Switchgrass Incentive Program

Of the $70 million in funding committed to the Biofuels Initiative, more than $8 million has been set aside for a farmer incentive program.  This program will pay farmers on a per acre basis to produce switchgrass in advance of a mature market for the new energy crop.

In order to operate at full capacity, the plant will require approximately 170 tons of biomass per day.  With that in mind, the Initiative’s goal is to plant 800 acres of switchgrass this spring, with an additional 2,000-3,000 or more acres to be planted in spring 2009 and another 4,000 or more acres to be planted in spring 2010.  Subsequent rounds of applications will be accepted for switchgrass production in the pilot program for the 2009 and 2010 planting seasons.

The open application and contracting period for Spring 2008 is now closed. Seventeen area farmers received acceptance letters into the University of Tennessee switchgrass farmer incentive program in February. In total, 725 acres located in seven different East Tennessee counties were enrolled in the program. These contracts will pay farmers a rate of $450 per acre per year to grow switchgrass for a three-year term. The farmers will also be supplied with high quality switchgrass seed and technical assistance from UT Extension.

UT expects to enroll more acreage into the farmer incentive program for planting in spring 2009 and 2010.  Farmers who are interested in participating in future incentive programs are encouraged to contact their local Extension agent or visit this website for more information. Applications for contracts for Spring 2009 planting will be requested later this year.

Documents and Information

Sample Application for Contract (pdf)
Sample Contract (pdf)
Current Switchgrass Producer Map (pdf)

Related Press Releases

Farmers Awarded Switchgrass Contracts for Tennessee Biofuels, Mar. 1, 2008
Area Farmers Encouraged to Attend Switchgrass Production Meetings, Jan. 7, 2008