By Kathy McCarty
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A workshop taking place today will provide an opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about the use of grass as an energy source to obtain information on the subject from participants with knowledge on the topic.
The topic was briefly discussed during the St. John Aroostook RC&D’s February meeting.
“March 2 will be a workshop, primarily for farmers. It’s also intended for Andrew (Plant) from the Cooperative Extension to talk grass and link the two (grass and energy production) together,” said Skip Babineau, coordinator, St. John Aroostook RC&D Area, headquartered in Presque Isle.
Plant, a professor of agriculture education with the UMaine Cooperative Extensive, located in Presque Isle, was at the meeting and briefly described what the workshop would entail.
“The focus will be on grass and how to grow it (for use as a renewable fuel),” said Plant, noting he’s met with NMDC officials to discuss grass as a renewable energy source.
Plant said the question is how farmers will fit into the equation.
“There’s market opportunity out there for farmers (growing grass for this purpose),” he said. “There’s an export market (for grass pellets). European companies are putting in large pellet facilities, so there’s an opportunity to export.”
Plant said there is a need to educate the public on the advantages of using grass as a renewable fuel.
“We have to determine what the economic benefits are. Different systems (energy production) cost varying amounts of money. There’s a lot of consumer education that needs to happen,” said Plant.
Participants at the meeting discussed how grass would factor into crop rotation.
“That’s our focus, looking at abandoned land — rotation crops in place of potatoes. There’s a potential to use straw from small grains,” said Plant.
Plant said while there is much to be considered about the advantages and disadvantages to using rotational crops for production of grass pellets and how that would impact the nutrient levels for crops planted in those fields in following years, he noted that such crops could be harvested from land currently deemed “unusable” due to issues such as steep grades.
The March 2 meeting will provide those in attendance an opportunity to gain a better understanding of grass as a source of fuel.
“The University of Maine Cooperative Extension, in conjunction with USDA-FSA, and the St. John Aroostook RC&D, will be sponsoring an informational workshop for farmers and industry professionals regarding the proposed grass energy project. Topics of discussion will range from enterprise budgeting, economic impacts, agronomic practices and USDA-FSA program availability for farmers venturing into this market,” said Plant.
The event will be held at the Presque Isle Inn and Convention Center from 8 a.m. to noon.
