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Helping Ohio Farmers Analyze the Risk of Biomass Production

David Marrison

Summary

Giant miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganteus) is a large warm-season grass and is a relative new biomass crop in the United States. Experience in Europe suggests giant miscanthus will be productive over a wide geographic range in temperate regions, including marginal land. Northeast Ohio was chosen by the United States Department of Agriculture as a Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project area in June, 2011. This program is providing federal benefits to farmers who transition part of their farm acreage to miscanthus production. The BCAP designation had many landowners and producers analyzing the profitability and risk of converting acreage to a Biomass crop. In response to the emergence of this bio-fuel crop in Northeast Ohio, OSU Extension has developed an educational and research program to help local farmers. As part of this program, educational workshops and tours have been held to help educate these landowners and producers. In addition a miscanthus research plot was planted at the Ohio Agricultural Research & Development Center (O.A.R.D.C.) Ashtabula Research Station in Kingsville, Ohio in July, 201. This plot is serving as an educational and research tool. OSU Extension has also developed a Miscanthus web resource page and is developing economic budgets for miscanthus in Northeast Ohio. This presentation will share background information on Giant miscanthus and share information on how OSU Extension is helping landowners and farmers analyze the risk of this Biomass crop. To date, over 4,000 acres have been planted in Northeast Ohio.

Details

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