Native Grasses for Biomass Production at High Elevations - Industrial Crops: Breeding for BioEnergy and Bioproducts - page 119

be similar. In a Colorado-specific example, the economic feasibility of growing the
oilseed crop Camelina sativa (“camelina”) in the Mountain West was modeled to
produce value-added protein feed supplement, SVO-based biofuel, and farm energy
independence [ 116 ]. Results from stochastic crop rotation budget showed that
producers have a 50 % likelihood of breaking even when diesel prices reach
$1.14 L 1 , although an experienced producer could achieve profitability 90 % of
the time (using expected values of input prices) when diesel is at $0.81 L 1 .
Using a specific location as a test case allows an agronomic-economic model to
be populated with examples, so that variables can be isolated and replicated
elsewhere. This approach is supported by the literature, as others have noted that
feedstocks must be tailored to be region specific in order to feasibly grow biofuels
throughout the USA [ 117 ]. In other words, if economic profitability can be achieved
at the farm level for niche biofuel markets, like those presented above, others may
be encouraged to replicate the results. This momentum may lead to improvements
in cost-efficiency and expanded production of perennial grasses as bioenergy
feedstocks in the Mountain West. Ensuring the availability of a consistent number
of producers/suppliers is a positive step towards attracting investment in a regional
biorefinery and establishing a supply chain. Some people argue that the production
of grass species will provide growers with dual market opportunities. Farmers can
sell harvested grasses into traditional feed markets, and when prices are favorable,
they can sell harvested grasses into the biomass/biofuel market. This approach does
not provide for a reliable supply chain to meet the needs of a biorefinery.
Economic Feasibility of Perennial Grass Production
in Western Colorado
Using the case study approach, this section presents an agronomic-economic model
and a crop enterprise budgeting tool for growing perennial grasses in the Mountain
West, with the intention that the model can eventually be replicated elsewhere and a
regional market for perennial grasses can develop.
The cost of producing biofuel feedstocks is a major hurdle for growers [ 118 ], as
production has been on too small of a scale to ensure consistent profitability
[ 119 ]. One key component to profitable commodity production is maintaining
consistently low-input costs [ 115 ]. Agronomic-economic data were collected to
develop a crop enterprise budget tool [ 120 ] for herbaceous plant species in western
Colorado. Field performances of four herbaceous biomass entries (factor 1) and
four fertility input levels (factor 2) are currently being evaluated to assess their
effect on biomass production over a long-term testing period at three locations in
western Colorado. A more elaborate description of the agronomic parameters is
outlined in Pearson et al. [ 121 ].
The objective of the budget tool was to model the impact of agronomic changes
on production costs. The enterprise budgeting tool was developed in an Excel
spreadsheet that is user-friendly for a variety of audiences, including producers,