Crop residues— II. How much can be economically harvested?

Abstract

The economics of crop residue harvesting in New York State are evaluated by estimating the cost of harvesting and transporting residues to a central processing facility and converting them to biogas. Two major scenarios are considered: one is the collection of residue by farmers using existing machinery and the other is using equipment owned and operated by the central facility. Harvesting cost using farmers' equipment ranges from US$7·40 to US$9·80 t −1. Harvesting cost by a central facility is US$7·70 t −1. Compensating farmers for the full macronutrients value of the residues would add US$7.50 t −1. After adding transportation cost and a nominal overhead cost it is considered that very little crop residue in New York State is economically harvestable for conversion to biogas at the prevailing market price other than by a farmer who has a large area in crop for grain and wishes to produce biogas from the residues to displace fuel gas used on the farm.