Bioenergy Crop Production in the United States: Potential Quantities, Land Use Changes, and Economic Impacts on the Agricultural Sector

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energyjointly analyzed the economic potential for,and impacts of, large-scale bioenergy cropproduction in the United States. Anagricultural sector model (POLYSYS) wasmodified to include three potential bioenergycrops (switchgrass, hybrid poplar, and willow). A...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental & resource economics 2003-04, Vol.24 (4), p.313-333
Main Authors: Shapouri, Hosein, Slinsky, Stephen, Walsh, Marie, De La Torre Ugarte, Daniel G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural economics
agricultural income
Agricultural industry
Agricultural policy
Agricultural production
Agriculture
Alternative energy sources
bioenergy crops
biomass
Biomass energy
Climate change
Collaboration
Competition
Conservation
Conservation Reserve Program
Crop production
Crops
Ecology
Economic impact
Economic models
Economic theory
Economics
Elasticity of demand
Energy crops
Energy economics
Energy industry
Environment
Environmental policy
Farm income
Grain
hybrid poplar
Laboratories
Land use
land-use changes
Linear programming
Livestock
Prices
Production costs
Profits
Raw materials
Simulation
Studies
Supply & demand
Sustainable development
switchgrass
U.S.A
Variables
willow
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Summary:The U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energyjointly analyzed the economic potential for,and impacts of, large-scale bioenergy cropproduction in the United States. Anagricultural sector model (POLYSYS) wasmodified to include three potential bioenergycrops (switchgrass, hybrid poplar, and willow). At farmgate prices of US $2.44/GJ, anestimated 17 million hectares of bioenergycrops, annually yielding 171 million dry Mg ofbiomass, could potentially be produced at aprofit greater than existing agricultural usesfor the land. The estimate assumes highproductivity management practices are permittedon Conservation Reserve Program lands. Traditional crops prices are estimated toincrease 9 to 14 percent above baseline pricesand farm income increases annually by US $6.0billion above baseline.At farmgate prices of US $1.83/GJ, anestimated 7.9 million hectares of bioenergycrops, annually yielding 55 million dry Mg ofbiomass, could potentially be produced at aprofit greater than existing agricultural usesfor the land. The estimate assumes managementpractices intended to achieve highenvironmental benefits on Conservation ReserveProgram lands. Traditional crops prices areestimated to increase 4 to 9 percent abovebaseline prices and farm income increasesannually by US $2.8 billion above baseline. Copyright Kluwer Academic Publishers 2003
ISSN:0924-6460
1573-1502
DOI:10.1023/A:1023625519092