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Updated 06/16/2008

Bioenergy Crops

For more information, e-mail us or call (360) 902-1918.

Washington farmers produce over 350 agricultural products in a variety of different agricultural systems. These are primarily high-value food crops, and dedicated bioenergy crops, such as oilseeds, make up a very small part of Washington's agricultural picture. However, biofuels crops may present an important opportunity for Washington agriculture with potential:

as profitable rotational crops in food production systems;
to increase yields of mainstay food crops when used to rotation; and
to decrease herbicide, pesticide, and/or irrigation inputs.

Where in-state feedstocks are used to supply in-state biofuels manufacturers, economic benefits from this in-state value chain can be tremendous. The critical question remaining for an in-state value chain for biofuels is "Will farmers plant the necessary acreage of feedstock crops to support local demand?" Significant obstacles remain, including:

Knowledge of the agronomics of oilseed crop production and availability of locally adapted crop varieties.
Increased risk associated with producing new crops.
Insufficient prices for break-even production.

WSDA hopes to support farmers and examine barriers to biofuels crop production through

Short-term research (in partnership with WSU);
Outreach and education(in partnership with WSU)
Orderly production of Brassica seed crops.

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