In partnership with the Biofuels Center of North Carolina, Sampson County Cooperative Extension is holding an information session on upcoming energy crop-growing opportunities for local farmers.

The event is Thursday, July 26, at the Sampson County Agri-Exposition Center in Clinton. Representatives from the biofuels company Chemtex, the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Services Agency (FSA), and the Biofuels Center will deliver presentations and facilitate discussion beginning at 6 p.m.

With plans to construct the nation’s first cellulosic biofuels facility in Sampson County, Chemtex International was recently awarded support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) to grow energy crops, including Switchgrass and Miscanthus, in Sampson and surrounding counties. The information session will address the defined window of opportunity to take part in BCAP, as well as crop establishment budgets and revenues. Farmers and landowners will also be encouraged to sign up to connect with Chemtex and FSA for further supply discussions and contract negotiations.

Strengthening the capabilities statewide for biofuels commercialization is a prime task within the Biofuels Center’s legislative and policy mandate, and is key to meeting the state’s goal of replacing 10 percent of North Carolina’s liquid transportation fuels with biofuels grown and produced within the state.

To register for the meeting, please contact the Cooperative Extension Office at 910-592-7161.