Southern Minnesota is getting closer to finding a way to produce a viable renewable energy using woody and herbaceous biomass.One hurdle in getting this biomass to market has been finding machines capable of harvesting it quickly, efficiently, and cost-effectively.An answer to this problem was demonstrated today in Waseca, the first stop on a statewide tour for Canada's Anderson Group Biobaler.The machine is capable of cutting, compacting, and baling biomass up to four inches in diameter and 25 feet high.Gregg Johnson says, " If you take that dedicated crop where it has been highly managed and give that to a facility that burns it or whatever the application is, that's a lot of value to them."Johnson says the Biobaler is almost ready for commercialization.It is suitable for woody crops including willow, poplar, aspen, and alder.These types of biomass crops would be harvested every three years.The biobaler's next stop is tomorrow in Madelia.