In the world of biomass production, weed pressure during establishment can be the ultimate nemesis for all biomass crops. In this industry, along with our row crop cousins, we succeed and fail by our ability to consistently produce high yielding crops. On top of the ever increasing cost of production, we now also have to battle numerous species of herbicide resistant weeds. The good news is that most of these weeds can be controlled, the bad news is that the timing of application is critical.
Here at Genera Energy, we understand the agronomic factors that drive successful stands of biomass! One way we can help mitigate risk is by utilizing our robust crop scouting program. In this program, we will tailor and schedule crop specific field reports that monitor weed, disease, and insect pressures as they occur. It is critical that fields are constantly monitored for weed pressure in all crops but especially for first year perennials. The ability to control weed competition in newly planted fields is paramount if optimum yields are to be achieved by year 2. Perennial crops are very attractive to producers because they have a relatively low cost of annual maintenance once established, but reaching “establishment” requires careful attention and detail.
Genera has also incorporated advanced planting methods and products to provide our crops with the competitive advantage from day one. By denying weeds access to fertilizer through precision placement, combined with timely herbicide treatment, we can effectively reduce the overall time of establishment. This reduction in time will save our clients exponentially in start-up costs for feedstock supply and transportation.
Through the combination of integrating herbicide and nutritional technologies currently used for maximizing yield in existing row crops, Genera is able to reduce the overall cost of feedstock establishment and maintenance. This adoption of agronomic practices will help further guarantee the longevity of profitable and sustainable cellulosic products, such as fuels and chemicals, from dedicated feedstocks in the future.
By Lucas Graham, Feedstock Production and Supply Manager
