Short-Rotation Woody Crops Field Day and Exhibition

Short-Rotation Woody Crops Field Day and Exhibition
Hearst, ON, September 28, 2010


Staff from Natural Resources Canada and the Town of Hearst co-hosted a one day event showcasing concentrated woody biomass (short rotation coppice) for bioenergy and bioproducts on September 28th, in Hearst, Ontario. They played host to upwards of 75 participants and guests from all over Ontario and Quebec. People in attendance included the staff from the OMNR, NRCan, energy and manufacturing sector, regional municipalities, forest consultants and their affiliates, private growers, interested NGO’s, and researchers. Presenters included staff from both organizations hosting the event as well as industry, consultants and owner-operators.

The host site is owned by Villeneuve Construction Ltd. and is one of four sites established under the Bioenergy Plantation Project for Northern Ontario. Funding for this 4-year project is provided in large part by Natural Resources Canada, Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation and FedNor, with each of the 4 partners contributing funding as well. Clients were given presentations in the morning at the university auditorium on a variety of topics including: short rotation coppice willow/hybrid poplar establishment; growth and yield; site and clone suitability; propagation options, methods and techniques for maintenance; input costs and economics (feasibility of such plantation ventures); carbon measurement and monitoring practices and protocols; biomass production systems; and harvest and recovery systems. Other topics included presentations by an owner-operator in southern Quebec, Cochrane Power Corporation and Anderson Group (commercially available bio-baler harvester). Demonstrations of mechanized approaches to establishment, cultivation techniques and harvesting systems were also included in the afternoon field visit of the plantation site.

For lunch, participants were served locally made burgers and sausages cooked on-site under a very welcoming tent. The weather was rather cool and windy. However, a great day was had by all.