Montana Biodiesel Production Workshops
2009 Workshops
January 28-29 - Billings, MT
Biodiesel Production Workshop Materials
Biodiesel Handling and Use Guidebook
"Building a Successful Biodiesel Business" book available now.
Sponsors
During June and July of 2006, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality, in partnership with the Montana Department of Agriculture, the Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, the University of Idaho, the USDA National Biodiesel Education Program, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Grain Growers Association, MSU College of Agriculture Bio-based Products Institute, The Northern Broadcast Radio Network and the National Center for Appropriate Technology, sponsored several Montana Biodiesel Production Workshops. The 2006 workshops were held at three locations to provide an overview of raising oilseeds and of safely developing a quality biodiesel or bio-products business. The workshops were designed for potential growers, biodiesel and bio-product producers, and others who wish to help growers and producers succeed. Regional and nationally recognized experts presented the workshop material with the first part covering the basic agronomic aspects of oilseeds, oil, and co-products. The second part covered the basic production of a quality biodiesel. Content, times, and speakers varied to allow each workshop to focus on crops applicable to the given area. Each workshop included information on crops, bio-lubricants, and presentations.
Over 180 attended all three workshops that featured Jon Van Gerpen, Department Head of Biological and Agricultural Engineering, University of Idaho, on biodiesel. Comments by attendees of these workshops helped identify a need for a lower cost method to ensure Montana-produced biodiesel was good quality fuel meeting national standards and state standards. As a result of these comments, the 2007 Special Session of the Legislature provided partial equipment funds to develop a testing lab that would lower the cost of testing for Montana producers.
Additional local partner sponsors helped focus content at biodiesel producer workshops in 2007/2008 drawing over 460 participants, over half that were farmers. The Northern Rocky Mountain RC&D sponsored the Livingston Workshop on January 9, 2007. The Montana Farmers Union and Montana Grain Growers Association helped host one in Great Falls, February 15, 2007. The Salish Kootenai Extension and Mountain West Co-op (CENEX) helped host the October 30-31, 2007 workshop in Polson, and MSU Billings College of Technology hosted the January 9-10 2008 workshop.
Presentations from these workshops are currently on the DEQ web site, with updates in the contacts list and financial assistance documents.Montana State University-Northern, Havre, MT: MSU-N Biodiesel Test Lab will have their grand opening and open house at the Applied Technology Center, Havre, MT, March 27, 2008. This biofuels test center is the result of participant comments from the 2006 workshops, and actions by state government, the Governor, and the 2007 legislature to enable MSU-N to proceed. The Montana State University-Northern Bioenergy Innovation and Testing Center will exhibit its new ASTM-grade biodiesel test lab and other services offered by the Center. Contact Jessica Alcorn-Windy Boy, Director, j.alcornwindyboy@msun.edu (800) 662-6132.
Farm Tours 2008DEQ will be participating in the following Oilseeds for Fuel, Feed & Future Farm Tours hosted by our partners:
The Wirth's Rocking Z Ranch biodiesel processor and irrigation engine that burns straight vegetable oil (SVO) and biodiesel. 2:00 pm, May 28th; the ranch is about half hour north of Helena. The tour is free but pre-registration is encouraged to allow for attendance and arrange carpooling as parking is limited. Call or e-mail Al Kurki (406-443-7272, alk@ncat.org ) for more details.
Bob Quinn Farm south of Big Sandy, Friday, June 20th. Of interest to oilseed growers will be Bob's camelina and his NEW German oilseed press. The new press replaces the Chinese press folks may have seen at last year's tour. Fertility management, dryland vegetable production, fruit orchards will be other topics featured on the tour. Call Jim Barngrover at AERO, 406-443-7272 for more information.
Leonard Stone's camelina fields near Geraldine on the afternoon of June 26th. See Leonard's fourth year of growing camelina and wheat following camelina. We'll also have updates on oilseed crushers and biodiesel processors -- what brands to watch for. Call Sandy Courtnage at Montana Farmers Union, 406-452-6406 for more information.
Coming soon: Biodiesel for Montana’s Future Program: The Montana Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) grant from the Montana Agro Energy Plan (WIRED Program) provides training opportunities in Montana’s WIRED region. The Biodiesel for Montana’s Future program includes activities to:
- Educate operators, maintenance staff, and fuel suppliers to the use of biodiesel for WIRED-region school bus and public fleets;
- Train outreach staff on production of biodiesel;
- Update a bioenergy permit guide for entrepreneurs and educators; and
- Develop certification data and training for use of biodiesel co-products in local markets.
Several workshops are being developed for training of production operators (efficiency and troubleshooting small scale production), educators, mechanics, and fleet operators. If interested in these opportunities, please contact DEQ at (406) 841-5200, biwebb@mt.gov , or check the availability of opportunities at www.deq.mt.gov, select “biodiesel” in the “What are you looking for?” menu (and it should bring you here).
2009 WorkshopsMontana Oilseed and Biodiesel Production Workshop, January 28 – 29, 2009, Billings, Montana. For more information, contact DEQ at 406 841 5200, or email biwebb@mt.gov.
