OMAFRA and Ontario Power Generation recently held a forum to determine the overall feasibility of “purpose grown energy crops” in Ontario.
In this case, a purpose grown energy crop is one grown to be burnt for electricity instead of coal. The session focused on the different factors needed to make growing those crops work in Ontario.
There were a variety of speakers sharing a wide range of information on the different options that growers have in that area of production. Some of the key messages included:
– Farmers in Ontario can grow energy crops such as switchgrass and miscanthus. Standard foraging equipment can get the job done, which means that new technology for harvesting those crops is not a necessity.
– There is a shortage of policies and programs to encourage producers to undertake those projects. It takes three years for the crops to reach a level of maturity where the harvest is significant. Even something as simple as a lending program that compensates for that lag time would reduce the risk for producers and be a solid first step for the early adopters.
– The ability to harvest crop residues like corn stover and wheat straw for energy in Ontario is very limited. The maximum amount that can be removed, from a soil sustainability perspective, is not that significant an amount. Once other harvesting costs have been factored into the equation, the prospects are even less promising.
– The great big unknown in the equation is what price Ontario Power Generation is willing to pay farmers for purpose grown energy crops. Farmers can grow those crops, but it really is unknown if they can do it profitably in Ontario.
Taking a wider view, there are other challenges emerging in moving this project forward.
It will be a challenge to convince farmers to try those alternative crops when prices for traditional crops – corn, soybeans, and wheat – are at stellar levels for cash crop producers.
Finally, there is growing uncertainty about the Ontario government’s commitment to expanding renewable options, especially given the troubles some Microfit solar producers are facing.
There may be completely different companies involved in those different projects, but the perception among farmers that might engage in both is that the reliability of this initiative is wavering at best.
There is considerable effort going into determining the feasibility of agricultural biomass for combustion energy. Farmers have the ability to grow these crops, but there is the need to get the policies, programs, and most importantly, the price right to move ahead on this project.
Nathan Stevens is the Research and Policy Advisor for the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario.
