Eco2 Ltd plan to build a 40MW biomass power station and have stated the majority of the straw burned will be supplied by local farmers. But Sleaford NFU members have stated they do not know where the fuel will be coming from.

Sleaford NFU branch secretary Mark Talton said they were, in general,supportive of a project which uses sustainable and renewable energy sources and could see potential benefits to agriculture and the local economy. But in a letter sent to the Sleaford Standard and North Kesteven District Council he said: “It is important to point out that straw is not simply a valueless by-product of wheat production, but has considerable benefit to the land being farmed.”

Mr Talton added: “At present we are unaware of any member locally having committed to the project and would therefore have doubts as to the claims made by Eco2 that the majority of the straw is to be sourced from within a 10 mile radius of the site.”

Sleaford branch chairman Andrew Baxter agreed, adding: “Initially we were offered very sketchy information and we have not had any more since.”

He said it made it very difficult for local farmers to make any informed economic decisions regarding the sale of straw.

Andrew Toft, commercial director for Eco2 Biomass, claimed the national NFU welcomed Eco2’s power stations.

He said: “We have always accepted that straw has a nutrient value. Fertiliser costs have increased markedly in recent months and we quite understand the sensitivity here, but this is essentially a price issue. We are hopeful that this situation can be resolved in part by developing systems that return the residue from the plant to the field. Sleaford Renewable Energy Plant only requires a quarter of the straw available in Lincolnshire. The point here is that, with the renewable energy plant in place, farmers have a choice.”

He said local NFU representatives were given a presentation when the project was first announced and again to a group last September, followed up by letters to every member.

Mr Toft expected the vast majority of straw to come from land within 30 miles of the plant and said they had already signed up to long-term contracts for the supply of all the straw needed to get the plant started.

l Do you share NFU concerns? Email your views to andy.hubbert@jpress.co.uk