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Translated from the Brasil FB
CERES NEWS | Hybrid Blade® GrandSilo sorghum silage comes to Brazilian resellers
New hybrid has high levels of productivity in crops and is competitively priced at point of sale, says Ceres, company specialist area biotechnology in sorghum
Agricultural San Francisco uses the new product successfully
Nice start for once.
Lots in the pipeline and hopefully so. The annual numbers will be the ones to watch and they are coming out soon. Cost cutting and the recent grants are big ones and it looks like they are starting to see successes in the seeds they are working on. Time will tell.
Anyone see this?
Next month will tell the story a bit more. Plantings, software, cost reductions, the cloud, lots on the horizon. If you ask me the pricing for the listing issue is in the price so time to ride the wave IMO and keep buying a little each week. Didn't sell and am staying the course. Big win or big tax loss, either way it will be big....
I finally sold, so the price can go up now.
In the spirit of the Ice Bucket Challenge, I challenge the CEO to buy 20K shares on the open market. A mere pittance to him.
Thanks, found it and it is not granted yet, only an application still. There must have been some action by the patent dept in reviewing it. They are so complex no idea what was done, but it is still active. (a good thing)
Didn't see anything on the government patent site yet so not sure on what this is at this point.
Origen - Officially registered yesterday...Looks like they are serious about this one since it went the full process and it has a registration number.
Word Mark ORIGEN
Goods and Services IC 031. US 001 046. G & S: Corn seed. FIRST USE: 20140610. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20140610
Mark Drawing Code (3) DESIGN PLUS WORDS, LETTERS, AND/OR NUMBERS
Design Search Code 26.01.03 - Circles, incomplete (more than semi-circles); Incomplete circles (more than semi-circles)
26.01.21 - Circles that are totally or partially shaded.
26.01.31 - Circles - five or more; Five or more circles
27.03.01 - Geometric figures forming letters, numerals or punctuation
Serial Number 86012915
Filing Date July 17, 2013
Current Basis 1A
Original Filing Basis 1B
Published for Opposition December 3, 2013
Registration Number 4611005
Registration Date September 23, 2014
On September 24, at 10:50 am, agronomist MSc José Geraldo Sousa, Development Manager at Ceres Seeds of Brazil, makes a presentation at the 8th Meeting on Great Varieties of Cane Sugar. The event takes place at the Convention Center of Ribeirão Preto and goes until the 25th.
The theme of the expert will be sweet sorghum and high biomass sorghum: progress and prospects for the next crop against the backdrop of the sugarcane industry. He will treat, for example, the anticipation of the end milling of cane sugar by most plants, scheduled for October, due to the severe drought affecting the center-south.
Sousa points out that before the lower supply of cane sugar milling in early 2015, the mills have the alternative to make strategic use of sweet sorghum and high biomass sorghum as raw materials complementary to the production of ethanol and energy.
According to the latest forecast by Unica - Union of the Cane Sugar Industry - released at the end of August, the grinding of the center-south is expected to be 545.89 million tons, down 5.88% compared the initial estimate (580 million tons), and 8.57% compared to the previous harvest (597.06 million tons).
Hybrids of Ceres, marketed under the brand Blade® were used by more than 50 units in the last harvest. Besides the prospect of offsetting some of the losses of raw material planned for the next crop of sugarcane, sweet sorghum cultivation, adds Sousa, these companies do not require significant investments, because the plant is processed in the industry with the same equipment for grinding cane. Already high biomass sorghum has advantages for power generation, with productivity differentials at harvest and higher calorific value than the bagasse, besides being an alternative low-mineral impurities.
The Executive will also announce at the event to launch three new cultivars of its brand Blade®, two high-biomass sorghum and sweet sorghum. The 2014/15 sorghum crop will start in November and end in May 2015, a period that includes part of the sugarcane harvests and in which companies may be less availability of raw material for processing.
Founded in the United States in 1996, Ceres Seeds arrived in Brazil for about four years. The company has exclusivity in one of the largest banks in the world sorghum germplasm and brought the whole process of improvement for Brazil to achieve gains in culture, adjusting the products according to the growing conditions of the various regions of the country.
Recently, the company has been selected to receive funds from the Agricultural PAISS program - Plan Set to Support Agricultural Technological Innovation of the Sugarcane Sector, a joint initiative of the BNDES - National Bank for Economic and Social Development - and FINEP - Financier of Studies and Projects.
Translated by google
I will either make a tidy bit in a year or have a good write off. That's my opinion so far.
This week in the south...
http://www.ideaonline.com.br/evento-sobre/8-grande-encontro-sobre-variedades-de-cana
CERES NEWS translated | Hybrid Blade® GrandSilo sorghum silage is the new bet Ceres Seeds in Brazil Company advances in the development of hybrid sorghum and high biomass sorghum and enters the market of products for feeding cattle Hybrid Blade® GrandSilo has high productivity and palatability, as well as rapid reduction of pH, ensuring a high quality silage, according to the company Campinas (SP) - Holder of one of the largest banks in the world sorghum germplasm, the biotechnology company Ceres Seeds shows why emerging as specialist the sorghum market in the country. This week the company announced the launch of its first hybrid sorghum silage, which is now marketed under the brand Blade® GrandSilo, for the production of basic feed for beef cattle and milk. The product comes form the line of products already sold by the company, Sweet Sorghum Blade, ideal for the sugarcane industry to produce ethanol and electricity from bagasse and High Biomass Sorghum Blade, for the production of electricity and heat as well as ethanol cellulosic. According to the general manager André Franco, Ceres came testing hybrid Blade® GrandSilo BD1615 in the states of São Paulo, Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Goiás, Minas Gerais and Rio Grande do Sul. "treatment is an excellent alternative for producers to feed dairy cattle and beef cattle, derived from the seed of sweet sorghum, "says Franco. According to the executive, prior to the launch of the hybrid specific for forage and silage studies revealed excellent agronomic performance and high productivity in the field, with an average yield of 54 tons per hectare of green matter with 30% dry matter. 's recommendation now is that its best to express the productive potential new hybrid GrandSilo BD1615, which is easy to handle , to be planted by the end of December and harvested between the months of April and May, at which identifies the pasty grain, ideal for silage point. "For cattle, sorghum GrandSilo Blade features high palatability and nutritional quality ; the creator transfers competitiveness as the cost of production of the raw material, best quality silage for accelerated reduction of pH, resulting in lower losses and more rapid fermentation and greater production of dry matter per hectare, "says Franco. present between the top 30 companies in Brazil in its segment, according to Assocon - National Association of Feedlot - Agropecuaria San Francisco, Goiatuba of (GO), tested the hybrid sorghum GrandSilo. On the property are confined approximately 15 000 units per year. The manager of the San Francisco Osvaldo Pereira de Souza, attests good results with the product; "We proved the efficiency and quality of the material. Cultivate GrandSilo in off season and found that the plant had great sanity. At the end of the harvest cycle average of 40 tons per hectare, given that for the period of off-season is a great result. The cost was lower than if we had planted corn for silage, "notes Pereira de Souza. According to the manager, the process of fermentation of sorghum GrandSilo "was a bit faster than corn silage." This, says the professional is another important benefit "because we can use faster in animal nutrition," he adds. According to Pereira de Souza, the animals showed good acceptance by food from sorghum GrandSilo without change in volume of consumption in comparison with the corn silage used previously. "The consumption of the original material remains unchanged. I nominate the GrandSilo exactly why these differentials. The product results in high productivity at lower worship and good acceptance by the squad in the trough, "says. "Not only will we repeat the crop as planting a larger area sooner," concludes the manager of San Francisco. Technical Support - The general manager André Franco emphasizes that Ceres is fully structured to provide technical assistance to interested in the cultivation of sorghum silage Blade® GrandSilo. He points out that the experts at Ceres Seeds developed a management protocol to guide farmers in cultivation and thus obtain the best results for silage. Blade® The new GrandSilo is now available for sale and the company is building a list of partners and resellers in regions suitable for cultivation. About Ceres Ceres Seeds is a biotechnology company that develops and markets seeds of agricultural crops. The company combines the advanced breeding and biotechnology to provide cutting-edge solutions ante limiting the supply of raw materials for renewable energy in the sugarcane industry and the industrial area. Also operates in the animal feed industry. Seeds and hybrids of Ceres are marketed under the brand BLADE®. In Brazil, Ceres is focused on expanding the sorghum line and development of biotech traits for cane sugar. Recently the company was awarded the PAISS resources, BNDES and FINEP program to consolidate the advances in sorghum crop varieties and research of transgenic sugarcane and energy cane. www.ceressementes.com.br Ceres Seeds Brazil Press Release Twitter : @ bureauideias / .: Tel (11) 3679-9108 BIA - Bureau of Ideas Associated, Press and With Est.. Fernanda Campos - fernanda@bureauideias.com.br Marcelo Quaglio - marcelo@bureauideias.com.br www.bureauideias. com
Keeps me buying a little more each week. Thanks and I agree
Anything is possible and it would look like the delisting price is somewhat factored in, but what do I know. Buying a little each week and hoping I am right in my decisions. Getting close to 20K of shares and that is larger than quite a few institutions which is on the scary side. If it goes and runs to where I think it should be then I will be happy, if not on to another. I like the IP and they are making strategic decisions IMO that make sense. There are terrible at getting the word out, but on the other side they have not hired a sleazy agency that puts out a PR on every toilet flush.
This is a definite proceed with caution stock, at least to me.
My opinion is the Artel Group should step up their pressure on management. If not then I wonder what side they are playing. All the pumpers left a long time ago and there is a reason.
Translated from the page by google.
CERES NEWS | Ceres release new varieties of sorghum in 2014/15 harvest and celebrates performance achieved in 13/14
Company bet agronomic advances and performance of cultivars with more ethanol and more biomass, stimulate the adhesion of plants in the offseason of cane sugar, compared to the projected reduction in the supply of raw materials due to the severe drought of the mid-south
Data show improvement in crop productivity of sorghum cultivars, and increased production of ethanol per hectare and high competitiveness of high-biomass sorghum in cogeneration
Campinas (SP) - The inevitable reduction in the supply of cane sugar in the 2015/16 season, a consequence of the drop in productivity to be expected that the harvest is underway, due to the drought in the South Central region opens a new opportunity for advances in the adoption of sorghum cultivars, believes Ceres seeds of Brazil. The company successfully distributes the Country line products Blade® sweet sorghum and high biomass sorghum.
Sweet sorghum is used for ethanol production and power generation from bagasse, while the high-biomass sorghum intended to combustion, generating heat and electricity.
The positive expectations regarding the potential of sorghum culture is manifested by the general manager of Ceres Seeds of Brazil, André Franco, and is still supported in anticipation of the likely closure of the 2014/15 cycle of cane sugar, provided by experts and sector entities to occur in October.
Normally, the plants contain the harvest between the months of November and December. For the executive, there is advancement prospects for sorghum next to the power generation sector, also affected by drought.
"Cultivars Blade® Sacarino may allow plants to anticipate the start of their season next March 15-16. Sorghum is able to supply companies with raw materials to the resumption of the cane sugar cycle and generate bagasse for generating and exporting electricity to the grid. The use of sorghum will be a means for firms to partly compensate the loss of productivity of sugarcane ethanol production more and more biomass, "explains Franco.
Franco announces that Ceres Seeds will launch this month three new cultivars of its brand Blade®, two high-biomass sorghum and sweet sorghum. All result of breeding programs carried out in Brazil and heels glimpse the agronomic performance of the crop.
From now varieties of sorghum and high biomass Blade® BD7605 BD7607 Blade® enter the company's portfolio. Both add to the hybrid Blade® CB 7520, which showed excellent results in the culture, which began in November 2013 and closed last May 13/14 season.
The high biomass sorghum, complements Franco, can be used both to generate electricity and heat generation or even the manufacturing of cellulosic ethanol. Has been tapped with good results also in different productive sectors which use of biomass as an energy source, including food and citrus industries, slaughterhouses and grain processors.
The third release of Ceres with a view of sorghum to the 14/15 season, which begins next November, is the hybrid sweet sorghum Blade® BD5404.
This is a new option for companies that were cultivating the variety BRS 511, licensed by Embrapa exclusively for Ceres, in order to increase the production of ethanol from sugarcane in the offseason. Versatile products can also be used as a source of biomass, bagasse once your account compatible with the needs of the plants and industries energy capacity.
André Franco strengthens the productive cycle of high biomass sorghum and sweet sorghum occurs between November and May and emphasizes: "the same equipment used in the harvesting, milling and processing of cane sugar to serve the sweet sorghum without the need for adaptations were tested and industrially. For high biomass sorghum harvest is made with forage, increasing productivity and bringing benefits as the calorific value of sorghum, 1,800 kcal / kg and lower levels of mineral impurities "concludes.
Season 2013/14: indicators and results of sorghum
Ceres concluded in recent days the survey conducted in the period 13/14 crops cultivated with hybrids of sorghum and high biomass sorghum Blade®.
Biomass results Blade®
Figures released today show that the hybrid sorghum biomass Blade® CB7520 showed high results and performance that reinforce their attractiveness with the consumer market bagasse and other biomass.
The calorific value of the hybrid, the company said, exceeded that of cane sugar in comparative tests. The mean yield of this hybrid calculated ranged 26-32 tons / ha with 50% moisture, depending on the regional, reaching up to 44 tons per hectare with 50% humidity.
The study also shows that the total production cost of Blade® CB 7520 is between £ 65 and £ 85 per tonne at 50% moisture in the plant delivered (CIF), considering distance of 20km. The useful calorific value (PUI) measured at 50% humidity, reached the significant level of 1829 Kcal / Kg.
"The competitive advantage of high-biomass sorghum is confirmed each season," adds André Franco. "The product line of high biomass sorghum Blade® is a reality and presents genetic gain each year. Its use can be done in all types of boilers, respecting the technical characteristics of the product and small basic settings and can also be mixed with other types of biomass, "exemplifies the executive.
Results Sacarino Blade®
Regarding the Blade® sweet sorghum hybrids evaluated by Ceres, the company emphasizes that all recorded productivity jumps in liters per hectare, as has been occurring in previous years.
Ethanol production per hectare planted reached until 3900 liters / ha, and mean delivery of 2.9 to 3300 liters / ha, depending on the regional.
André Franco says that the minimum production of sorghum should be estimated at a minimum of 5 days of grinding and be processed in a maximum of 24 hours after harvest.
"We have increased the average yield around 30% each season. The learning curve is reduced year after year and the potential for growth and crop improvement in the coming years is real and measurable, a great opportunity for businesses who want to get ahead of the development and also balance the production of ethanol through the crisis in the sector, "adds Franco.
Ceres Seeds of Brazil offers one selected Security Program, which has counterparts ensuring average productivity in the plantation companies. The program is valid for the period 2014/15.
The company said that its technical team will provide agronomic and technological support in the management of portfolio of hybrids Blade® to selected customers in all regions where the products are recommended.
"The Ceres specializes in sorghum and is committed to the development of culture in Brazil. This assumes that say the company is sure in its recommendation, as well as the potential of products, both saccharine as biomass "concludes André Franco.
Last year, more than 50 units have joined the Ceres technology. The company expects to get a significant jump in the number of active customers during the 2014/15 crop of sorghum.
About Ceres
Ceres Seeds is a biotechnology company that develops and markets seeds of agricultural crops. The company combines the advanced breeding and biotechnology to provide cutting-edge solutions ante limiting the supply of raw materials for renewable energy in the sugarcane industry and the industrial area. Also operates in the animal feed industry. Seeds and hybrids of Ceres are marketed under the brand BLADE®.
In Brazil, Ceres is focused on expanding the sorghum line and development of biotech traits for cane sugar. Recently the company was awarded the PAISS resources, BNDES and FINEP program to consolidate the advances in sorghum crop varieties and research of transgenic sugarcane and energy cane. www.ceressementes.com.br
Nice addition to the team, thanks
We kinda already knew, but here it is in a release.
http://www.4-traders.com/CERES-INC-9979701/news/Ceres--Beta-Testers-Sought-for-Cloud-Edition-of-Persephone-Genome-Browser-19031640/
Ceres to Expand Product Development in Sorghum and Sugarcane
9/10/2014
Space Daily
Ceres has announced that the company will enhance its product development programs in Brazil and expand its development activities in biotech traits for sorghum and sugarcane over the next four years. The programs will now be funded in part under the Brazilian government's PAISS Agricola initiative, which promotes agricultural innovations in sugarcane as well as other energy crops.
Under the PAISS program, Ceres is eligible for a multi-year credit facility of up to 75.4 million reais, or approximately US$34 million, at a government-subsidized, preferential interest rate. Receipt of the loan will be subject to customary diligence, documentation and closing conditions, and will require guarantees to be provided by or obtained by Ceres.
The company was also awarded 10 million reais, or approximately US$4.5 million, in the form of non-repayable grants to be drawn over four years. Ceres expects to complete the application and grant award process by the end of calendar year 2014.
"We were pleased to be selected to participate in this prestigious agricultural innovation program and to receive this clear endorsement for utilizing sorghum and biotechnology in sugarcane to increase production of ethanol and biopower," said Paul Kuc, Chief Financial Officer of Ceres.
"The funding will allow us to accelerate our product development programs in Brazil and will extend our capital resources as we continue to develop the commercial markets for our technology and products."
Andre Franco, General Manager of Ceres Sementes do Brasil, indicated that embracing innovations has been the cornerstone of Brazil's success in agricultural commodities. In this case, Brazil can not only adopt new technologies, but also take the lead in developing them domestically.
"Increasing yields and providing greater yield stability from season to season represents a key opportunity for Brazil to strengthen its global position in sugar and ethanol production," said Franco.
"We look forward to working with our mill customers and other industry leaders to evaluate and bring new products to market that can increase efficiencies and lower the cost of production."
The PAISS project is jointly managed by Brazil's national development bank, BNDES, and by the government's research financing agency, FINEP. The competitive application process included over 60 proposals. Ceres was one of only five organizations to be selected for both a loan and a grant.
http://www.world-grain.com/news/news%20home/LexisNexisArticle.aspx?articleid=2200071268
Revenue and sales numbers would help as well as an official release on the software and if the numbers will classify it as a SAS. Right now there is not a big interest in it from what I can see. Just my opinion and once the board lights up with posters and messages we will know it is time. Dead for now.
Not even a pump & dump going on, slow ride down. Guess they don't even want to hire a pr firm to highlight anything they do. Relying on a Brazilian Facebook page and any happenings in Portuguese is not the best way to get the word out IMO
Probably Portuguese, I hope he is saying we will be like FB and get back to the ipo price and more. We intend to get there by selling seeds, seeds, and more seeds. Lol
Some exciting news about revenue could do the same. This thing is primed, but run by scientists.
Great...Here is a youtube they linked to on the Brasil FB page.
The evolution of sorghum and economic viability with the double cane
The evolution of sorghum and economic viability with the double cane
Seek alternatives to the plant generates income in the off-season has been a sector goals. One is the cultivation of sorghum in the fields of sugarcane renewal. If the intention is to produce ethanol, the option is at that sweet sorghum has a cycle of 120 days, is harvested from the period of the offseason and early cane sugar crop. By having a size similar to the cane, goes through the same processes of mechanized harvesting and processing in mills and distilleries.
But if the focus is to produce electricity (currently the product of the most valued plants in the market), the option is sorghum high biomass, which moves on a commercial scale in thermal cogeneration already processed sugarcane bagasse. The stimulus is the price of energy over £ 200 mW / h (for contracted energy) and above £ 600 on the spot market, the sorghum was an alternative to the mills.
But the sorghum / sugarcane tripe still provokes many questions about economic viability, performance on the field and in the industry, so the issue will be discussed at the 8th Meeting on Great Varieties of Cane Sugar, an event organized by IDEA Group on 24 and 25 September in Ribeirão Preto.José Geraldo Abreu Sousa Junior, Ceres Seeds of Brazil, will present the lecture: sweet sorghum and high biomass:. evolution and economic viability
Information and registration for the site - http://www.ideaonline.com.br/evento-great-sobre/8 -encontro-about-cane varieties
Translated from http://www.canaonline.com.br/conteudo/a-evolucao-do-sorgo-e-a-viabilidade-economica-na-dobradinha-com-a-cana.html
Not my bag of tea, but lets get in the cloud and the SAS world.
http://survey.constantcontact.com/survey/a07e9nycwn0hyivmtop/a00lhzkdp8zc/questions
Happy Holiday and no idea what he is talking about, but here ya go anyway.
http://videos.ruralbr.com.br/canalrural/video/estudio-rural/2014/08/conheca-potencial-producao-variedades-sorgo-sacarino-sorgo-alta-biomassa/93450/
We need improved stock price performance before someone buys them out for the cash. :)
Short interest dropped a bit, not a whole lot of reported short shares if you ask me.
http://www.nasdaq.com/symbol/cere/short-interest
Visit http://www.uspto.gov/patents/process/search/index.jsp and you can search issued patents and applications. Look for the basic search and put in ceres and if you want to narrow it down use thousand as the second term.
Trademarks can be searched there as well and it is a great site for seeing what is patented in the US
Activity on one of their patent applications today..time will tell.
United States Patent Application 20140234930
Kind Code A1
Portereiko; Michael F. August 21, 2014
SORGHUM WITH INCREASED SUCROSE PURITY
It is in the Price column, does not say if it is daily or what. What is more interesting was the 95% increase in share position.
So here is another little tidbit....
Scroll down to Ceres and see what Artal is doing.
June 2014
Ceres 0.22 +95.00% 8192167 0.67
http://stockzoa.com/fund/artal-group-sa/
That's my opinion too since they (Artal) swooped up a bunch. Time will tell .....
I would agree. there seems to be a lot going on behind the scenes that they play close to the vest. Nice find on the article and it does show that there are interesting things that could make this go finally. The low pps is bothersome as we get closer to the delisting date, but they do not seem to be trying to release a PR every other day to raise the price, more like the opposite...dead silence.
I did find the job posting for the SE interesting since I was not aware they were trying much in the US anymore and that assumption could be wrong.
Keeping the faith for now and long for sure.
Need a job? Posted a week or so ago....
Ceres is seeking an experienced Sales Agronomist to support our sales activities for our sorghum product lines as well as other crops in the Southeastern United States. This position will serve as the primary technical contact for customers and be responsible for the implementation and supervision of field trials at numerous locations within a multi-state region.The Sales Agronomist will take a leading role in analyzing results to select optimal crops and seed varieties and establish best practices for various geographic markets and locations. The Sales Agronomist will also have the opportunity to co-author grower guides for our product lines.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Maintain contact with and provide support to customers.
• Assist with experiment planning and design.
• Manage planting, monitoring and harvesting of field trials.
• Conduct/arrange and supervise necessary agronomy activities including field preparation, nutrient management, pest control, trial establishment, management harvest and storage of biomass.
• Support upkeep and maintenance of certain field plot equipment.
• Oversee and/or conduct data collection, including some analysis.
• Assist with regulatory compliance management and permit applications for biotech traits.
• Assist with sales effort in assigned region.
• Participation in strategy, planning and review meetings.
Skills/Requirements
REQUIREMENTS:
• B.S. with 5 years experience.
• Competent with conventional farm or construction equipment and operation.
• Able to work independently, be capable of solving logistical scheduling issues.
• Experience in experimental design and basic statistical analysis (SAS proficiency preferred).
• Experience with biomass or forage crops; familiarity with sorghum as a forage very helpful; other grasses/forage experience a plus.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Proven organizational and computer skills (Microsoft Office Suite).
This position is located in the Southeastern U.S. region. Relocation may be offered. Travel is expected, especially during the growing season.
Switchgrass looks good in California
Switchgrass is a non native biofuel source that is showing exciting promise for production in four California locations with varying climate and soil characteristics.
An extensive research project by scientists at the University of California shows that the coarse and hardy grass has surprising potential for helping meet the enormous and increasing need for ethanol in California, which uses more ethanol than any other state.
Test plantings were made in 2007 in Tulelake at the state’s northern border, at Davis and Five Points, north and south of the state’s center, and in El Centro in Imperial County which borders Mexico. Results differed by location and the type of switchgrass planted, but yields were robust in all cases, and requirements for fertilizer and other needs were economically tolerable.
Currently, 80 percent of the 1.2 billion gallons of ethanol consumed by California automobiles each year is maize-based, transported by rail from corn-growing centers of the Midwest. Twelve percent comes from sugarcane shipped from Brazil, and eight percent is made from maize-based crops(primarily corn) grown within the state.
But the percentage of ethanol in gasoline sold in California will increase next year from six percent to 10 percent boosting demand to 1.62 billion gallons annually. That means California will have to import 95 percent of its ethanol unless sources for producing it can be established within the state.
That was part of the impetus for the university study funded by Chevron Technology Ventures and Ceres Inc. Results of the project were reported in the on-line version of California Agriculture, the university’s quarterly journal of peer reviewed articles.
The nine-man research team included lead authors Gabriel Pedroso, Christopher De Ben and Bruce A. Linquist in the Department of Plant Sciences, and Dan Putnam at UC Davis. Joining them were Johan Six and Chris van Kessell, members of the Department of Plant Sciences, and Cooperative Extension specialists Robert Hutmacher from the West Side Research and Extension Center, Steve Orloff from the North Coast and Mountain Region and Steve Wright from the Central Valley Region
The team reported that the advantages of switchgrass over other cellulosic ethanol sources is its high yield potential, its excellent soil conservation attributes and good compatibility with conventional farming practices. It is a perennial, usually planted in February and harvested through November when it is waist or chest high. In Tulelake it produced only one cutting, but in the other three locations where test plots were grown it produced three cuttings.
While California’s Mediterranean climate suggested to the researchers that switchgrass yields might easily exceed those in the Midwest, they noted that inputs of nitrogen fertilizer and water for irrigation will be greater.
The varieties of switchgrass seeds planted for the trials included both upland and lowland types. The upland varieties were best suited to the cooler climate of Tulelake and mountain regions, and the lowland varieties thrived in the other three locations. The released lowland varieties planted were Alamo and Kanlow, and four experimental varieties. The four upland released varieties were Trailblazer, Cave in Rock, Blackwell and Sunburst along with one experimental variety.
In its establishment year the yields in all locations were considered moderate, but by the second year yields of 17 tons per acre were recorded. That compares to average yields of nine tons per acre for corn or rice in California, and seven to eight tons per acre for alfalfa. While the crop has some potential for use by California’s huge livestock industry, the research team sees its primary value as an ethanol producer.
So under these experimental conditions limited plantings of switchgrass proved it to be a very suitable potential biofuel producer when grown under California conditions. For many switchgrass was unheard until mentioned in a speech by former president Bush.
Looks like at least one of those varieties should carry the name Dubyuh.
http://www.recorderonline.com/opinion/columnists/switchgrass-looks-good-in-california/article_4a4233ea-26ee-11e4-ab19-001a4bcf6878.html