Feedstock cost analysis of corn stover residues for further processing

In this paper, we evaluate the costs for collecting, handling, and hauling corn stover to an ethanol conversion facility. We estimate costs for a conventional baling system at varying levels of feedstock demand or conversion facility size. Our results generally indicate that stover can be collected, stored, and hauled for about $43.10–51.60/dry ton using conventional baling equipment for conversion facilities ranging from 500 to 4000 dry tons/day. The cost difference between facility sizes is due to transportation. Transportation, collection and baling, and farmer payments account for over 90% of total delivered costs. These estimates are based on average corn stover resource availability assumptions and are inclusive of all costs including farmer payments. Under conditions of high resource availability costs can be lowered by $6–10/dry ton. Delivered costs increase considerably under low resource availability conditions.