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| Benny Herioux takes a walk through his crop of switchgrass on his farm in Schaffer. Herioux has been in talks with researchers from MSU Extension, and the Upper Peninsula Experiment Station on possibly marketing switchgrass as an alternative fuel. (Daily Press photo by Laura Mead) |
By Laura Mead - lmead@dailypress.net
BARK RIVER — Local farmers could be in the energy business if the growing of switchgrass proves to be economical. Local crop and soil researchers are talking with farmers to see what could be done with this "miracle grass" and whether it could be marketed as an alternative fuel source.
For years now, northern Michigan farmers have considered the idea of harvesting and marketing crops used as alternative sources of fuel. In an effort to help, the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, the MSU Extension and the Michigan Department of Agriculture have joined in an effort to investigate potential crops for this use. The result showed switchgrass, a crop already native to this area, could be the answer to local farmers' prayers.
Benny Herioux, a dairy farmer in Schaffer who is already growing a crop of switchgrass on his farm, believes in its benefits.
"Switchgrass could solve the problem of unused land in this area that isn't conducive to other crops," he said. "It grows well in this climate, and it can also be used on highly erodable land because it will put roots down up to 30 feet below ground."
Herioux is actively involved with MSU Extension and has been meeting with researchers to talk about what could possibly be done with switchgrass in the Upper Peninsula. Herioux believes anyone in this area could start to grow switchgrass.
"Switchgrass is a prairie grass native to the northern U.S.," said Herioux. "Once people learn how to grow it, it's easy, and it's a crop that will last up to 15 years."
Outside research has found switchgrass can be converted to ethanol, a more environmentally friendly fuel that has been considered as an alternative to gasoline. switchgrass even got its 15 minutes of fame when Sen. Joseph Lieberman spoke of it as a means to relieve our nation's dependence on fossil fuels.
While researchers in Northern Michigan cannot yet say whether switchgrass would be a possible cash crop for local farmers, it has been found to have a greater tonnage per acre yield than most other alternative fuel sources. switchgrass can also grow quite easily in this area, and can be fairly inexpensively produced.
However, those who are looking into this idea say a commercial pelletizing plant would be needed to convert switchgrass to energy on a large scale.
According to Warren Schauer of the MSU Extension, once the switchgrass is pelletized, it could be used in any pellet burning stove. In this way, switchgrass could be used as a more energy-efficient way to heat a home.
"If the pelletizing of switchgrass proved to be economical, I don't think it would be that big of a deal for those who don't heat their homes with wood stoves to convert," said Schauer. "Many people in the U.P. already heat their homes with pellet burning stoves. If there was a conversion it would really save on the amount of heating fuel being used."
Herioux said he and others involved have discussed the possibility of pelletizing switchgrass at local plants that pelletize wood chips.
However, as of now, they are concentrating more on studying plants outside the country that are already pelletizing switchgrass.
"We realized that it might be our best bet to tour places in Canada that are already doing this, to see how they're doing it," said Herioux. "We want to bring people — possible investors — with us so they can see how it works and see what could possibly be done."
Schauer said, currently, the process of marketing switchgrass as an alternative fuel is really only in the preliminary stages.
"Right now we're just researching switchgrass, how it grows, and what kind of an environment it grows in," said Schauer. "We want to see if switchgrass has potential for the Upper Peninsula. As of now, we're just in the talks."
