USDA grants research funds for on-farm biodiesel project

LaCrosse farmer Steve Camp was awarded a $28,000 grant from the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service to further his on-farm production of biodiesel.

Camp’s grant was one of four of the agency’s Conservation Innovation Grants awarded this year.

Camp has for the past two years planted camelina, a genetic cousin of canola, and has pressed the harvested seed to use the oil to make biodiesel he then uses on his farm.

The grant money will help Camp get a better picture of the sustainability and financial viability of growing crops that can be processed on the farm into biodiesel that is used in the farm operation.

“I’m really excited about this grant,” said Camp. “This is going to let me take my biodiesel production to the next level.”

Camp planted much of his 2010 crops with fuel he made from last year’s camelina harvest.

He had to send the oil pressed from the camelina to a processing plant to be turned into biodiesel.

Camp plans to purchase an oilseed crusher and a biodiesel processing system for his own shop, so he can make the fuel in the winter and use it in the spring.

“This is a great program because it funds projects that will make an impact on the natural resources right here in Washington State,” said Dave Brown, assistant state conservationist. “Steve’s project, in particular, could have a big impact on how farmers fuel their operations.”

Brown noted farms in the days before industrialization often had to set aside ground to graze the horses that powered their plows.

Growing a crop that will be used as fuel in a tractor is the same thing, said Camp.

The three other projects funded through the grant program all went to government or non-profit organizations. Eleven entities applied for grants.

Foster Creek Conservation District received funding for a sage grouse conservation plan in Douglas County.

Washington State University received funding to train 200 people to help private forest landowners implement conservation practices.

Trout Unlimited was given a grant to help farmers work to control stormwater contamination in streams from farm runoff.