Source:“Industrial Biotechnology: Development and Adoption by the U.S. Chemical and Biofuel Industries,” The U.S. International Trade Commission
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Making a switch in Tenn.
By Cecil H. Nancy, Jr.
July 10, 2009
The tiny seeds Tony and Tim Brannon put in the ground the other day won’t have an immediate impact, but the brothers are focused on the potential long-term possibilities. The Puryear, Tenn., farmers planted 5 acres of switchgrass as part of Memphis Bioworks’ 25Farmer Network.
Other farmers in the Mid-South are planting sunflowers and sweet sorghum to assess the crops for use in the manufacture of biofuels. Several years ago when former President George W. Bush mentioned switchgrass in his State of the Union address, the price of switchgrass seed shot up from $6 to $25 per pound. "It’s a good opportunity to be innovative and be part of the future," says Tony Brannon, who is also dean of the Murray State University School of Agriculture in Kentucky. "Switchgrass has the potential for a variety of uses."
The Brannons were part of a switchgrass program that led to a pilot biofuels plant in east Tennessee. The Tennessee Legislature appropriated $600,000 through the state Department of Agriculture’s Ag Enhancement program "to help mitigate the risks of pioneering biocrops," says Kyle Holmberg, the department’s biofuels program coordinator. The switchgrass seeds the Brannons planted were developed specifically for biomass production, says Frank Hardimon, director of sales for Blade Energy Crops. The company is part of Ceres, which is developing crops dedicated to energy production.
Blade has developed two high-biomass varieties of switchgrass. "This is the first year of dedicated energy crops in the field," Hardimon says. "It’s kinda like the story of which came first, the chicken or the egg. In this case, it’s the biomass." The next phase will be using the biomass from switchgrass to produce energy. The Brannons have been growing switchgrass as part of a University of Tennessee pilot program for the past five years. They have harvested the biomass and sold it for use in a project with Alabama Power. They’ve also sold seed from the crops and fed it as hay to their cattle.
Tony Brannon says the crop is relatively easy to grow. Just plant it and fertilize it. There are no diseases to contend with. He plants between 5 and 7 pounds of the tiny seed per acre. "It’s very low maintenance," Brannon says. It only requires about 60 pounds of nitrogen per year. He has learned that it’s best cut after frost. Then, the nutrients not used in production return to the soil. He’s found that 6 to 7 tons of production per acre is realistic. Even in severe drought years, he’s harvested 5 tons per acre. The crop also presents the possibility of carbon sequestration credits.
Andy Holt, a Weakley County, Tenn., farmer, sees the possibility of converting pastures to switchgrass production. "It’s worked out real well. I’m always looking for some diversification to improve profitability per acre." Blade Energy Crops incorporated the expertise of innovative farmers in this grassroots project, Hardimon says. Switchgrass is a perennial that takes a couple of years to establish.
Switchgrass holds the possibility for biofuel production, says Hillary Spain, who coordinates the project for Memphis Bioworks. Using alternative crops "We’re hopeful that these alternative crops will rise to the top and that farmers will incorporate them into their row-crop systems," Spain says. The Memphis Bioworks Foundation is a not-for-profit organization formed to lead the collaboration among public, private, academic and government entities to accelerate growth of the bioscience industry in the region.
Tony Brannon hopes the biofuel market develops for the crop. If it doesn't, he'll continue cutting switchgrass early and feeding it to his cattle. "It’s as good as fescue," he says.
SouthernFarmer.com
http://www.southernfarmer.com
