2013
New Energy Farms
Dedicated Biomass Solutions
NEW ENERGY FARMS
Since 2008 New Energy Farms has had a internal miscanthus
breeding program. Today NEF has one of the largest
miscanthus collections in the world. NEF now is developing
other breeding platforms for other species.
Protein-Digestibility and biomass fiber quality are now our
leading deliverables in our breeding program. As well as the
management of these production systems using Biomass
Direct™ to maximize the output of higher value uses, reducing
costs of tertiary demand. With access to new species and new
propagation and establishment systems like CEEDS™ NEF is a
significant player in any crop or cropping system that requires
vegetative propagation.
NEF BREEDING
Genetics
Miscanthus
Establishment
Rhizomatous Establishment of Miscanthus
SEED BED
1. Seed Bed: When land is fit, prepare seed bed to 3-5 inch depth.
This provides the rhizome proper cover and good soil to rhizome contact.
Soil moisture is critical in the early stage for germination. Prepare land in dryer
conditions just before planting to ensure good soil moisture.
PLANT MATERIAL
RHIZOME
2. Plant Material: Rhizomes should
be dormant and cool on arrival
without any shoots starting to break.
If rhizome quality is not ideal over
planting must be done. Density
per acre should be 750-900 lbs of
clean rhizomes. Densities with
automatic planting equipment should
be a minimum of 6500 per acre to
achieve good stands.
Each rhizome should have a strong
dominant meristem and many
recessive ones.
Each rhizome should have at
Least one strong dominant
meristem and many
recessive ones. Rhizomes
must be kept moist and cool
before planting. Ideal
storage temperatures are
37-40 F.
3. Crop Inputs: Glyphosate burndown, Pre planting pre emerge herbicides like
Harness Xtra (atrazine and acetochlor) is recommended. Broad leaf herbicides like
Banvel (dicamba)/ 2,4 –D can be sprayed through the season. Atrazine post
emergence is also recommended. Like corn adjust rates to soil types.
Soil tests should be done to observe soil fertility. Direct application in years 1 and 2 of
NPK (primarily N) is suggested with rates that will vary, but generally should be
75-100 lbs of N per acre (direct if possible).
Once there is significant leaf drop in later years the need to apply nutrient
is less critical. Observations of insects like wireworm should be noted,
and if following pastures treatment of wireworm will be critical. Pasture land ideally
Should be prepared in the fall with a herbicide burn down before perennial
grasses go dormant and a deep plow should be done with possible cover crop.
Cropping after pasture it is recommended to plant a glyphosate resistant crop a year
prior to planting miscanthus to break many of the weed complexes.
Companion planting of corn is becoming a normal practice for grain or silage
production.
NEF RHIZOME PLANTERS
• NEF Planters developed in 2002 in the UK, WH Loxton Ltd
• WH Loxton is NEF partner supplying these planters and CEEDS system
• Plants up to 50-75 Acres per day per machine, supplied in EU, US,
Canada
• Use 750 - 900lb per acre 7-8K per Acre
ENERGY CROP ESTABLISHMENT
Miscanthus x Giganteus
Light sandy soils:
Propagation field planted using our automated planter.
27 acres planted with one person in 3hrs.
Pyramid Farms Ltd
Leamington Ontario
Second Generation Biofuels Divison
Pyramid Farms Ltd
Leamington
Ontario
Second Generation Biofuels
Divison
August Miscanthus Leamington
Economics of Rhizome Establishment
Two most expensive parts of Miscanthus establishment is the plant material
and land opportunity cost lost during the establishment years.
Land prep and pre and post emergence inputs are not a factor unless the land
being planted was abandoned or pastured.
Plant costs can be mitigated in expansion of new crops from producing on farm or
local aggregated rhizome propagation. Once this happens the cost of plant material
becomes a non issue (taking the price from 8-15 cents each to less than 2 cents).
Note: it is key to receive plant material with documentation (pedigree) and if in the public
domain. Find suppliers that do not carry any restrictions. MxG in your region has the most
research done (has the data and track record) and is the most stable and highest yielding
cultivar in the market. NEF has the most experience in yield trialing out of any company in
the world with this. Having trial plots of many pre commercial cultivars for over 8 yrs.
Do not buy into groups that want to sell you rebranded material with false claims.
Look for U of Illinois (Erik Sacks) poster on MxG cultivars in the market.
Seed Cane Establishment
Plant propagation Multiplication rates: Irrigated and non irrigated lands will preform
differently. Sandy loam soils are recommended for ease of extraction. Multiplication
rates will vary 1st year 8-15, 2nd year 20-30, 3rd year 40-80 to one of mechanically
harvested rhizomes.
After the 3rd year then the rhizome clump develops many rhizomes that are old and will
not be the best for establishment. These rhizomes (inner clump) should be not factored
in as a viable rhizome when planting. The outer edges of the clump (4 yr and older
stand) will provide you the best material in this case. This is why NEF plants by weight
not by piece.
Planting Seed cane fields are similar to cane fields other than the density. It will depend
on soil types and year that you want to harvest the rhizomes to what density one should
plant. Higher nutrition is highly recommended to reduce the amount of advantages
roots. Bed planting at rates of 12000-20000 rhizomes per acre is recommended.
Age of clump and Soil Types
PROCESSING RHIZOME CLUMP
Ground Speed and Depth
Soil Separation and Packing
RHIZOME HARVEST
Modified Rock Digger
Thank You
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Wuhan Botanical Gardens Hubei China
Kangwon National University Gangwon-do Korea
Hokkaido University Hokkaido Japan
Colorado State University USA
University of Illinois USA
DEFRA collection United Kingdom
NEF Collections
Collaborate with Purdue, Penn State
In house breeders:
Dr. Martin Deuter Germany
Gerald Vankoverdan Canada
NEF BREEDING – DETAILS
KEY POINTS
NEF BREEDING
Screening germplasm for various end uses- observation field trials Leamington
ie- Many perennial grasses in early season growth have high levels of Crude Protein
and reasonable Digestibility. As the leaf and stem ratio changes through the growing
season the use of this crop as a forage diminishes. Nutrient management, harvest
protocols, target species, etc play a role in the economics. Key is the balance between
feed and fibre end use needs.
Building on current and past experience of others.
Trying not to make the same mistakes.
Some energy crops don’t have any useful rhizomes (M x Giganteus is relatively unique)
Building on current and past experience of others.
Trying not to make the same mistakes.
Image shows left rhizome plant establishment right CEEDS establishment after 60 days
(Miscanthus)
Building on current and past experience of others.
Trying not to make the same mistakes.
Image shows from left to right, CEEDS, plug plant and rhizome after 60 days
(Miscanthus). Yellow boxes highlight original propagule size.
ENERGY CROP ESTABLISHMENT
Miscanthus x Giganteus Illinois clone 60 days
ENERGY CROP ESTABLISHMENT
Arundo Donax 60 day after planting
Giant Reed (Arundo Donax) 40t Ha (DM)
Energy Cane (Saccharum procerum ) >40 t Ha (DM)
MANY OPPORTUNITIES
Napier Grass
Napier Grass (Pennisetum Purpereum) 40 t Ha (DM)
MANY OPPORTUNITIES
Napier Grass
Napier Grass Leamington 14 wks from CEEDS
Napier Grass CEEDS 24 wks
Building on current and past experience of others.
Trying not to make the same mistakes.
Commercial scale energy crop plantation
Short rotational forestry- NEF developing CEEDS™ protocols for 2014 trials
NEF is under development of CEEDS™ protocols for Sugarcane- 2014 trails
CEEDS PLANTER OPERATING IN THE UK
•
When energy crops are scaled, growers and end users need assistance, current
row crop support (on farm) is not cost effective as there is no annual sale.
•
Farmers get extension advice specific for their crops, with the ability to trade
direct to end users, aim is also to focus on good agronomy, increasing yield
easier than breeding.
•
End users get direct low cost sourcing of biomass with full sustainability
reporting (accurate to field level) and benefits of logistics and yield forecasting.
•
Breeders / developers get secure routes for generating per acre/per tonne
royalty payments plus access to developmental tools (yield prediction etc)
ENERGY CROP MNAGEMENT
Key points:
BIOMASS DIRECT – FURTHER DETAILS
BIOMASS DIRECT – FURTHER DETAILS
BIOMASS DIRECT – FURTHER DETAILS
Southwestern Ontario Agricultural/Industrial Cluster
Currently have 1000 acres of miscanthus growing for cane production and rhizome
propagation (Infrastructure and investment in place to expand 20,000 acres).
Pilot processing plant built with equipment (Total Investment to date of 4.5 million).
Feedstock for Mushroom Industry
Greenhouse/Industrial Heat And Power Fuel
Livestock
Feed
Ag Industry
First and Second
Generation
Bio Fuel and
Compounds
Automotive and
Manufacturing
Industry
Low Cost Feedstock
and Ability to Scale
Bedding
Market
Packaging
Industry
Consumer Population of 60 million Creating Demand for
Products/Consumables (also creating post consumer waste/feedstocks)
SOUTHWESTERN ONTARIO PROJECT
Windsor/Essex/Chatham/Lambton
Project Pilot
Fuel/ Feed
Nursery Mulch Ontario
Local Trials
Equine Bedding 20 Kg bags
Plastic Compounding
and Creation of
Consumer Products
Growing Media
Bulk Poultry Bedding
Tyson Foods NC
Processed Miscanthus Flour for Packaging Products
All equipment purchased currently being
commissioned.
CGT PARTNERSHIP- COMPOUNDING AND RECYCLING
- Commissioning of a new 2000 lb per hr
extruder in Leamington site to compound
large commercial volumes.
- Commercialization of current IP developed
by/with University of Guelph. As well
development of new IP and formulations.
- Engaging large volume plastic recyclingGreenhouse industry films, post consumer
waste steams, industrial tailings, etc.
SUNATURA BIO PRODUCTS
MISCANTHUS CHIP HOT WATER BOILER
CEEDS IMAGES OF VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION MATERIAL
CEEDS IMAGES OF VEGETATIVE PROPAGATION MATERIAL
Napier Grass
Pyramid Farms Ltd
Leamington Ontario
Second Generation Biofuels Divison
BIOMASS INVESTMENT
6 MW THERMAL