Energy crops may be best suited for planting on marginal land or in Southeastern states when compared to likely earnings from corn and soybeans, the two most widely grown U.S. crops, say two researchers from the University of Illinois. In an article in Choices magazine, Ruiqing Miao and Madhu Khanna say yields of miscanthus and switchgrass, two biomass crops, are highest in the Southeast and on marginal land, while corn and soybean do best in the Midwest and on higher quality cropland.
While 21 million acres of pasture or idle land could be available for energy crops, the researchers say a much smaller total would be close to biomass processors. That’s important bcause the cost of transporting biomass crops is comparatively high. Makers of advanced biofuels may “have to rely on a mix of marginal land and cropland to meet their needs for biomass supply” and set their bids for biomass high enough to attract production on the cropland.