Nebraska

Bio-diesel has rapidly emerged as an answer to reducing sulfur emission problems from diesel engines. As little as a 3 percent bio-diesel blend or B-3 goes a long way toward reducing diesel emission problems.

This is driving a rapid expansion of the market. For producers in western Nebraska, where soybeans are not well adapted, other crops such as brown mustard, canola, camelina and crambe have been investigated by the University of Nebraska. Spring forms of brown mustard and canola have been commercially produced for the past two seasons.

Development of more winter adapted germplasm, including Sumner, Wichita and Abilene winter canola, has greatly expanded the potential for these crops in the region. For the past two years, winter trials have yielded approximately 180 percent of the spring types under limited irrigation with an average of nearly 4,000 lbs/acre and a high yielding plot of over 5,000 lbs/acre.

More than 20,000 acres of these varieties were planted in the High Plains for the 2004-2005 season, and production is expected to increase rapidly for the 2005-2006 season.

Now is the time to prepare ground for planting and line up a seed supply and market, as winter types typically need to be planted by the end of August. Progressive Producers is willing to market a limited quantity of winter type canola this year from western Nebraska. Progressive Producers is a non-stock cooperative that contracts with Cross Roads Cooperative for management.

For additional information contact Bob Kelly at Crossroads Cooperative, 308-249-3896, bob@crossroadscoop.com or Dan Laursen, President Progressive Producers, 308-487-5541, dlaursen@bbc.net. For additional agronomic information contact Charlie Rife, charlie@gobluesun.com, or David Baltensperger dbaltensperger1@unl.edu.

Date: 8/24/05