Having a Field Day with Switchgrass

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August 09, 2026

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by Joanne Ivancic* (Advanced Biofuels USA) In his 2006 State of the Union address, President George W. Bush suggested that converting switchgrass and other non-corn feedstock into fuel ethanol could help us end our “addiction to oil” and “make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past.” (1) Rumor is that this was such a credible and desirable proposal that the price of switchgrass seed skyrocketed the next day.

Here we are 20 years later having discovered that it wasn’t that easy to convert switchgrass and woody biomass or corn stalks into fuels to replace petroleum products. And, over the years, instead of increasing funds to overcome these difficulties, presidents reprogrammed funds and decreased support for advanced biofuels research until it has all but disappeared to the point that today’s federal policy prioritizes fossil fuels even as we live with daily reminders of the cost of the world’s dependence on oil.

In the Meantime, Other Markets

In these intervening years, growers of switchgrass and other perennial grasses have found other markets (animal bedding, grass pellets as an absorbant material, compost and mulch, fiber, fill, packaging, biomaterials, erosion control, etc.) while they wait in the wings for the promised biofuel producers.

Switchgrass Field Day Classroom Sessions

Recently, one such group, the Association of Warm Season Grass Producers, promoted a Switchgrass Field Day held at the Delaware Valley University’s test field in cooperation with the Pennsylvania State University Extension and funded by the US Department of Agriculture C-Change Grass2Gas Initiative.

Presentations ranged from how to grow and harvest switchgrass to existing and developing markets for the feathery perennial to a panel discussion by experience growers describing the practical applications of the earlier topics.

Dr. Guojie Wang of Penn State Extension presented “Establishing and Growing Your Switchgrass; Dr. Dan Ciolkosz, also with Penn State Extension, provided information about “Potential Uses for Your Switchgrass Crop, including a poster session by Bob Kozak, President of Atlantic Biomass (and Treasurer and Board Member of Advanced Biofuels USA).

Kozak described research that could lead to achieving President Bush’s goal of making ethanol from switchgrass. He showed diagrams and photos of an enzymatic conversion process that not only uses grasses to make ethanol without use of pretreatment, but also makes very pure syngas. Both of these co-products can be used to make sustainable aviation fuel and other fuels or chemicals.

Switchgrass Field Day in the Field

Classroom conversations were followed by time to explore an established stand of two varieties of switchgrass mixed with wildflowers. Participants could walk through the fields, observing and discussing the variety of habitats including sunny dry slopes, moist creek-side areas, and top-of-the-hill areas with windbreaks. Standing in the field looking at photos of the establishment gave reality to the academic presentations.

Thus, we learned that although switchgrass is easier to sow than grasses like miscanthus which need to be planted as plugs, the first year of growing switchgrass may require crawling around a field on hands and knees to try to identify baby switchgrass seedlings. Those who went through this at Delaware Valley University told how this can be a discouraging exercise, quite depressing but for encouragement from the community of experienced growers. It proved to be a valuable experience to include in their agriculture-focused curriculum.

Practical Applications

When asked if a field of such mixed plants (grasses and other plants) would be appropriate for his process, Kozak opined that the Atlantic Biomass system could process everything harvested together with the sugars, cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin all getting converted either into ethanol or syngas.

How fortunate to meet in person, mixing formal presentations with guided discussions and informal, hands-on experiences and conversations with people who have been growing these grasses, sometimes for decades.

As explained in the promotional materials, such field days are open not only to agricultural professionals or students, but also to interested members of the public, whatever your connection to the agricultural subject matter, even curiosity.

Atlantic Biomass’ Kozak said he gained extremely valuable information and insights about the realities of farming switchgrass and other perennial grasses, information that will be incorporated into their research and development plans.

To be able to hear candid exchanges about the realities involved with bringing George W. Bush’s ambitions for switchgrass to fruition fills in gaps in understanding and helps to answer the question, Why Aren’t We There Yet? It gives us practical insights about what it will take to accomplish these goals before another 20 years goes by.

(1) President George W. Bush: Keeping America competitive requires affordable energy. And here we have a serious problem: America is addicted to oil, which is often imported from unstable parts of the world. The best way to break this addiction is through technology.

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We must also change how we power our automobiles. We will increase our research in better batteries for hybrid and electric cars, and in pollution-free cars that run on hydrogen. We'll also fund additional research in cutting-edge methods of producing ethanol, not just from corn, but from wood chips and stalks, or switch grass. Our goal is to make this new kind of ethanol practical and competitive within six years. (Applause.)

Breakthroughs on this and other new technologies will help us reach another great goal: to replace more than 75 percent of our oil imports from the Middle East by 2025. (Applause.) By applying the talent and technology of America, this country can dramatically improve our environment, move beyond a petroleum-based economy, and make our dependence on Middle Eastern oil a thing of the past. (Applause.) READ MORE

*Joanne Ivancic serves as executive director of Advanced Biofuels USA. Photos by JIvancic

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