefits coming from it, especially now with our increasing energy challenged society. If its so great, why is it not supplying, paraphrasing, all our vehicles fuel, along all our heating oil? Or even 50, or even 1 percent? I dont know how much it is currently contributing.

I am encouraged by the algae solution, but dont see major advances being put forward. Hopefully that will change.

But back on the original subject. I dont feel I have an extreme position. I am not anti-farmer. I actually am a small farmer. But I do have a problem with all these "experts" and studies saying we can plant for all our fuel needs, up to 100 percent biodiesel. Other experts say we can plant for all our E85 ethanol needs. We cant supply biodiesel, E85 ethanol, and food for human consumption all at the same time!! These farmers will have a choice in what will best serve their bottom line. This may create shortages of ethanol, biodiesel, or even FOOD, if we are not careful. And we dont need more governmental support/controls over our nations cropland. Todays polititions can barely control their own personal lives. Our nations "usable" farmland is shrinking daily. Its ludicrous to think we can, in the future, grow for everything. Throw in a Katrina style natural disaster at the wrong time in a crops growing cycle, and you just created a supply problem. Farming is a risky venture at best, dealing with the elements. Its also very seasonal in most areas of the country. Corn and soybeans do not grow under snow. We should concentrate on growing food for our bodies first, and any surplus left overcan be used to grow "food" for our fuel tanks. Lets get our priorities straight first.