Lexington, Kentucky
March 26, 2008
University of Kentucky College of Agriculture forage
specialists and 20 farmers in northeastern Kentucky are
exploring the potential of using switchgrass, a warm-season
grass native to the state, to produce ethanol and electricity.
The four-year project involves UK forage specialists assisting
farmers with the establishment of five acres of switchgrass on
their land. UK researchers will examine switchgrass’ ethanol and
pelleting potential. The majority of the switchgrass will be
transported to East Kentucky Power Cooperative’s Spurlock
Station in Maysville, to explore the possibility of using it as
a supplement to coal to produce electricity.
“We knew when we were developing the project that one of East
Kentucky Power Cooperative’s generating units has a fluidized
bed delivery system and can burn a whole range of products,”
said Ray Smith, UK College of Agriculture extension forage
specialist. “So it’s easy for them to take a product like this
and burn it directly.”
The project’s goals include determining if switchgrass can
sustainably and economically be grown and developing viable
markets for the product. It is funded through a grant to the
Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council from the Kentucky
Agricultural Development Board
The farmers involved in the study are located within a 60-mile
radius of Maysville. This distance is considered by the U.S.
Department of Energy to be maximum distance a producer can
economically transport forages. With the price of fuel on the
rise, this radius may need to be smaller. This is one thing
researchers and farmers need to evaluate and determine.
This year is the second year of the project for seven farmers,
who planted their first crop in 2007. Even with last summer’s
drought, most of the farmers were able to successfully establish
switchgrass.
“We were surprised at the end of the season that five of the
seven farms had established switchgrass, Smith said. “It shows
the resiliency of switchgrass during the establishment year.”
Willy Campbell, a Fleming County farmer, was one of the farmers
who participated in 2007. He said his crop was about knee high
at the end of the season, which he expected, considering it was
the establishment year. At the peak of its growth, which is
around three years, switchgrass can be seven to 10 feet tall.
“We have not actually seen the stuff grow because we were in the
middle of the drought last year, and we were just getting it
established,” he said. “We could be on the forefront of
something if it does work.”
Thirteen more farmers will establish five-acre demonstration
fields in 2008. Smith said more definite results should be
available this year as the season unfolds and more farmers
establish their stands of switchgrass.
Switchgrass may also be an alternative to corn-based ethanol. It
can grow in areas where corn cannot, and it has low input costs
due to its ability to grow in low pH, low phosphorus soils with
minimal nitrogen applications, even under drought conditions. It
also does not affect the food supply, which has been a major
concern in using corn for ethanol production. Switchgrass, when
cut early, also provides quality feed for livestock.
To convert switchgrass into ethanol requires a cellulosic
ethanol plant, of which, Kentucky currently has none, but there
are pilot plants being constructed in Tennessee, Georgia, Canada
and other locations. Switchgrass also produces a high lignan
by-product. Smith said this by-product could be burned to help
produce some of the energy required for ethanol production.
Similar to working with any new crop, farmers will have to adapt
to differences and solve potential problems. Switchgrass is
different from other forages because it is harvested once per
year in the late fall or early winter. Since switchgrass has to
be dry when it reaches the power plant, storage will be an issue
many farmers will have to tackle, said Tom Keene, UK hay
marketing specialist. Smith and Keene said they believe farmers
can most efficiently bale and transport switchgrass in mid-sized
square bales. Many farmers do not own this size of baler, and
prices for one range from $65,000 to $100,000. For this project,
the UK College of Agriculture has two mid-sized balers on loan
to the university.
“I don’t think we can utilize the economies of scale on most
farms in northeast Kentucky due to the cost and size of this
equipment,” Keene said. “So whether it’s five farmers or 20
farmers, I’m not sure what the number will be, but some type of
cooperative effort will likely be necessary for this project to
work.”
Unlike hay rolls, once baled, switchgrass cannot be left on the
ground. Ideally, farmers should store it in a shed or barn with
a concrete floor until they are ready to use it. If it has to be
stored outside, farmers should place bales on pallets, and cover
all visible sides with a tarp.
UK College of Agriculture, through its land-grant mission,
reaches across the commonwealth with teaching, research and
extension to enhance the lives of Kentuckians.
By Katie Pratt |
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