Oilseeds for Fuel, Feed and the Future

The Oilseeds for Fuel, Feed and the Future project has compiled two informative handouts detailing machines used in biodiesel production. The first list includes information on oilseed crushers and contacts throughout the country. The second list features different biodiesel processors and who to contact for more information and purchasing. Neither of these are exhaustive lists of nor does NCAT endorse any of the products or companies on these lists. They are intended as a resource and starting point for people interested in crushing oilseeds and making biodiesel.

2009 Farm Tours

NCAT co-sponsored tours at three Montana farms that featured biodiesel and oilseed processing and bio-energy crop production.

The tours offered an excellent opportunity to see on-farm demonstrations of oilseed production and crushing from farmers who make and use their own biodiesel and straight vegetable oil (SVO) fuel. Farmers and other learned about the realities of raising camelina and safflower and processing the oilseeds for fuel and other products. The tours were at two diversified grain farms and a guest ranch.

Bob Quinn Farm, Big Sandy
The third tour is Wednesday, July 22 at 9 a.m. at the Bob Quinn farm southeast of Big Sandy. The afternoon portion of the tour will focus on safflower production and crushing oilseed using a new German crusher. Quinn will demonstrate a system for burning straight vegetable oil (SVO) in diesels. The tour will also feature Montana State University scientists discussing aspects of the farm's dryland cropping systems, including small grains, oilseeds and legumes.

The $15 registration fee covers the tour costs and a catered lunch. Pre-registration is required and attendance is limited to 100 people. For more information or to register for this tour, contact Alternative Energy Resources Organization at (406) 443-7272.

Directions:
When entering Big Sandy from the south, take a right on Judith Landing Road HWY 236, drive 12 miles then turn right on Kamut Lane. Go ¼ mile, take a left into the Quinn driveway

Sponsored by the Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO). Co-sponsors of these tours include the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), the Montana Department of Agriculture, the USDA Risk Management Agency and Montana Farmers Union.

These tours are part of a project called Oilseeds for Fuel, Feed and the Future. The goal of this project is to increase opportunities and reduce risk for farmers and ranchers who want to participate in an emerging bio-based economy. Partners in that project include and Alternative Energy Resources Organization, NCAT, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Grain Growers Association, Montana Department of Agriculture and the Department of Environmental Quality's Air and Pollution Prevention Bureau. The 2009 tours of this project are supported in part by the USDA Risk Management Agency.

About This Project

The Oilseeds for the Future Project aims to reduce risks and create new opportunities for Montana farmers who want to participate in, and benefit from, an emerging bio-based economy. This project combines educational opportunities (workshops, farm tours) with incentive grants and farmer feedback to advance knowledge and action.

The Oilseeds for Fuel, Feed and the Future Project offers workshops, farm tours and small grants to Montana farmers who want to learn more about:

• Oilseed crops that can be used for a range of products (such as lubricants, culinary oils or biodiesel)
• On-farm production and/or personal use of biodiesel and its co-products
• Markets and buyers' expectations for oilseed crops

The Oilseeds for the Future project is funded by the NRCS's Conservation Innovation Grants program, Stranie Ventures and the Bullitt Foundation, with additional support of the EPA, USDA Risk Management Agency and the important contributions of the Project partners.

Project partners are the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), The University of Idaho, The National Biodiesel Education Program, Montana State University Extension Service, The Northern Ag Network, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Grain Growers Association, Montana Department of Agriculture, Alternative Energy Resources Organization, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality Energy and Pollution Prevention Bureau.

Innovation Grants to Montana Farmers Spur New Knowledge in Oilseeds and Biodiesel Production

In 2007 and 2008, NCAT made nine Innovation grants to eight Montana farms and ranches to test out oilseed production and processing, animal feeding or making and using biodiesel. Reports from eight of the nine funded projects are available here. Each report outlines what they did and learned on their farms in the 2007 and 2008 growing season.

The reports offer advice cautionary tales and promise for those who are interested in advancing oilseed and vegetable oil-based biofuels and other bioproducts in Montana. NCAT will update and add to these reports as new information becomes available from the grantees.

Innovation Grants were awarded for:

• Testing juncea (brown canola) production on dryland and irrigated farms in northeastern Montana (2008). (Greg Labatte, Froid, MT and Marc Cartwright, Miles City) Click here to read report
• Determining the carbon footprint of using petroleum diesel, B20 Biodiesel and virgin straight vegetable oil in Kubota tractors on-farm (2008). (Josh Slotnick and the PEAS Farm, Missoula) Click here to view the presentation.
• Building local oilseed crushing capacity so farmers can test feeding camelina pressings to dairy cattle (2007). (Chris Fritz, Flathead Biodiesel, Polson) Click here to read report
• Conducting comparative performance tests of straight vegetable oil and B20 in Kubota tractors (2007). (Josh Slotnick, Missoula) Click here to read report
• Testing sunflower and camelina production, and performance testing straight vegetable oil and biodiesel in large farm equipment (2007). (Chuck Merja, Sun River) Click here to read report
• Testing juncea (a member of the mustard family) production on dryland and irrigated farms in northeastern Montana. This project involves six farms (2007). (Marc Cartwright, Miles City) Click here to read report
• Integrated camelina crop production, feeding camelina pressings to beef cattle, and on-farm oilseed crushing and biodiesel production tests (2007). (Ken DeBoer, Ryegate) Click here to read report
• Adding biodiesel processing capacity for use in a stationary irrigation pump engine that has been retrofitted to burn straight vegetable oil (2007). (Zach Wirth, Wolf Creek) Click here to view presentation
• Testing nitrogen side band applications in canola production, and feeding canola pressings to beef cattle in both ranch and feedlot settings (2007). (Kent Wasson, Whitewater)

The Innovations Grants are part of the Oilseeds for Fuel Feed and the Future Project, a collaborative effort that aims to reduce risk and create new opportunities for Montana farmers who want to participate in, and benefit from, an emerging bio-based economy. The project combines educational opportunities with on-farm research and demonstration efforts to advance knowledge and action.

The Project partners include the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), Montana Farmers Union, Montana Grain Growers Association, Montana Department of Agriculture, Alternative Energy Resources Organization, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Department of Environmental Quality's Air and Energy Bureau.

The purpose of the grants program is to increase knowledge in three areas:

• Oilseed crops that can be used for a range of products (such as lubricants, culinary oils or biodiesel)
• On-farm production and/or personal use of biodiesel and its co-products, such as oilseed pressings for livestock feed
• Oilseed markets and buyers' expectations for oilseed crops

Funding for this project comes from the NRCS Conservation Innovations Grant program, Stranie Ventures and the Bullitt Foundation, along with other cash and in-kind support from the project partners.

NCAT is a non-profit organization with headquarters in Butte, Montana. For more information about the Innovation grants, the Oilseeds for the Future Project or NCAT, contact Al Kurki at 406-449-0104 or alk@ncat.org.

Rocking Z Ranch, Wolf Creek
The first NCAT is co-sponsored tour took place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 6 at the Rocking Z Ranch north of Helena. The free tour highlighted:

• Biodiesel processing and oil and biofuel storage on the ranch;
• A stationary engine that runs on the ranch's irrigation pump and can burn straight vegetable oil (SVO), biodiesel or petrodiesel;
• Solar-powered wheel line movers;
• Hosts Zack and Patty Wirth's story on how they developed this system and the problems and benefits they've seen.

Please call NCAT program specialist Al Kurki at (406)-449-0104 or e-mail akurki@ncat.org with questions about this tour.

Directions:
The Rocking Z is 1.8 miles west from Interchange 216 (known as the Sieben Interchange) on I-15, 24 miles north of Helena. The ranch is across the stream and railroad tracks. The county road is paved to the ranch; if the road has turned to gravel, you've gone too far.

The Update aims to provide the most current information on key aspects of oilseed rotations and production, oilseed crushing and uses of oil (such as biodiesel) and oilseed cake.

Oilseeds Update 2008 [PDF / 1.85M] This issue focuses on oilseed crushers and biodiesel processors.
Oilseeds Update 2008 Fall Edition [PDF / 633K] This issue focuses on on some Montana market outlets for oilseeds.

THE NCAT MISSION
Helping People by championing small-scale, local, and sustainable solutions to reduce poverty, promote healthy communities, and protect natural resources.

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