Illinois researchers says farmers won’t switch to cellulosic feedstocks until more profitable than corn, soy

In Illinois, researchers at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign surveyed local farmers and report that the major challenge in developing cellulosic ethanol will be to persuade farmers to grow the crop. Farmers indicated in the survey that they would only grow cellulosic crops if they could be persuaded that the cellulosic crops such as switchgrass and miscanthus can compete with soybeans and corn in terms of profitability.

In the first comprehensive report on the biofuel potential of switchgrass, a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science says that switchgrass has a yield of more than five times the energy inputs needed to grow and process it into ethanol.

The 10-farm, five year study was conducted across the Midwest and potentially is key to unlocking the potential of cellulosic ethanol in the US.

Switchgrass has also received the green light on the nitrogen front, A report has been published comparing the impact of additional biofuel production on nitrogen levels in Chesapeake Bay. The report found that corn production increased nitrogen in the Bay by 16 pounds per acre under production, versus 8 additional pounds per acre of soybeans. The report found that switchgrass production would reduce nitrogen levels by 27 pounds per acre under production.

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