What We Know About the 12-Foot Grass Pitched to Farmers for Profit

A tall grass that can grow to roughly 12 feet is being promoted as a way for farmers to add income and improve soil condition, according to a report from IPM Newsroom, a publication that covers integrated pest management and agricultural research. The outlet's headline frames the plant as a dual-purpose crop: one that farmers could sell for revenue while also using it to protect or rebuild soil on their land.

What claim did IPM Newsroom make about the grass?

The original IPM Newsroom story, available via Google News, centers on a grass species reaching about 12 feet in height that the publication says could give farmers an additional revenue stream alongside soil benefits. The headline does not specify a dollar figure for that potential revenue, and no such figure appears in the material reviewed for this report.

What species is the 12-foot grass?

The source material reviewed does not name the specific grass species, its growing region, or the researchers behind the work. Readers seeking the botanical name, the university or extension office involved, and the geographic scope of any field trials should consult the full IPM Newsroom article directly, since those details were not included in the summary available to this desk.

How would the crop generate farm revenue?

IPM Newsroom's headline indicates the grass could be a source of "extra revenue" for farmers, but the underlying mechanism — whether through biomass sales, forage, fiber, or another market — is not specified in the material available. Any farmer evaluating the crop would need the full article's details on markets, yields, and establishment costs before weighing it against existing rotations.

What soil benefits are being studied?

The headline also credits the grass with keeping soil "healthy," a claim common to tall perennial grasses used for erosion control or organic matter building in agricultural research. The specific soil metrics — erosion rates, organic carbon, or compaction data — are not included in the source reviewed here, so those figures cannot be reported without the original study or extension bulletin.

What to watch

• Whether IPM Newsroom or the researchers involved publish the grass species name and trial locations.
• Any university extension bulletin or peer-reviewed study backing the soil-health claim.
• Market details — buyers, price points, or end uses — that would clarify the "extra revenue" claim.
• Follow-up coverage specifying acreage requirements or establishment costs for farmers considering the crop.

Farmers interested in soil-focused programming closer to home can also track community gardening and soil-health outreach, such as the Fannin County Master Gardeners' Southern Bulb Gardening Program, though that program is unrelated to the grass reported by IPM Newsroom.