Vermont Biofuels Initiative: Supply Side
On-Farm Seed Oil Production and Feasibility Study
In April 2006, the VSJF awarded $98,000 to the University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture from funds secured by Senator Leahy from the U.S. Department of Energy to conduct an on-farm seed oil production and feasibility study. Administered by Center Director, Vern Grubinger, the study will be conducted in conjunction with John Williamson from State Line Farm (Shaftsbury), Clear Brook Farm (Shaftsbury) and Borderview Farm (Alburgh).
The On-Farm Seed Oil Study is a research and development project designed to understand the production of oil from seed in Vermont’s cold climate. The purpose of the project is to help detail the costs and benefits for farmers interested in increasing their energy security using their own resources.
The two components for the seed oil study include:
- Conduct seed crop trials in Vermont farm fields to compare performance of several promising species and cultivars of non-GMO oil and sugar producing crops that can be used, among other uses, for on-farm energy in Vermont’s cold climate
- Document the costs and returns for producing oil from seed on the farm, and determine the feasibility for replication of seed oil production elsewhere
The On-Farm Seed Oil Study is part of a larger effort by UVM, the VBA and VSJF to establish the economics for biodiesel production in various settings in the state.
John Williamson, with the help of Steve Plummer, his family and friends, has been diversifying his farm operations to include biodiesel production over the past couple of years. On October 25, 2006, about 100 community members, including farmers and government leaders, turned out for an open house to see Williamson’s nearly completed passive solar biodiesel processing facility. Williamson admits being amazed by the “nonstop” attention he’s been receiving of late, but suggests that other farmers give biofuels production a try: “It’s a pretty nice feeling to have your own source of fuel. It works really well. We’ve got four tractors, two trucks and a car running on it.”
At the open house, Williamson (right) and Plummer (left) described the pros and cons of the seed varieties they grew, provided a demonstration of their seed press (which separates meal and oil from the seed), detailed their process of trial and error, and answered a ton of questions.
Grubinger is enthusiastic about the State Line Farm model: "John and Steve have an exciting vision about energy independence for local agriculture, and they've put innovative thinking and practical know-how to work to start making that vision a reality. It's amazing how much they've accomplished in short time to figure out how to grow and process oil seed crops for fuel, on a scale that makes sense for Vermont's farms".
This Taby Pressen Model 70 seed press, purchased from Sweden, is pressing sunflower seeds into meal (the black material in the container). The sunflower oil slides down the white trough into a holding container until Williamson and Plummer process it into biodiesel.
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