New Crop Opportunities in Cellulosic Bioenergy, Phase XI

The overall objective of this project is to develop and assist in the adoption of profitable production and marketing systems for crops that offer potential to replace lost income from tobacco. This project supports several focused research projects on alternative crops and production systems that have great potential for success in Kentucky, as well as outreach activities to farmers. A physical and virtual New Crop Opportunities Center has been developed to disseminate information about alternative crops as well as research results. Cooperative Extension Service agents and farmers make up the primary audience for information delivered through the Center's Web site (www.uky.edu/ag/newcrops). The Web site currently includes 123 crop profiles and 10 marketing profiles to help farmers decide which crops and marketing systems would work best for their enterprises. Research projects will focus on three main areas: 1) biofuels; 2) sustainable/organic production systems; and 3) novel new crop opportunities for Kentucky farmers.