Is energy venture going to light up tobacco growing?

A company in Virginia, US, will soon begin signing contracts with farmers to produce tobacco for the manufacture of ethanol and biodiesel, according to a story in the latest issue of the Tobacco Farmer Newsletter.

Tyton BioEnergy Systems of Danville wants farmers to grow ‘energy’ tobacco for delivery to its extractor in Danville; or to another extractor that is in the works in Raeford, North Carolina.

The author of the story, Christopher Bickers, said that there was no information yet on prices or what scale of production the company was looking for, but that all that information should be available ‘fairly soon’.

The cost of producing energy tobacco is expected to be much less than that of flue-cured, Burley or any of the dark types.

More information is available from: chrisbickers@gmail.com.