As it gently swayed in the crisp winter breeze, the small batch of jumbo grass stood out against a dreary, snow-swept landscape. Unbeknownst to many drivers hurrying along nearby Interstate 29, this perennial grass could one day power their vehicles.

At Graves-Chapple Farm in Atchison County, researchers are exploring the local potential of Miscanthus. So far, so good.

"It's everything as advertised so far," said Jim Crawford, farm coordinator at Graves-Chapple. The yields produced on the researchers' test plot align with "all the literature out there," he said.