1. The Regional Feedstock Partnership: Herbaceous Energy Crops and CRP Land for Biomass Production Across Environmental Gradients CRP Management Joe Castro, University of Illinois Species lead: D.K. Lee University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign PIs: E. Aberle (ND), K. Harmoney (KS), C. Chen (MT) C. Jordan (GA), R. Kallenbach (MO), G. Kakani (OK)

2. U.S. Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) The CRP program encourages farmers to convert highly erodible cropland or other environmentally sensitive acreage to vegetative cover. A cost-share and rental payment program under the USDA Reduce soil erosion, enhance water supplies, improve water quality. Increase wildlife habitat, and reduce damages caused by floods and other natural disasters Native grasses, wildlife planting, trees, filter strips

3. U.S. CRP- Current Status Current enrollment (Jan. 2010): 31.19 mil. ac Change in enrollment since 2007: down 5.58 mil.ac Major resource change (2007 to 2010)  Existing grasses and legumes: 15.3 to 11.6 mil. ac  New native grasses: 7.2 to 6.2 mil. ac  New introduced grasses and legumes: 3.4 to 2.5 mil. ac  Permanent wildlife habitat: 2.6 to 2.0 mil. ac Expiration schedule  2009: 3.9 mil. ac  2010: 4.5 mil. ac  2011: 4.4 mil. ac  2012: 6.5 mil. ac Source: USDA FSA

4. Objective Assessing potential of CRP land as a sustainable bioenergy feedstock resource Replicated field trials  Relatively large experimental unit (about 0.5 ha)  Effects of N fertilization and Harvest timing on biomass yield and species composition changes Montana, June 27, 2009

5. CRP Biomass Feedstock Production Research Sites Source: USDA FSA Chengci Chen, MT Gopal Kakani, OK Keith Harmoney, KS Robert Kallenbach, MO Ezra Aberle, ND Carl Jordan, GA

6. Field Experiment LocationSpecies $ Fertility (N lb/ac) Harvest Timing* Carrington, NDWarm mix (SW, BB)0, 50, 100PSC, AKF Hays, KSWarm mix (BB, SW)0, 50, 100PSC, AKF Altus, OKWarm mix (SW, BB)0, 50, 100PSC, EGS Moccasin, MTCool mix (WG, AF)0, 50, 100PSC, EGS Bishop, GACool mix (TF)0, 75, 1502 cuts: PSC, EGS Columbia, MOCool mix (TF, RC)0, 75, 1502 cuts: PSC, EGS $ SW: switchgrass, BB: big bluestem, WG: Wheatgrass, TF: tall fescue, RC: Red clover, AF: Alfalfa smooth brome * PSC: peak standing crop, AKF: after killing frost, EGS: end of growing season

7. CRP Management-Activity Fertilizer Application June 4, 2008, OK March 16, 2009, MO April 28, 2008, MT

8. CRP Management-Activity Peak Standing Crop Harvesting August 11, 2009, KS Sep. 7, 2008, ND

9. CRP Management-Activity End of Growing Season Harvesting Oct. 7, 2008, MT Oct. 3, 2008, GA

10. CRP Management-Activity Baling 2009, GA2009, MO 2008, OK 2009, OK

11. CRP Management-Activity Sampling and Transformation GA, 2009 KS, 2009

12. CRP Biomass Production LocationMixture2008 (ton/ac)2009 (ton/ac) Min.Max.Min.Max. N. DakotaWarm0.801.640.651.82 KansasWarm0.361.000.651.31 OklahomaWarm0.951.470.862.46 MissouriCool1.273.231.502.90 MontanaCool1.131.300.501.38 GeorgiaCool0.311.001.022.25 Mean0.801.610.862.02

13. CRP Biomass Production All Locations, 2009

14. CRP Biomass Production Warm-season grass mixture response to agronomic management

15. CRP Biomass Production Cool-season grass mixture response to agronomic management MT MO & GA

16. Summary CRP land has a potential for biomass production Sustainable management practices are required to maximize biomass production Continue field trials at the same locations in 2010