Willows instead of cattle on Mayo farm

A MAYO farmer will plant part of his land with willows on Saturday, because he says the bio-energy crop is more profitable and less labour intensive than beef production.

Derek Hannick, at Knockmore, Ballina, says the crop is good for the environment. “I am doing my part to help Ireland reduce its carbon footprint.”

His crop is the first grown for Mayo Power, which plans to build a 100 megawatt fuel combined heat and power electricity generating plant on the former Asahi site in north Mayo, utilising mixed fuels. The company proposes to plant willow on about 20 hectares within 10 miles of the proposed power station site.

Mayo Power director Derek Martin Pickard said: “We see locally grown energy crops as a key component of our fuel supply mix, and now that we are targeting biomass-wood to be more than 50% of our feedstock, we are keen to encourage as many local schemes as possible.”

Raymond O’Neill of Seed Technology Ltd said: “If energy crops are included in the general mix of agricultural crops in a considered and informed way, there could be significant environmental and ecological benefits alongside the development of a fully sustainable energy source.”