WITH cereal growing producing such lamentable cash returns, more and more farmers are backing a plan to produce energy crops to feed a power station expected to be built in central Herefordshire.

The first two meetings to launch the project have already drawn an excellent response with farmers agreeing to the use of nearly 500 hectares - a fifth of the land needed to be in production for the power plant's requirements.

Auctioneer John Amos of Orleton, near Ludlow, who is facilitating the project for international developers United Utilities, said the response from farmers continued to be very encouraging.

"They are signing notices of intent because they say that with cereals at such low prices, they can't rely on growing food any more and want to put their eggs in more baskets."

They expect to be growing energy crops which include miscanthus (elephant grass), reed canary grass, switchgrass, poplar and willow.

Hurdles have to be cleared

"The power plant will not only help farmers but local hauliers," said Mr Amos.

But before the plant is built several hurdles have to be cleared, including planning requirements and the assurance of a Government grant.

However, Mr Amos is confident that the factory would be commissioned in 2005 as planned, especially as the Government target is to produce 10 per cent of electricity from renewable energy sources by 2010 and 20 per cent by 2020. The power would go into the national grid and some of the national energy target would be met by wind farms and wave energy, added Mr Amos.

While the station would require about 3,500 hectares to be in production at first, any local deficiency could be make up with the inclusion of other crops.

The plant would give a boost to local employment. It could provide jobs for 24 full-time employees. There would be administrative and liaison staff needed, hauliers and contractors who, in particular, would be pleased that the energy crops were harvested after the main cereal harvest.

Mr Amos said that it was difficult to predict the market but energy crop growing should be profitable. Growers would become members of a co-operative and would get a fixed price per tonne, index linked in a form to be decided.

Great opportunity

While Mr Amos expected the bulk of farmers to be from Herefordshire, growers from south Shropshire and border counties were also expected to become involved.

"Of course, the whole ethos of green energy is not to do too many road miles. Nearly all the fuel will be drawn from no further than 25 miles.

"This is a great opportunity to put Herefordshire on the map and a chance for the rest of the country to look at the idea," he explained.

Mr Amos said his office was receiving a regular supply of inquiries about contracts which were for five or 20 years. "We need farmers to sign up and show their enthusiasm for the idea," he said.

To provide farmers with further information, two Danish experts on energy crops are visiting Orleton on the afternoon of September 18.