Montana State researchers report breakthrough on camelina yields

February 14, 2008

In Montana, researchers from Montana State University say that they have realized yields of 1200 pounds of camelina oil per acre, by optimizing nitrogen and phosphorus inputs. The high cost of camelina had been preventing further investment in the crop’s production.

Recently, Targeted Growth and Green Earth Fuel have formed a joint venture to develop a 100 Mgy biodiesel plant in Montana, using camelina as a feedstock. The venture, which will be called Sustainable Fuels, plans to sign up to fifty Montana farmers to grow the feedstock. Gov. Brian Schweitzer, and Senators Max Baucus and Jon Tester were on hand for the announcement. Camelina, also popularly known as gold-of-pleasure, is a feedstock that has low input requirements and can be produced more cheaply than other feedstocks such as soy.

Although Washington, Idaho, and Oregon had ranked in the top 20 in Oil Independence, Montana has lagged in biofuels capacity. The Northwest has been particularly focused on biodiesel, with the notable launch of the Imperium Renewables plant in Washington State. Last month, Allied Bio-Energies selected a site for a 10 Mgy biodiesel plant near Havre. The site was picked because it is near to major crop growing areas as well as the Northern Agricultural Research Center and Montana State University-Northern.

Special Biofuels Digest Report on camelina

"Here's the lowdown on camelina," says an exclusive Biofuels Digest report on the fast-rising biodiesel feedstock. "First, it grows on land unsuitable for food crops. It has yields that are roughly...

Sustainable Oils receives FDA approval for camelina as livestock feed; improves biofuel production model

In Montana, Sustainable Oils has received approval from the Center for Veterinary Medicine, a unit within the FDA, for the use of camelina meal in livestock diets. The approval covers use of camelina ...

Montana group to make biodiesel from gold-of-pleasure

In Montana, Targeted Growth and Green Earth Fuel have formed a joint venture to develop a 100 Mgy biodiesel plant using camelina as a feedstock. The venture, which will be called Sustainable Fuels, pl...

Big Horn Basin Ethanol receives $45 million from Bronte Renewable in leaseback on 25 Mgy ethanol plant

In Montana, Big Horn Basin Ethanol announced a lease agreement with Bronte Renewable of Ontario to provided $45 million in financing. Under the agreement, BHBE will lease and operate the plant, which ...

AE Biofuels starts construction of pilot cellulosic ethanol plant in Montana

In Montana, AE Biofuels has commenced construction of a cellulosic ethanol commercial demonstration facility in Butte. The plant will use switchgrass, grass seed straw, small grain straw, and corn sta...

U of North Dakota, Great Plains partner to produce jet fuel, gasoline and diesel from camelina

In North Dakota, the Energy & Environmental Research Center at the University of North Dakota has signed an agreement with Great Plains -The Camelina Company to produce jet fuel from camelina. The...

Written by Jim Lane · Filed Under Research