Economics of willow growing in Northern Ireland

This paper reviews the e economics of short rotation coppice willow as an energy crop in Northern Ireland. Gross margins are presented for willow production and compared with, in the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland, equivalent outputs from grain production, lowland sheep and suckler cow production. The model used indicated a gross margin of £45 ha−1 yr−1 for a 12 tDM ha−1 annual coppice crop without subsidies where the crop value was placed at £40 t−1. This was equivalent to a 7 t winter wheat crop at £70 t−1 and compared favourably with both lowland sheep and suckler cows. Currently the industry in Northern Ireland is at a very early stage of development and this imposes cost penalties on the pioneer growers. This situation is compared with the situation in Sweden where there is an established industry of 15,000 ha, where costs are significantly lower. Gross margin for the pioneer grower in Northern Ireland is about £100 ha−1 yr−1 less than for Swedish willow growers.