The temperamental weather of recent years has left arable farmers looking very seriously at new and secure profit opportunities for the future. For a sustainable, profitable and reliable long-term investment, Miscanthus is the safe bet.
As a low-maintenance energy crop, it delivers high annual yields and guaranteed returns for 20+ years - offering farmers unrivalled security and peace of mind.
The 'hands-off' nature of Miscanthus means it needs no fertilisers, chemicals or annual soil cultivation once established. This leaves farmers with more time to concentrate their efforts elsewhere, often resulting in enhanced overall production and improved on-farm profitability.
All this, combined with typical establishment success rates in excess of 85% and no need to re-plant, means Miscanthus presents a lucrative business opportunity for UK farmers - as well as a unique way to turn problem land into profitable land.
Miscanthus (also known as 'Elephant Grass') is a perennial energy crop that can grow to heights of 8-12ft. Hailed by many as a 'wonder crop', it has an annual growing cycle and is harvested in a season that doesn't conflict with other crops. It only needs to be planted once and can be grown successfully on marginal land in all soil types, thriving in wet conditions as well as dry. It even acts as a natural remedy to blackgrass.
Why Miscanthus?
Miscanthus prices have hit an all-time high, and Terravesta is now offering growers £74/tonne for 2015 contracts. What's more, through its new Barn Bonus scheme, growers whose Miscanthus bales have been stored in a barn and meet the required moisture specification of 16% or less will also be rewarded with up to £2/tonne extra. Don't miss out on the Miscanthus opportunity - sign up now!
Boasting low overheads, stable pricing, guaranteed returns and reliable net margins for 20 years or more, Miscanthus offers a degree of financial certainty that almost no other crop can.
Terravesta's new on-farm planting techniques and processes have brought down establishment costs significantly. Get in touch today to discuss your options.
Once established, Miscanthus is a 'hands-off' crop requiring remarkably low input. It doesn't need fertiliser, chemicals or annual soil cultivation, so you can focus your attentions elsewhere - for enhanced overall production and improved profitability. For everything you need to know about growing Miscanthus, download our Essential Growers' Guide here
All farms have less productive areas, but the nature of Miscanthus means it can be grown in poorer quality soil - turning your marginal land into profitable land!
As a moisture demander, Miscanthus flourishes in wet conditions as well as dry. What's more, the leaf mulch it produces suppresses weed growth, acting as a natural weapon against blackgrass
Miscanthus is a perennial crop with an annual growing cycle, delivering yearly profits at low inputs. It's also harvested in spring, so it doesn't conflict with other crops
With demand for UK biomass far outstripping its production, the opportunities for Miscanthus as an energy crop are endless. In contrast to the decades newly planted forestry can take to deliver results, Miscanthus produces commercial yields within just three years
Any grower with a termed Terravesta contract can buy back Miscanthus pellets as heat on a separate energy supply contract - at a significantly discounted rate - through our Grower Fuel Loop (GFL) scheme. This means making a profit on selling bales, as well as considerable savings on fuel (particularly attractive for on-farm heat requirements)
As well as pledging to treble investment in clean power generation, the government is actively supporting sustainable heating through schemes like the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI). Demand for biomass is set to increase dramatically as a result, bringing with it an opportunity for Miscanthus growers to reap the rewards now and well into the future
The Burgeoning Market For Home-Grown Biomass - Strengthened By Ever-Growing Demand From End-Users - Has Propelled Miscanthus Into Its Current Position As A Major Arable Contender.
Offering rare and valuable stability in the unpredictable world of farming, Miscanthus farmers benefit from a level of financial security that almost no other crop can provide. Terravesta's contracts not only deliver long-term, guaranteed returns, but growers can also rest assured that Miscanthus prices will only continue to improve.
What's more, the scope for Miscanthus as a locally-grown, renewable energy source is enormous. To put it into context, there is a potential 350,000ha of suitable planting land (at no detriment to food supply), which could create enough sustainable power to meet 24% of the heat demand currently being fulfilled by oil and solid fuel in the UK.
Thanks to best-ever prices and profits - matched with long-term, index-linked growing contracts and increasing demand from end-users fuelling even further market growth - Miscanthus has never been a more attractive prospect for UK arable farmers. See how it compares to other arable crops below:
If you have a question about any aspect of Miscanthus growing, get in touch today, or click here to read the Essential Growers' Guide - our ultimate handbook to all things Miscanthus.
