Resources from NEWBio: The Northeast Woody/Warm-season Biomass Consortium

NEWBio logo

Funded by AFRI. Learn More.

    The Northeast Woody/Warm-season Biomass Consortium (NEWBio) is a regional network of universities, businesses, and governmental organizations dedicated to building robust, scalable, and sustainable value chains for biomass energy in the Northeast. Driven by the broad societal benefits that sustainable bioenergy value chains could provide, NEWBio aims to overcome existing barriers and dramatically increase the sustainable, cost-effective supply of lignocellulosic biomass while reducing net greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing ecosystem services, and building vibrant communities.

     

     

    Ask an Expert logo

    NEWBio

    The Economics of Switchgrass for Biofuel

    The profitable production of switchgrass for biofuel  today depends  primarily on the price of oil, as well as the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

    Sponsoring Partner

    CenUSA-Logo
    Funded by AFRI. Learn More.

    Table of Contents

    Introduction

    In the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) legislation passed …

    Control Weeds in Switchgrass (Panicum Virgatum L.) Grown for Biomass

    Manage weeds immediately, with mowing and herbicides, when seeding switchgrass grown for biomass. Weed competition is the most common cause of failure.

     

    Sponsoring Partner

    CenUSA-Logo
    Funded by AFRI. Learn More.

    Table of Contents

    Introduction

    Switchgrass has a reputation for being difficult to establish and requiring three years to reach an acceptable stand. Due to advancements …

    Plant Breeders Create New and Better Switchgrass Varieties for Biofuels

    Through  innovations such as new hybrids, delayed flowering, and genomics, plant breeders hope to double biomass yields of switchgrass and other bioenergy crops by 2020.

    Sponsoring Partner

    CenUSA-Logo
    Funded by AFRI. Learn More.

    Table of Contents

    Introduction

    As plant breeders develop perennial crops dedicated to bioenergy, they use innovations such …

    Research Summary: Research Finds Strong Genetic Diversity in Switchgrass Gene Pools

    Genetic diversity in native switchgrass populations will benefit new varieties developed for biofuel production and ecosystem services.

    Sponsoring Partner

    CenUSA-Logo
    Funded by AFRI. Learn More.

    Table of Contents

    Abstract

    Mike-Casler
    Dr. Mike Casler, USDA ARS Plant Breeder has helped lead efforts to improve switchgrass yield 40%.

    Identification of gene pools and their geographic patterns will help in the development of new …

    Logistical Challenges to Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) as a Bioenergy Crop

    There’s more to producing a crop like switchgrass for bioenergy than just growing it. Harvesting, storing, transporting, and selling perennial grass feedstocks must be taken into consideration to make it a successful venture.

    Sponsoring Partner

    CenUSA-Logo
    Funded by AFRI. Learn More.

    Table of Contents

    Although switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) and other perennial grasses such as Indian grass …

    Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L) Stand Establishment: Key Factors for Success

    Sponsoring Partner

    CenUSA-Logo
    Funded by AFRI. Learn More.

    Table of Contents

    Successful establishment is critical to the long-term economic viability of a switchgrass stand. But it is not difficult if these key management practices are followed: development of …

    Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) for Biofuel Production

    Mature stand of switchgrass in its third year of production at Michigan State University. Photo: Dennis Pennington.

    Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a native warm-season grass that is a leading biomass crop in the United States. More than 70 years of experience with switchgrass as a hay and forage crop suggest switchgrass will be productive and sustainable on rain-fed marginal land east of the 100th meridian. Long-term plot trials and farm-scale studies in the Great Plains and plot trials in the