Miscanthus — a hot product for farmers or just a load of hot air?

THREE-HUNDRED farmers around Ireland, many of them in counties Cork and Limerick, have been growing the miscanthus energy crop, also known as elephant grass.

However, after grant aid of more than €4m since 2007, there doesn’t seem to be a significant market outlet for much of their 6,000 acres.

In some cases, farmers are wondering if the crop is even worth harvesting.