UT awards 38 farmers switchgrass contracts

KNOXVILLE, Tenn., June 17, 2009 -- Thirty-eight East Tennessee farmers will be growing switchgrass for conversion to cellulosic ethanol as the University of Tennessee begins the second season of its switchgrass farmer incentive program.

Of the 38 farmers, 26 are new to the program; the rest also took part in 2008 and have added extra acreage for the 2009 growing season. A total of 1,901 acres in nine East Tennessee counties will be used to grow switchgrass this season. More than 2,600 acres have been enrolled in the program over the last two years.

UT and DuPont-Danisco Cellulosic Ethanol LLC are building the state’s first demonstration-scale cellulosic ethanol biorefinery. The facility is under construction in Vonore and is expected to be in operation by late 2009. Switchgrass, as well as corn cobs, will be used as feedstock in the refinery.

“With the establishment of a large acreage of switchgrass in Tennessee, not only is there the ability to produce sustainable biofuels for the state and nation, but also great opportunities to conduct groundbreaking research on biomass production,” Dr. Kelly Tiller, co-director of the UT Office of Bioenergy Programs in the UT Institute of Agriculture, said in a prepared statement.