A follow-up study by several university teams has been published and shows results of their study started in 2000 & 2001 where 10 farmers were contracted to grow switchgrass with the goal in mind to become a feedstock for producing cellulosic ethanol.

The results are interesting - an average of $60 per ton (on-farm costs) was recorded, and as low as $39 per ton for farmers experienced in growing switchgrass. And, the scientists reported that when switchgrass is used in cellulosic ethanol production, it  produces 5 times more energy that it takes to produce the cellulosic ethanol. NOTE: The cost per ton does not include any costs beyond those associated with on-farm costs (see report for details and the added cost calculations for delivery of the switchgrass bales to ethanol refineries).

Here's a link to one site, Tri-State Neighbor, that has posted information on this study:
http://www.tristateneighbor.com/articles/2008/03/17/tri_state_news/production_news/news17.txt

What is noteworthy is that this study (in two parts) started back as early as 2000 before all the hype of cellulosic ethanol and feedstock such as switchgrass.

Here's the link to another Website (Rapid City Journal) running a story on this study:
http://www.rapidcityjournal.com/articles/2008/03/17/news/agnews/doc47d36c3b81b86970403831.txt

Information (abstract) of the report:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s12155-008-9005-y

Full pdf version of the report:
http://www.springerlink.com/content/f85977006m871205/fulltext.pdf

As noted on Rapid City Journals Website, more information on the study can be found at:
http://www.agecon.unl.edu/Cornhuskereconomics.html

 

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