More information about switchgrass
Pursuant to the article on switchgrass written by Matthew Sylvester in The Record on July 20/20, I have had numerous inquiries from readers requesting more information on this crop. Switchgrass (Panic in French) needs well-drained soil and can be planted in early spring but, because it takes up to four weeks to germinate, a herbicide has to be applied shortly after planting to destroy weeds and grass so it can take root. This is the only time a herbicide or pesticide has to be used.
Switchgrass must not be harvested the first year but can be cut the following spring after it has taken root. It does not lodge much over the winter even with the weight of ice and snow. Harvesting can be done in late fall (early November) providing weather conditions permit and the crop is dry and golden brown in colour. If it is not completely dry it can be round baled and used as a cover crop for strawberry and garlic fields soon after it is harvested. It matures yearly to a height of six to seven feet and some could actually reach over eight feet tall. The lifetime of the average field is from 12 to 15 years which means that I, at 81 years old, will not have to plough, harrow, pick stones, reseed ever again. That will be my grandson’s problem.!! It propagates mainly from the roots, is non-invasive, and grows so thick that no weeds or grass can take root in between.
When harvested, because it is so dry, most of the seeds fall to the ground. The seeds are tiny– even smaller than grass seed and run between $12 to $15 per pound. The farmers prefer switchgrass over straw as a cover crop for their strawberry and garlic fields because the geese and wild turkeys do not scratch around looking for seeds, eliminating the need to recover the plants by hand after the birds have left. It is also used as compost for gardens and is also placed in between the rows to keep the weeds down. After the third year of harvesting, the crop is considered as organic which meets the needs of organic vegetable and fruit growers. It is not certified as organic but is as close as you can get to being organic. Switchgrass can be harvested by ordinary farm equipment although it is more abrasive because of the larger stronger stalks. The stubble is sharp enough to puncture a tire and when you look at them, they look like they have been running over a bed of nails. Each year I average between 3 and 4 tires that have been punctured – even on the farm tractors.
As Matthew mentioned, switchgrass is mixed with the rich dairy ration to provide more fibre so the cows can better digest it. It is claimed that a 6 per cent mixture of switchgrass will produce 3 per cent more milk. My neighbour claims that it also increases the butterfat content.
Eventually the crop will be processed into pellets for wood-burning stoves as the rate of reproduction is much faster than that of a forest. It can also be processed to produce biofuels.
Finally, small square bales can be used as insulation for houses. We have supplied four houses in the local area with switchgrass. One owner maintains he does not want to “live in a plastic bubble”. Another claims it is the only insulation that will maintain a constant moisture content year round in his cabinet-making workshop. He maintains that the insulation breathes so that when the room is too damp the switchgrass absorbs the moisture and vice versa. Another customer has installed a porthole in his wall so that visitors can see what he has for insulation. The building process is more labour-intensive but averages out at approximately the same cost in the end.
Anyone wishing to visit the fields of switchgrass and peruse my photo album of the local houses that have been built using it as insulation (each one using a different method of construction) may do so by calling 819-564-1274 for an appointment.