State legislators voted Wednesday to continue funding a project that's drawn its share of critics: the switchgrass portion of the Tennessee Biofuels Project.

The vote comes just a month before Tennessee's first cellulosic biofuels plant is set to start up in Vonore.

The new plant in Vonore cost about $40 million in state funding.

Just as the vote passed in Nashville, some of the first generation of switchgrass farmers gathered on a switchgrass field in Loudon to see the next generation of technology.

AGCO demonstrated its latest hay baler, which the company has modified for switchgrass harvesting.

"Your major benefit of this bailer is you can fit up to 48,000 pounds of hay on one truckload," said AGCO Corp Field Product Specialist Clay Dell.

It's a piece of farm technology that aims to help farmers like Harry Rymer amp up production.

"I had 58 acres the first year, another 92 acres this coming year. I'm looking to go to between 150 and 300 more acres," Rymer said.

Even though Rymer is excited about his future venture, the Vonore plant and the biofuels project have drawn criticism over cost and viability. However, industry insiders say it's a major investment in the local economy.

"If we had criticized the development of a computer in this stage of its development, we may not have had computers. This is where we've got to start. When this comes online it will be the first of its kind in the country," said Genera Energy Vice President for Feedstock Operations Sam Jackson.

Though the industry may be in its infant stage, Rymer says the benefits already outweigh the growing pains.

He harvests $200 an acre.

"I've been in the poultry business for 30 years. This is the worst year I've had in it," Rymer said. "I'd be hurting for income if it weren't for switchgrass. It's going to pull me out of being in debt."

The Vonore biofuels plant will begin producing ethanol from corn cobs and then change to switchgrass within a year.

Set to power up in mid-December, it will directly employ about 40 people and will produce about 250,000 gallons of ethanol a year, but its main purpose is research to get commercial plants up and running.

The commercial plants would produce about 15 million gallons of ethanol every year.