CANOLA FOR FARM AND FUELS
Suverly,* N.A.1; Bewick, L.2; Roe, D.3; Townshend, E.4; Troutman, W.5; Whaley, D.6; Young, F.71Extension Educator, Washington State University Okanogan County Extension, Okanogan, WA, 98840
2Research Assistant, WSU Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Pullman, WA, 99164
3Researcher, WSU Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Pullman, WA, 99164
4Grower, Cooperator, Okanogan, WA, 98840
5Grower, Cooperator, Bridgeport, WA, 98813
6Extension Educator, Washington State Univesity Douglas/Chelan Counties, Waterville, WA, 98858
7Researcher, USDA-ARS Land Managment and Water Conservation Research Unit, Pullman, WA, 99164
Abstract:
Global increases in energy demand over supply have spurred a tremendous demand for biofuels produced from crops such as canola. A few growers have produced winter canola as a rotation crop with winter wheat in the dry land fields of North Central Washington but are faced with the challenges of inconsistent stand establishment and marketing of the oilseed crop. On-farm research has been ongoing in Okanogan and Douglas counties since 2007 to investigate the optimum seeding date, rate, and their effects on seed, oil, and meal quality. Local Extension activities have been conducted to teach local farmers and the community of the research findings, planting methodologies, agronomic benefits, and uses of the oilseed crop and its by-product. Extension field days in the spring of 2008 and 2009 were conducted in both Okanogan and Douglas Counties to deliver this information. Some of the oilseed crop is marketed through conventional channels where it is sold to and processed outside of the Pacific Northwest. However, local collaboration has been initiated between growers and the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation for local, small-scale crushing and production of biodiesel. Locally made biodiesel will be used for the tribe’s school buses and log trucks and local farmers will have a marketable rotation crop for winter wheat along with a valuable by-product for feeding to livestock. This partnership was showcased at a canola and biofuels education day in fall of 2009.