Growing Canola for Biodiesel
Growing Canola for Biodiesel
Follow Roger Rainville from planting to harvest.
Oil Crop Pest Pressures
Canola is grown in the US to produce meal for animal feed. The oil that is extracted from the seeds is viewed as a by-product and is made into edible cooking oils or biodiesel. The keys to expanding the use of canola for biodiesel production in Vermont are identifying the right varieties, establishing best practices for growth and pest management, and developing performance specifications for pressing and refining equipment.
Small quantities of non-GMO varieties of canola are currently being grown on Vermont farms. Fall planted varieties of canola (called “winter canola”) can yield a ton or more of seed per acre in Vermont and up to 100 gallons of oil, plus the high-protein meal.
The profiles, publications, and links to the right and image gallery below provide more information on the work being done in Vermont and nationally to expand the use of canola for biodiesel production.
The Vermont Bioenergy Initiative, a program of the Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund, aims to foster the sustainable bioenergy through a local production for local use model, proven to work for Vermont. Since 2003 the program has allowed Vermont farms to ease their resilience on inconsistently priced, foreign fossil fuels and other agricultural inputs. This is [...]
In early 2014 Full Sun Company, a small start-up business was co-founded by Netaka White and Davis McManus. Fueled by an interest to help family farms grow, Full Sun began processing sunflower and non-GMO canola oil crops into specialty food-grade oil and high-protein meal for the farmers. Sunflower and canola oil distribution picked up quickly through local CSAs, farm [...]
Larry Scott and Peggy Hewes operate Ekolott Farm—a diversified farm raising emus, Herefords, and hogs, and growing crops such as shell corn, sunflowers, and soybeans on 200 acres of Connecticut River valley land. Ekolott produces a portion of their own fuel, all of their own heat and an increasing amount of the feed ingredients they feed their animals, including grains and sunflower seed meal.
The farm has a double-press Täby Model 70 similar to the one at State Line Farm (0.5-ton per 24-hour day). At the moment, they do not have a biodiesel processor at the farm, but contract with a neighbor who owns a BioPro190.
Growing Canola
Heather Darby, University of Vermont Extension, Oilseed Production in the Northeast. 2013.
University of Vermont Extension,Winter Canola Planting Date Trial. 2012.
University of Vermont Extension, Winter Canola Variety Trial. 2011.
University of Maine, Spring Canola: An Oilseed Crop for Potato Growers. 2003.
Canola Council of Canada, Canola Growers Manual.
Ellsworth Christmas and Stephen Hawkins, Purdue University, Winter Canola: An Alternative Crop in Indiana.
Carol Jones, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Storing Oklahoma Winter Canola.
Seed Preparation and Storage
Oilseed Factsheet: Seed Storage and Cleaning, University of Vermont Extension
A Feasibility Analysis of a Mobile Unit for Processing Oilseed Crops and Producing Biodiesel in Vermont.December 2008
Feasibility Analysis: Solar Seed Dryer and Storage Bin at State Line Farm, N. Bennington, VT. October 2008
Economics
Chris Callahan, Oilseed Cost and Profit Calculator. (A downloadable modeling tool)
Chris Callahan and Netaka White, Vermont On-Farm Oilseed Enterprises: Production Capacity and Break-even Economics. July 2013.
Emily Stebbins, The Market Potential of Farm-Scale Oilseed Crop Products in Vermont. February 2008. (See also the Executive Summary)
Canola Seed & Meal Analysis
Canola Seed Analysis, Prior To Milling In Kern Kraft Oil Press
Canola Meal Analysis, Using Kern Kraft Oil Press
Growing Canola
Canola Grower’s Manual, Canola Council of Canada
Winter Canola Grower’s Guide, Purdue University
Canola Research & Technical Assistance
University of Vermont Extension, Oilseeds Program
North Dakota State University, Canola Production Management
Conferences and Events
Oilseed Producers Workshop Proceedings, University of Vermont
No-till Planter
Planting canola using no-till seeder, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
No-till Planting
Planting canola using no-till seeder, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Canola Grower
Roger Rainville, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Spring Canola (no-till)
Spring canola, no-till, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Canola in Bloom
Canola field in full bloom, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Canola Flowers
Canola flowers, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Canola Flower & Bee
Canola flower and bee, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Seed Pod
Canola seed pod, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Canola Pods
Canola pods in August, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Seeds at Harvest
Canola pods at harvest, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Harvesting Equipment
Combine, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Harvesting Canola
Harvesting canola with a combine, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Canola Meal
Canola meal, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2008. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Canola
Canola oil, Borderview Farm, Alburgh Vermont, 2011. Photo credit: Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
