ONTARIO, Ore. (AP) -- Farmers in eastern Oregon are getting ready to harvest crops for biomass that will be used to generate electricity.

The Ontario Argus-Observer reports that Agri Energy Producers Association members plan to start harvesting the high biomass sorghum crops in 20 to 30 days.

Kurt Christensen, an association board member, said some of the sorghum crop already stands 14 feet tall.

The so-called "energy crops" being grown during this startup year total 1,500 acres, with 900 in Malheur County and neighboring Idaho. There are 600 acres in the Hermiston-Boardman area.

The crop will be harvested, stored as ensilage, processed and used to produce electricity.

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Information from: Argus Observer, http://www.argusobserver.com

Copyright 2010 The AP.