Since forage legumes have the advantage of symbiotic nitrogen fixation, they do not require the application of synthetic nitrogen fertilizer.  Maximum production of non legumes usually requires fertilization with synthetic nitrogen, thus incurring the cost of industrial production, with natural gas as an energy source, as well as transportation cost to deliver nitrogen fertilizer to the farm and costs to distribute the fertilizer over the field.  An ARS-USDA breeding program at Beltsville, Maryland has produced high biomass producing forage soybeans capable of upright growth to heights of seven feet.  These soybeans are being evaluated for bioenergy production.  In a replicated test in 2004 at Beltsville, the forage soybean cultivar ‘Tyrone’ produced 12,575 lb/acre total biomass compared to the conventional grain-type cultivars ‘Hutcheson’ with 9,895 lb/acre and ‘Essex’ with 8,041 lb/acre. Variability among soybean lines has been observed for the degree of crystallinity in soybean stem fibers.  Crystallinity of the fibers influences the ease of cellulose degradation in ethanol production.    Dual use high biomass grain/forage cultivars, such as ‘Tara’, bred from the forage types, can produce grain yields comparable to conventional grain types and, in addition, produce sufficient straw to provide an energy feedstock while also reducing soil erosion.  In this way plant breeding can enhance the value of a commodity already in production.