NOVELTY - Syngas production system (40) comprises a modified countercurrent gasifier (46) comprising: a fuel gas inlet; a feedstock inlet above the fuel gas inlet; a production outlet (54) above the feedstock inlet; and (d) a recirculation tube (49) having a recirculation tube inlet above the feedstock inlet, and a recirculation tube outlet below the feedstock inlet, where a feedstock is metered into the gasifier through the feedstock inlet, and the gasifier converts the feedstock into syngas and char, and produces the syngas and char through the production outlet.    USE - Used as syngas production system.    ADVANTAGE - The system utilizes the modified countercurrent gasifier, which: does not require a fluidized bed or additional complicating elements; functions most efficiently and effectively when a relatively homogenous and combustible processed cellulosic feedstock is used; operates at temperatures that are generally below 1400 degrees F and on a single-farm scale, thus avoiding the formation of glass-like slag generally associated with cereal grass feedstocks, and minimizing the transportation costs; and allows straw to be directly converted into syngas and char, thus enabling the generation of energy in a relatively simple manner, in which the generated energy can be used on the farm where the straw is produced.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are also included for:    (1) an apparatus for producing syngas and char, comprising: an unconsolidated straw feedstock; a gas fuel; and a modified countercurrent gasifier, where as the gas fuel is injected into a lower portion of the gasifier, the feedstock is metered into an intermediate portion of the gasifier so that the gasifier converts the feedstock into syngas and char, which are produced from an upper portion of the gasifier; and    (2) producing syngas, comprising: providing the modified countercurrent gasifier; metering a straw feedstock into the gasifier; and producing syngas and char from a production outlet in an upper portion of the gasifier.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a modified schematic view of the syngas production system.    Syngas production system (40)    Auger (44)    Countercurrent gasifier (46)    Recirculation tube (49)    Production outlet (54)