GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Sustainable Oils is a renewable gas firm that works with over 100 farmers within the nation to develop camelina, together with farmers proper right here within the Treasure State.
“Camelina could be very easy to develop and makes use of all the identical gear that the farmer already has. It would not require any capital funding,” stated Barney Bernstein, vice chairman of North American operations with Sustainable Oils.
It’s a seed that’s grown right here, despatched away, after which comes again as renewable diesel gas.
“There’s not sufficient soybeans to feed all of the renewable diesel vegetation like Calumet right here and in Nice Falls to supply the renewable diesel that we’d like. So we’d like various feedstocks. And that is the place camelina is available in,” stated Bernstein.
Earlier than this, Montana hasn’t had crops rising for the renewable gas business; now Montana is collaborating in one thing that’s more healthy for the surroundings and has different financial advantages.
“The profit for Montana is de facto the financial profit that comes with the manufacturing of the grain and the financial profit that trickles down by way of the communities, whether or not that is taxes, cash for brand new colleges, cash for college upgrades, all of the neighborhood advantages that include improved financial improvement… So, for example, if a farmer could make, say, $150 an acre, we have to have one million acres of camelina to fill our plant. That is $150 million that is going to trickle down by way of the farm, by way of the agricultural economies of Montana, and assist all of the economies develop,” stated Bernstein.
Ken Rice is a farmer/rancher close to Moccasin, MT and has been farming virtually all his life.
Rice says he began working with Sustainable Oils and rising camelina final yr.
“We simply wished to attempt a unique crop. It is good for the rotation and completely different herbicides and simply making an attempt one thing new,” stated Rice.
“We suggest it is farmers first crop within the floor, first crop out. It is a very quick season crop, so it comes off earlier than winter wheat, which is useful for them as a result of as soon as winter wheat harvest begins, every thing else stops,” stated Bernstein.
One thing particular about camelina is it may be grown beneath low moisture situations and Montana has quite a lot of fallow acres, giving extra farmers and growers a chance to take part within the biofuel financial system.
“It may be used like a canopy crop. Cowl crops have gotten crucial besides camelina you may harvest and earn a living on, whereas most cowl crops you terminate them by spraying them with a herbicide, kill them after which plant your summer season crop,” stated Bernstein.