02/17/05 Biodiesel potential in inland northwest

02/17/05 Biodiesel potential in inland northwest

Farm and Ranch February 17, 2005 A presentation by Brian He of the University of Idaho at a recent oilseed conference in Spokane, estimated that seven counties in eastern Washington and northern Idaho could produce enough oilseeds to make the equivalent of from 18 to 28 million gallons of biodiesel annually. He estimated that oilseeds like canola and mustard could be produced on up to 362-thousand acres of land in Kootenai, Benewah and Latah counties in Idaho and Spokane, Lincoln, Adams and Whitman counties in Washington. The low end of He's estimate is based on a per acre yield of one-thousand pounds. The higher estimate is based on a 13-hundred pound per acre yield. As for the potential market for biodiesel in that area: He: "And the diesel consumption in the inland northwest is about 123-million gallons a year. That is the possible market." He put production costs at $2.50 to $3 dollars a gallon, not including management, distribution and transportation costs and that's based on 17 cent a pound oil. He: "Remember we do have a $1 per gallon tax advantage. That will bring it down to $2 or less." A firm called Seattle Biodiesel is beginning production of biodiesel in Seattle but has to import canola oil from the Midwest. An organization called Columbia Oilseeds says it hopes to have one oilseed crusher operating soon in Washington and is seeking contracts with growers for production this spring. Another company Sustainable Systems out of Missoula, Montana, says it also has identified a central Washington location for a crusher and is interested in contracting with growers. I'm Bob Hoff and that's the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report on the Northwest Ag Information Network.
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