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Corn Stalk Residue Could Take Us to the Stars

By Lori Walsh and Ellen Koester et.al

A new NASA EPSCoR grant will help South Dakota Mines researchers explore the next generation of lithium sulfur batteries. Those batteries could be powered by the waste produced from processing plants.

The research was a team effort that spanned disciplines at South Dakota Mines. A few of the experts who worked on this project joined In the Moment to explain their work and unexpected discovery.

Rajesh Shende, Ph.D., is a professor of chemical and biological engineering. He specializes in finding uses for agricultural byproducts.

And Edward Duke, Ph.D., is a professor of geology and geological engineering and the director of the South Dakota Space Grant Consortium and the South Dakota NASA EPSCoR Program.

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Turning Better Feed Into Better Herds: Innovation in Forage Harvesting

Video: Turning Better Feed Into Better Herds: Innovation in Forage Harvesting


What happens when a dairy farmer gets frustrated with equipment that isn’t doing its job? In this episode, we sit down with Horning Manufacturing founder Leon Horning to hear how a problem in the feed bunk led to a globally recognized forage equipment company.

Born out of a third-generation dairy operation in Pennsylvania, Horning Manufacturing started with one goal: helping cows get more nutrition from silage. Leon shares how his father, Leon Sr., built the first kernel processor rolls in the family farm shop after seeing whole corn kernels pass through cows undigested — costing valuable feed efficiency and milk production.

We explore the company’s journey from a side project on the farm to an international manufacturer serving dairy farmers, beef operators, and custom harvesters around the world. Along the way, Leon discusses the evolution of pull-type forage harvesters, the engineering behind Horning’s “plug-and-play” kernel processor kits, and why reducing downtime during harvest can make or break a season.

The conversation also dives into Horning’s row-independent corn heads, practical equipment design, real-world customer stories, and how innovations born in the field continue to shape the company today.

Whether you’re a producer, equipment enthusiast, or simply love stories of grassroots innovation, this episode offers a fascinating look at how one farm family turned necessity into industry-changing technology.

Contact Horning Manufacturing today at 717-354-5040
https://www.horningmfg.com/