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	Is Biodiesel from Camelina Right for You?
	Publication #: B-1249 Date Published: 08/12/2013 Publication Author(s): Thomas Foulke Milton Geiger Bret Hess

Description:
Recent interest in camelina production in the western United States has been generated by interest in establishing this oilseed as a rotational crop in a dryland system. Part of the interest lies in the ability to make biodiesel from the oil and use the meal as livestock feed. This bulletin evaluates the economics of an on-farm biodiesel production system from dryland camelina. A spreadsheet "calculator" estimates oil and meal costs from which estimates of profitability are obtained. The results show that this system produces an estimated 7,344 gallons of biodiesel. Total meal production is estimated to be 71.9 tons based on 347 harvested acres and 600 pounds per acre yield. The cost of biodiesel production was estimated to be $3.84 per gallon for ownership and operating costs. The amount of meal produced shows that producers should consider primarily meal disposition, rather than oil production in this enterprise, and be sure to have sufficient livestock resources available to consume the meal. An interesting observation is that the key driver in the system is the price of the feedstock. Lower costs of feedstocks increase the attractiveness of camelina. But lower prices for camelina versus wheat prices make growing this crop less attractive. From a purely financial perspective, on-farm biodiesel production from dryland camelina is not economically feasible.

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