RALEIGH, (SGRToday.com) - More than $1 million will be parceled out to groups focused on research and development of agricultural and forestry-based feedstocks for bioenergy production. Deadline to apply is October 30, according to Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

According to the Agriculture Department, $500,000 was approved from the TVA Settlement Fund for projects specific to Avery, Buncombe, Burke, Cherokee, Clay, Graham, Haywood, Henderson, Jackson, Macon, Madison, McDowell, Mitchell, Swain, Transylvania, Watauga and Yancey counties.

That leaves another $500,000 for statewide projects.

“North Carolina has tremendous natural and human resources when it comes to our forestry resources, our agricultural know-how and our outstanding research universities,” Troxler said in a statement. “By bringing these resources together, I believe we can create new opportunities for agriculture and forestry in the renewable-fuel sector.”

Projects can focus on:

-- production and harvesting methods and plant variety work,  including genetic improvement and selection

-- establishment methods

-- weed management

-- nutrient uptake, usage and removal

-- harvest management such as methods, timing, transporting and storage

-- stand management such as renovation for productivity, planting dates, crop management and eradication when necessary

-- physiology, growth and development of biomass energy crops

-- new species with bioenergy potential

-- multiple crop production practices such as crop rotation and intercropping

-- education and demonstration.