Central Illinois Farmer Developing Miscanthus As Commercial Bioenergy Crop

by Myke Feinman, BioFuels Journal Editor

MONTICELLO, IL--John Caveny, a Monticello, IL, farmer, has been raising miscanthus as an energy crop since 2002.

Caveny brokered a deal this year with Speedling Incorporated, Nipomo, CA to sell miscanthus seedlings to farmers across the United States to plant as an energy crop.

“This is the first time miscanthus has been available on a commercial basis,” Caveny said.

The perennial crop is harvested between the fall and spring; it takes three years to mature and lasts at least 30 years.

It can be harvested with a standard forage implement and can be stored in dry form, chopped or pelletized for utilization as an energy crop.

A stem of eight to 12 inches is left as stubble along with leaves.

New shoots come up in the spring.

BioFuels Journal, Nov. 3, 2007