Project Number: 5440-21000-021-04
Project Type: Specific C/A

Start Date: May 01, 2000
End Date: Apr 30, 2005

Objective:
To determine the biomass yields of switchgrass grown on commercial scale production fields by farmers in potential production regions of Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota and to determine the economic costs associated with switchgrass biomass production by farmers on field scale trials.

Approach:
On-farm trials will be conducted on approximately four farms per state in the eastern half of Nebraska, South Dakota, and North Dakota. In each state, cooperating farmers will be identified that have the capability, land, and equipment assets to complete the agronomic and management requirements of the research. In each state agreements will be established with farmers in four different regions of each state to grow 10 to 20 acres of switchgrass and manage and harvest it as a biomass fuel crop. Agreements with the farmers will include reimbursement for growing switchgrass and collecting required yield and economic data. The fields selected for use in this study should be typical for the area. The farmer should have adjoining crop land that is used to produce crops typically grown in the area for making economic, agronomic and environmental comparisons. Preferably the fields will have characteristics that would have allowed them to be in the Conservation Reserve Program. USDA-ARS, Lincoln, NE will provide technical and research support to the cooperator and participating farmers.

Project Team

Vogel, Kenneth - Ken Richard Perrin - Professor, Agricultural Economics 402-472-1564

Project Annual Reports

FY 2003   FY 2002   FY 2001   FY 2000

Related National Programs

Rangeland, Pasture, and Forages (205)   Crop Protection & Quarantine (304)