Biodiesel for Farmers

Benefits, case studies, testimonials
Springboard Biodiesel
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      • SVO vs Biodiesel
      • Biodiesel and Engine Life
      • Testing Small-Scale Biodiesel Quality
      • Preparing Feedstock for Biodiesel Production
      • Beef Tallow and Hydrogenated Oils
      • Methanol Vapors in BioPro Biodiesel Processors
      • Glycerin Layer in Biodiesel Production
      • Storing Biodiesel
      • Cold Weather Biodiesel Washing
      • Winter Storage and Retrieval
      • Storage for BioPro Processors
      • SpringPro T76 FAQ
    • More Information on BioPro Processors >
      • Acid-Catalyzed Esterification
      • Titration Batch Processing
      • Titration Methodologies
      • Reducing the CO2 Footprint
      • Biodiesel Mandates and Initiatives
      • ASTM
      • Reducing Carbon Footprint with Biodiesel
      • Glossary of Biodiesel Terms
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Benefits for Farmers

One of the many benefits of biodiesel is that it can be made from a long list of oil vegetable or animal oils.  The list of seed crops that convert beautifully into ASTM-D6751 grade biodiesel includes sunflower, safflower, canola, camelina, mustard seed, peanut, olive, soybean, rapeseed, jatropha, sesame, palm, cottonseed, coconut, etc. and the list continues to grow. We've selected a few interesting crops to call out below, but there are many others. See links on biodiesel made from animal tallow below.

As a result, we are seeing a growing number of farmers take the plunge and choose to make their own fuel. All a farmer needs is a BioPro™ and a seed crusher, and he can reduce his fuel operation bills significantly.  We have yet to meet a farmer who isn't making their own fuel with a BioPro for less than the cost of regular diesel.

Harvest the oil seed crop, crush the seeds, collect the oil, process the oil in a BioPro, sell the remaining high-protein bran as cattle feed, and save money!

Johhny Davis (pictured at right) is doing it. Johnny is a semi-retired farmer and owner of the ARCO feedlot in DeWitt, AR. He operates a BioPro 380 and SpringPro T76 drywash system. With this set up, he is capable of producing 100 gallons every 13 hours. 

He is one of several farmers in the Arkansas Delta region working to convert camelina and other winter crops into ASTM-grade biodiesel. Read more about Johnny Davis' project here.
Johnny Davis and his biodiesel

Case Study

Colusa Indian Community Council

  • Location: Colusa, CA.
  • Acreage: 4500 acres total
  • Feedstock: safflower
  • Crops: rice, almonds, walnuts & wheat
  • Biodiesel equipment: BioPro 380EX, SpringPro DM380, Chinese-made seed press.
  • Number of gallons of diesel and/or biodiesel needed to run farm/year: 100,000
  • Number of gallons of biodiesel expected to make in 2010? As many as possible. They have already dedicated 42 acres to safflower. They intend to expand that number to 200 acres
  • Blend percentage: B20 - B100
  • Equipment biodiesel is used in: Tractors, trucks, contracting equipment
  • Source: safflower, sunflower screenings AND WVO reclaimed from Colusa Casino.
  • Costs: (tilling, pesticides, chemical inputs, reaping, labor, depreciation) Approx. $1.50/gallon Scott and Paul are experimenting with a variety of different feedstocks. They can make 200 gallons ASTM grade fuel every day.

Case Study

Wedeberg Family Farm

  • Location: La Farge, WI
  • Acreage: 220 tillable, 190 pasture
  • Crops: Corn, hay, small grain, and sunflowers, 50 cows
  • Equipment: BioPro 380 + Kern Kraft 40 seed press
  • Total # of gallons of diesel and/or biodiesel needed to run farm per year: 2700
  • Biodiesel made and used per year: 700 gallons
  • Blend percentage: B20- B100
  • Equipment biodiesel used in: John Deere 4430, 4640, 5425, 4020 x4
Wedeberg Family Farm biodiesel case study

2009 Wedeberg Study

Inputs Type Cost/Acre
Crop Sunflower
Acres 8
Fuel to plow, cultivate, harvest 8.13 gallons $24.39
Starter fertilizer $40.00
Seed $16.00
Custom combining $36.56
Cash rent $100.00
Total crop/acre $216.95
Oil yield/acre (gallons) 76.4
Total crop cost/gallon $2.84
BioPro inputs $0.90
Total cost/gallon $3.74
Revenues
Cost of diesel $2.89
Cost of B100 $3.23
Implied savings / (Loss) vs. diesel ($0.85)
Protein meal 860 lbs/acre
Protein meal – total value/acre $4190.00
Total savings $1520

And, the Wedeberg's have cattle!

Savings/gallon of B100 Produced in a BioPro on 8 acres:
  • 611 Gallons x $2.89 of diesel not purchased = $1,766 (what he would have spent on diesel)
  • 611 gallons x 3.74 = $2285 what he DID spend on biodiesel
  • ($519)
  • But feed revenue = $1520
  • plus $1520 of protein meal...
  • NET PROFIT OF $861
  • $1.52/gal
Cows at Wederberg Family Farm

Case Study

James Shindelar Farms

  • Location: Greenfield, Iowa
  • Acreage: 500
  • Crops: corn & soybean rotation
  • Equipment: BioPro 380 & SpringPro T76 (making 100 gals every 29 hrs)
  • Number of gallons of diesel and/or biodiesel needed to run farm per year: 5,000 (10 gals/acre)
  • Number of gallons of biodiesel made and used per year: 8,000 (operating at 27% capacity)
  • Blend percentage: B100 during spring, summer & most of fall. B2-B5 in winter.
  • Source: Jim buys 7300 gals. soybean oil from a bean processing plant in Creston, IA (20 miles away). He also picks up 700 gals per year of free WVO from local restaurants.
  • Costs: when soybean oil = $0.40/lb, Jim pays…………….$3.04/gal
  • (Jim bought his soybean oil during "Fall lull" for $0.34/lb….$2.58/gal)
  • Methanol: $1.48/gallon ($0.30/gal)
  • Catalyst (NaOH): $0.09/gal biodiesel produced
  • Electricity and labor: $0.32/gal biodiesel produced
  • Total: $3.42/gal – factoring in 700 gals WVO
    • ($3.00/gal)
    • Less 25% for taxes = $2.56 (savings over diesel = 25 cents/gal.) ( = $2.25 savings over diesel = 56 cents/gal.)
    • If the $1/gal federal tax credit is renewed, Jim's total will drop to $1.56/gal or $1.25 savings over diesel
    • $1.25/gal or $1.56 savings over diesel

Testimonial

Farm Fuels, Inc.

Henry Smith, board member of Farm Fuels Inc. stands with FFI's BioPro™ 190EX. Farm Fuels is small business located in Watsonville, CA. that was started by organic farmers. They are currently converting mustard seed into biodiesel fuel and are looking to expand their operation with the purchase of four more mustard seed presses. Check out their Indigogo project.
Harry Smith of Farm Fuels, Inc.
Harry Smith of Farm Fuels, Inc.

Testimonial

Massa Farms

Local Farmer Greg Massa of Massa Farms just stepped up to the plate and stands here with his BioPro™ 190. Greg and his wife Raquel plan to press safflower seed to make biodiesel fuel for their farming equipment. Their plan includes selling the meal that is left over (after the oil is extruded) as cattle feed. They've taken a financially creative route to pay for the required equipment by putting up a crowd sourcing proposal. We applaud their initiative and urge anyone who can to contribute.
Greg Massa of Massa Family Farms using safflower oil to make biodiesel
Greg Massa of Mass Farms
Greg Massa of Massa Family Farms

Related Links

  • On-Farm Biodiesel Production – Farm To Plate newsletter
  • Biodiesel: Your Farm Has Fuel – Hobby Farms
  • Animal Fat based biodiesel  – Biodiesel Magazine, 2009
  • Rendered Fats for Biodiesel Industry – National Rendering Association, 2008
  • Beef Tallow and Hydrogenated Oils in the BioPro – Springboard website

Please contact Springboard Biodiesel if you'd like more information.

Learn More About Biodiesel

  • Glossary of biodiesel terms
  • Biodiesel library
  • BioPro videos​
  • Customer Testimonials
  • Biodiesel in the News

About Springboard Biodiesel

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  • The Springboard Biodiesel Network
  • Call us at +1.530.894.1793
  • Home
  • Products
    • BioPro 190 Biodiesel Processors
    • BioPro 380 Biodiesel Processors
    • Glycerin and Biodiesel Demethylation
    • CLL Biodiesel Production System
    • SpringPro T76
    • INCOSEP Accelerator
    • BioPro Processor Accessories >
      • Biodiesel Fueling Station
      • SpringFlow 250 Heat Exchanger
      • BioPro Pressurized Water Kit
      • Oxidative Stabilizer
      • WVO Transfer Pump
      • BD ZorbX Drywash Media
      • Methanol Pump
      • Oil Collection Systems
      • Fuel Nozzles
      • Screw Plug Immersion Heaters
      • DW-R10 Ion Exchange Resin
    • Return on Investment Calculator
    • Financing
    • BioPro Processor Gallery
  • Store
  • Library
    • Why a BioPro
    • Biodiesel Basics >
      • What Is Biodiesel
      • How the BP190 Works
      • Biodiesel Production
      • Technical Specs BioPro 190
      • Technical Specs for the BioPro 380
      • How the BP380 Works
      • Safety Features of BioPro Processors
      • Biodiesel Processor Basic Ingredients
      • Biodiesel Safety Information
      • Facts and Myths on Making Biodiesel
      • Biodiesel Quality
      • Benefits of BioPro Biodiesel Processors
      • Springboard Biodiesel Go/No-Go Kit
      • Biodiesel Frequently Asked Questions
    • Biodiesel Questions >
      • SVO vs Biodiesel
      • Biodiesel and Engine Life
      • Testing Small-Scale Biodiesel Quality
      • Preparing Feedstock for Biodiesel Production
      • Beef Tallow and Hydrogenated Oils
      • Methanol Vapors in BioPro Biodiesel Processors
      • Glycerin Layer in Biodiesel Production
      • Storing Biodiesel
      • Cold Weather Biodiesel Washing
      • Winter Storage and Retrieval
      • Storage for BioPro Processors
      • SpringPro T76 FAQ
    • More Information on BioPro Processors >
      • Acid-Catalyzed Esterification
      • Titration Batch Processing
      • Titration Methodologies
      • Reducing the CO2 Footprint
      • Biodiesel Mandates and Initiatives
      • ASTM
      • Reducing Carbon Footprint with Biodiesel
      • Glossary of Biodiesel Terms
    • BioPro Videos
  • Markets
    • Biodiesel for Farmers
    • Biodiesel for Casinos
    • Biodiesel for Municipalities
    • Biodiesel for Schools >
      • Schools using BioPro Technology
    • Biodiesel for Restaurants
    • Biodiesel for the Military
    • Other Markets
    • Testimonials from BioPro Owners
  • News
  • About Us
    • About Springboard Biodiesel
    • Contact Springboard Biodiesel