Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for allowing me to raise this issue. The first crop of miscanthus grass in Ireland was harvested three weeks ago in Adare. An Adare company, JHM Crops Limited, was formed to promote miscanthus as a viable alternative crop. The first harvest came from the Hogan farm in Adare, County Limerick. JHM Crops Limited and Quinn's of Baltinglass have formed a relationship to jointly promote the growing of miscanthus in Ireland, as they have an exclusive agreement with Bical for their rhizome in Ireland.

They have identified the growing of miscanthus as an alternative farm enterprise and have established crops for rhizome and cane production. A feasibility study carried out by Dr. J.J. Leahy at the University of Limerick shows the project has excellent potential. Miscanthus is a low-input, high-yielding multipurpose crop, suitable for production across large areas of Ireland. The crop is undergoing much research in Europe, the United Kingdom and more recently, Ireland, as a renewable energy crop to produce heat and power. Miscanthus has other environmentally positive applications such as use for equine bedding or garden mulch. The establishment of more processing facilities to meet the needs of growers and end users is essential, providing an opportunity for farmers to maximise returns, especially in the early years.

I urge the Minister of State to review the supports given by the Government to miscanthus growers. The crop is supported through the energy crops scheme, which only provides €45 per acre to farmers. The benefits of the product are such that it deserves much greater support than that which is currently available.

Miscanthus is a woody perennial grass originating in South East Asia and is commonly known as elephant grass. The non-flowering forms are of interest agriculturally as they grow rapidly, have low nutrient requirements, produce high yields, suffer from no known pests or diseases and conventional agricultural machinery can be used to plant, maintain and harvest them.

Miscanthus is grown commercially as an energy crop for use in power generation. Commercial power generation projects using biomass crops such as miscanthus commenced some time ago in the United Kingdom and Europe, with more due to come on stream in the next number of years. Ireland is only now waking up to the potential of biomass power. JHM Crops Limited, in Adare, is committed to supplying crops for a similar market in Ireland.

The crop is propagated by rhizomes, will grow to three metres in height within three years of planting and remain viable for at least 25 years. As the plants are sterile, there is no danger of proliferation of the crop onto adjoining lands. The crop is perennial, with stems emerging from an underground rhizome complex annually, in March or April, reaching its maximum height of three metres towards the end of August. Cooler temperatures in autumn trigger senescence and translocation of reserves below ground. The crop is left in the field over winter during this phase. Leaf material falls to the ground, recycling nutrients and providing mulch which suppresses weed growth. By spring the cane is ready to harvest, typically using a forage harvester similar to that for maize. It can also be harvested using mower conditioner power prior to baling. Detailed information on the agronomy of miscanthus can be supplied.

Miscanthus differs from short rotation copices in that it provides an annual harvest and therefore an annual income for the grower. In Ireland, long-term arid harvestable yields from a mature crop will exceed seven tonnes per acre per year and will, in many cases, amount to eight or nine tonnes. Miscanthus has at least three end uses in the UK at present. It is a renewable energy source as baled miscanthus straw is used to generate electricity in purpose-built straw-fired power plants. Miscanthus straw, blended with sawdust or wood is pelletised to produce biomass fuel and miscanthus straw is used to make briquettes for use in domestic fuel.

It is also used to make equine, cattle and pet bedding, cat litter and chicken house bedding. It is used for garden mulch. Other possible uses are the manufacture of chipboard and plywood. I ask the Minister of State to review the low levels of support in place, in view of the opportunities for the State for a friendly energy production policy.

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