BIOGAS SEED OPTIONSHigh Output

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Feedstock Crop Choice

Feedstock Comparisons (Estimate)

Feedstock crop choice for biogas (methane and carbon dioxide) production requires carefulthought and planning. Although we know maximising dry matter yield is the key driver formaximising gas output, the crop production areas, required individual farm rotation, the preferredblend of plant feedstock and all other potential risks need to be considered.

Feedstock Preferred Potential Fresh Potential Biogas Potential Biogas Dry Matter Yield t/ha Yield M3/tonne Yield M3/haEnergy Maize Silage 28-32% +60 t/ha 170-220 10,200 - 13,200

Wholecrop Cereals 30-36% 30 t/ha 160-200 4800 - 6000

Energy Grass Silage 26-30% 50 t/ha 160-200 8000 - 10,000

Energy Beet 20-23% +90t/ha 170-180 15,300-16,200Source - ADBA/CLA/NFU/REA Joint Paper

Energy Maize Silage

Variety Selector

Es Remington

There is a clear correlation between fresh crop yield and biogas yield, but optimising dry matter contentis crucial, as water provides no energy and will cause biogas output inefficiencies.

CHECK OPTIMUM DRY MATTER TARGET OF FEEDSTOCK FOR YOUR DIGESTOR

16.5t DM/haMaturity group 9183,000 Mj/ha

NIAB DL 2017

Ultra early performerSuperb vigour

Es Marco17.5t DM/haMaturity group 7194,000 Mj/ha

NIAB DL 2017

Potential double cobsDrought resistance

Cathy18.3t DM/haMaturity group 7204,000 Mj/haNIAB DL 2017One of the highestyielding varieties onNIAB list

Hobbit18.1t DM/haMaturity group 6201,000 Mj/haNIAB DL 2017Superb early vigourOne of the highestyielding varieties onNIAB list

Other varieties available: Picker MG10, ES Lovely MG9, Ballade MG8, Dominator MG8, Absalon MG8, Dualto MG7.Specialist varieties requiring even more heat to finish are available for the very best sites.

Grainseed have been testing biogas energy varieties in the UK for six years, both in official trials andon farm to ensure a good understanding of varieties, enabling sound varietal advice for our customers.

A 500KW biogas unit fed solely with maize will require approx 200 hectares of maize to be grownannually. Where such large volumes are required, a range of maturity dates should be considered toenable a suitable spread of harvest. (200ha = 7 days harvest)

What growers can do to ensure high maize yields every yearSoil structure: Without a doubt those growers on heavier soils that are able to winter plough benefit from the weathering processreducing power requirements to get a good seedbed. Flat lifting or sub soiling is essential on all fields. Light soils tend to have morecompaction problems than heavy soils.Fertility: If the crop hasn’t got enough nutrients then yield potential will be limited. Be realistic about nutrients from animal manures anddigestate, it depends when they are applied and how soon they are incorporated. In an NVZ you must conform to the closed periods andnutrient supply restrictions.Drilling: Soil temperature, not date, determines when the crop is drilled. Maxi Maize placement fertiliser provides protected phosphateto the emerging seedling. Being the most mobile nutrient it is essential to ensure the seedling has enough for fast establishment. Drill at99,000 - 111,000 seeds/ha depending on seedbed conditions.Enhanced Insecticide for wireworm control: The 2 year ban on neonicotinoid seed treatments means that we can no longer applyPoncho seed dressing for the control of wireworm and other soil bourne pests. New insecticide SONIDO offers the best alternative, butit is not approved for use with Mesurol.Weed control: Maize hates competition from all weeds. Use pre-emergence herbicides if there is sufficient soil moisture to produce agood seal to the soil surface, otherwise wait to see which weeds emerge and spray at the weed cotyledon or first true leaf stage. Do notallow weeds to get established. Many fields require 2 herbicides.Varieties: Use proven varieties for your location. Select varieties which have been BRED FOR BRITAIN. If you are late drilling or need anearly harvest then bring forward the maturity class and choose a variety with a good cob ripeness to ensure you clamp maize with 28-32%dry matter. OpticoatTMZM treated seed provides an efficient route for the plant to uptake the essential trace elements zinc andmanganese.Harvest: Optimise dry matter by assessing plant and cob before setting harvest date. Remember that the cob contributes 50-60% oftotal dry matter yield. For maximising methane output particle size should be 12mm or less. Chop length and maceration methods shouldreflect this.Clamping: Use of Silostop oxygen barrier sheets and Secure Covers are Recommended by Grainseed to prevent clamp losses. Newsilage additive Silosolve FC removes oxygen from the clamp within 6 hours resulting in faster and more efficient preservation.

The importance of good maturity has been highlighted during the last few years and it’s clear that large growersrequire a range of maturities to allow a spread of harvest. NIAB have published an independent table of varietiessuited to Biogas Production based on their UK trials results over a 5 year period.

Maize for Anaerobic Digestion - Favourable Sites - 2017 ListDry MatterContent atharvest (%)

Dry MatterYield (t/ha)

Dry MatterYield

as % of 4 and 5year varieties

ME of freshplant at harvest(MJ/kg drymatter)

ME yield offresh plantat harvest

(1,000's MJ/ha)

Early vigour9 = good1 = poor

Standing powerat harvest

(root lodging)9 = good 1 = poor

Variety

Varieties listed in Dry Matter Yield order Mainstream varieties Ultra Early varieties

LG30.223 27.9 18.6 110 11.09 206 7.3 8.3SULANO 28.0 18.4 109 10.84 199 6.9 8.0CATHY 29.7 18.3 108 11.16 204 6.9 8.3HOBBIT 29.2 18.1 107 11.13 201 7.2 8.1LG30209 30.3 18.0 106 11.36 204 7.0 8.2ASGAARD 31.5 17.9 106 11.39 204 7.6 8.3PIRRO 29.5 17.9 106 10.85 194 6.6 7.6TIBERIO 29.3 17.8 105 11.10 198 7.1 8.0ALFASTAR 29.7 17.8 105 11.30 201 7.4 8.3SUNSHINOS 28.8 17.7 105 11.31 200 7.3 8.3ATRIUM 30.1 17.7 104 11.54 204 7.2 8.2SY FEEDITOP 28.3 17.6 104 11.18 197 7.0 8.3ES MARCO 28.7 17.5 104 11.08 194 6.1 8.2MONTY 31.8 17.5 104 11.33 198 6.6 8.3ES CLUEDO 29.1 17.5 104 10.87 190 6.2 8.2CODITANK 29.3 17.5 104 11.20 196 6.4 8.3OSTERBI CS 30.2 17.5 103 11.12 194 6.9 8.1KONSULIXX 29.1 17.4 103 10.69 186 6.9 8.0BEETHOVEN 30.6 17.4 103 11.11 193 6.8 8.1ES HERACLES 30.7 17.3 102 10.85 188 6.3 8.1FIELDSTAR 32.8 17.3 102 11.41 197 7.2 8.3SY NORDICSTAR 31.9 17.2 102 11.39 196 7.3 8.2DUALTO 29.2 17.2 102 11.26 194 6.4 8.3ROGOSO 29.1 17.2 102 10.91 187 6.3 8.3SUNBEAM 30.4 17.1 101 11.11 190 6.5 8.3MAS 11F 30.5 17.0 101 11.22 191 6.9 8.2DOMINATOR 30.5 17.0 100 10.94 186 7.0 8.3ES LOVELY 33.9 16.9 100 11.28 191 7.4 8.3LIDANO 28.7 16.9 100 10.93 185 5.7 8.3ES PEARL 31.4 16.8 99 11.25 189 7.1 7.9ES BALLADE 31.4 16.6 98 11.14 185 6.8 8.2ES REGAIN 33.8 16.6 98 11.31 188 7.2 8.3ES BODYGUARD 31.7 16.5 98 11.24 186 6.4 8.3ES REMINGTON 33.4 16.5 97 11.08 183 7.2 8.3ES ARDENT 35.3 15.6 92 11.26 176 6.4 8.3

Energy Grass SilageGrass silage offers an easy feedstock choice for operators and an opportunity to utilise many differentsources of grass for AD plants where a long retention time can utilise the energy within the plants.Multi-date cutting however increases costs compared to Maize or Rye. Different species of grass canbe used to produce a mixture that fits the rotation and length of time that the field is sown to grass.Good to clean up black grass infestations.

Energy BeetBy feeding a digestor a mix of beet and maize very high biogas outputs can be achieved. The key driver forenergy beet is dry matter content and overall dry matter yield. Sugar beet types tend to produce significantlyhigher dry matter contents and sugar levels, which means that the beet will keep better in the field andclamp. Newer varieties have better dirt tare scores, an important consideration for the biogas process.

Energy RyeConventional and hybrid rye has become increasingly popular as it offers high dry matter yields at onecut at the end of June - early July when the grain is doughy ripe. In sunny weather plant dry matterscan rapidly rise - there is a 10 day cutting window for many growers.

Conventional varieties are sown at 150-175kg/ha depending on seedbed conditions and drilling date.Some growers will lightly graze with sheep in early spring to encourage tillering.

Humbolt, Protector and Bonfire have performed well.

Hybrid varieties are sown at 250 seeds/m² in September rising to 300 seeds/m² in November if drillingafter maize or sugar beet. Packed in 12 * 1 million seed units.

SU Performer, Helltop, SU Drive, SU Cossani, Mephisto, Progas and SU Santini have all performed well.

Unit 3, Airfield Industrial Park, Langton Green, Eye, Suffolk IP23 7HNTel: (01379) 871073 Fax: (01379) 871038 e-mail: info@grainseed.co.uk

• Bred in the UK by Lion Seeds• High dry matter enables better storage capacity• Conical root shape for cleaner beet• Good resistance to standard strains of Rhizomania• Good bolting resistance• Very high dry matter content (21.9-24.5%) withhigh dry matter yields for higher gas output ratio