dbltree
Super Moderator
A new bill being put forth next week would encourage landowners to grow "energy crops" such as switchgrass and trees (among many others)and be paid to do so long before a cellulosic ethanol plant is ready to take their harvest.
Who knows if it will go anywhere and nothing is ever perfect without drawbacks etc.
I do like the idea in principle as it's not a replacement for CRP but rather to encourage farmers to plant cellulosic feedstocks now so that they will be ready when those type of ethanol plants are built.
All land is not suited for CRP so if a "habitat minded" landowner would rather have some of their land in switchgrass or fast growing trees rather then the usual corn/soybean crops...this might be an option.
Bill urges farmers to grow energy crops
If you read thru it you'll notice things like not cutting it lower then 10" and no cutting during nesting periods, so there are some positive thoughts in this.
One might grow these "crops" for years and be paid to do while never actually harvesting anything.
It can't be compared to the positive qualities of CRP cover but comapred to "wall to wall" corn...with no nesting cover what so ever...it is food for thought.
Who knows if it will go anywhere and nothing is ever perfect without drawbacks etc.
I do like the idea in principle as it's not a replacement for CRP but rather to encourage farmers to plant cellulosic feedstocks now so that they will be ready when those type of ethanol plants are built.
All land is not suited for CRP so if a "habitat minded" landowner would rather have some of their land in switchgrass or fast growing trees rather then the usual corn/soybean crops...this might be an option.
Bill urges farmers to grow energy crops
If you read thru it you'll notice things like not cutting it lower then 10" and no cutting during nesting periods, so there are some positive thoughts in this.
One might grow these "crops" for years and be paid to do while never actually harvesting anything.
It can't be compared to the positive qualities of CRP cover but comapred to "wall to wall" corn...with no nesting cover what so ever...it is food for thought.