[Carpenter Prairie Discussion] biomass

[George Seek]

Great progressive thinking Frank

It makes good wildlife and environmental sense to allow CRP landowners to harvest 1/4 to 1/3 of their "Native grass & Forb" CRP for energy while improving habitat for wildlife while also conserving the soil  - -win/win &win - -I could even support no CRP penalty for harvesting a third of their CRP for energy as long as the landowner uses wildlife friendly tallgrass prairie cover (this could be an Incentive to rid the landscape of fescue or keep existing contracts from pulling out of the program and farmed again).

George - Missouri Native Seed

 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Frank Oberle 
  To: Rudi Roeslein ; Carol Davit ; Kevin Carpenter ; Jon Wingo 
  Cc: Ben Duffield ; Amy Hamilton ; Amy Buechler ; Mervin Wallace ; John Hoskins ; John Burk ; John Knudsen ; Steve Mowry ; Amy Buechler ; David Erickson ; Denny Donnell ; Wayne Morton ; George Seek ; John Burk ; Kelly Srigley Werner ; Linda Tossing ; Steve Mowry ; Alan Leary ; Ted Cooper ; Susan Hazelwood ; Mike Currier ; Steve Heyling ; Andrew Forbes ; James Trager ; Scott Woodbury ; Tim Barksdale ; Tim Reinbott ; phil wire ; DeeCee Darrow ; John Murphy ; Dave Murphy ; Bill Bergh ; Bill McGuire ; Dwaine Gelnar ; Allen Powell ; JR Flores ; Eddie Hamill ; Dwaine Gelnar ; Gene Gardner ; Tim Banek ; Darlene Johnson ; Karen Brinkman ; Brent Jamison ; Keith Jackson ; Aaron Jeffries ; Jean Herman ; Steve Bruckerhoff ; Steve Flick ; Jerry Kaiser ; Ken Struemph ; Andrew Forbes ; staceyg at missouri.edu 
  Sent: Thursday, December 10, 2009 1:59 PM
  Subject: Fw: biomass






   
  Policy and Policymakers


  In Washington, the popularity of the USDA's Biomass Crop Assistance Program has soared, with the number of qualifying facilities now exceeding 280. The Biomass Crop Assistance Program assists agricultural and forest land owners and operators with matching payments for the amount paid for the collection, harvest, storage and transportation of eligible material by a qualified Biomass Conversion Facility.


  Conservationist,
         I believe the time has come here in Missouri to begin a very strategic plan
  on how we can become not only serious players in the biomass industry, but how can
  we improve wildlife habitat at the same time. I will emphatically state there is
  known scientific evidence that will validate this claim--especially all CRP lands that
  currently--and maybe futuristically--are enrolled in a plant material--like fescue and 
  brome--that has very little environmental benefits. 
       In order to move an idea forward there has to be action. And there is no action
  until there is movement. My passion and cause for our state is to add wildlife,
  environmental and green energy benefits for Northern Missouri. How do we add
  value to an economically depressed area? Firstly, like a Doctor's oath of promise 
  for receiving his degree: "Never to do Harm."  We need to emulate nature's blueprint
  and follow a path of least resistance. It is always more difficult to bend mother
  nature to our wants, than it is to assimilate to an ideology that heeds to bending
  with her.
        One known truth evident here in N. Missouri is that we can grow native grass and
  broadleaf legumes. Cellulosic's greatest asset is that indigenous plant material suited to the soil and climate adds to the success of the project. We have the potential of
  rebuilding CRP with an ecologically sound plant material that will boost biodiversity 
  and reviving rural economies. 
       Please do not take my word for any of this, use the science at hand. There
  are entrepreneurs willing and hoping for such an opportunity. Does anyone 
  out there have any suggestions on where or how to begin this endeavor? We have 
  nearly 1.5 million acres of CRP here in Missouri. One plan could be that once
  the re-established CRP acres of any single tract of ground was deemed ready
  to be engaged into a regime of biomass/wildlife management rotation, one forth to one
  third of the tract would be allowed to be harvested in the months of October
  through January. There would be no rental penalty for the landowner to pay if the plant material was used in some biomass project. The next designated portion to be
  harvested--rather it be one third to one forth--would be eligible for a late spring burn 
  to encourage both forb growth and grass development. When there is plenty of
  thatch build-up, there are less forbs that will have vigorous growth. We have
  experienced this fact in our production fields. It works like this. Plants store starches
  and sugars in their roots systems. In early spring, if there is a canopy of thatch which
  creates enormous shade, when the emerging plant sends it first two basal leaves 
  for light scouting, perennial and long lived native plants will not take the risk of
  expending large amounts of root reserves to overtake the canopy--just too risky. 
      There are many possibilities that could be worked out. Currently, though, I believe
  we could be passing on a great opportunity to rebuild our landscape to a vegetation that is suited to attract and sustain our rare and declining wildlife, but too, the biomass entrepreneurs. It also would be good for pollinators, producers and weaning our
  nation's dependency on imported fossil fuels. I'm not saying the above is the perfect set of blueprints for a run away success story, however, I can say with wisdom and discernment that CRP could use a make-over that gives the customer--our hard working American taxpayers--real dividends for their investment.
       In the beginning of the Conservation Reserve Program, the goals of preventing soil erosion and cleaning up our streams was an industrious and very successful 
  conservation accomplishment. We have progressed immensely in the field of understanding and implementing native plant communities and the adverse affects of toxic and invasive fescue. The research going on at NRCS's Plant Material Center and 
  MU's Bradford Farm will yield much to the enhancement of a myriad of wildlife and biomass concerns. Thanks to all those partners supporting these exigencies.   fo











   
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