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Great Falls to Host Oilseeds and Biodiesel Workshop February 15th

Montana farmers interested in learning more about how to produce and use
biodiesel or how to raise oilseed crops can learn more about these and
many other topics at an upcoming Oilseeds and Biodiesel Workshop.

The Oilseeds and Biodiesel workshop, will take place on Thursday,
February 15th at 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the Hampton Inn, 2301 14th
Street SW, Great Falls, MT. On-site registration will begin at 8:00a.m.
The cost for the workshop is $15 per participant.

Pre-registration is encouraged. The deadline to pre-register is February
12th. For more information on this event, contact NCAT at 800/275-6228
or e-mail jodyk@ncat.org.

People who attend this workshop will learn more about:
* Oilseed crops that can be used for a range of products (such as
lubricants, culinary oils or biodiesel)
* On-farm production and/or personal use of biodiesel and its
co-products
* Markets and buyers' expectations for oilseed crops

Topics that will be covered include oilseed production, crushing and
processing; biodiesel quality issues; small scale and commercial
biodiesel production and market trends in oilseeds and co-products.
Speakers include Dr. Jon Van Gerpen of the National Biodiesel Education
Program at the University of Idaho along with Montana scientists,
farmers and businesses experienced in oilseed production and processing.


Workshop attendees will receive a free packet of resource and
educational materials to take home after the event. The acclaimed book
Building a Successful Biodiesel Business will be available for sale at
the workshop. A portable biodiesel processor will be on display as well.

The workshops' sponsors include the Montana Farmers Union, Montana Grain
Growers Association, Natural Resources Conservation Service, National
Biodiesel Education Program, Northern Ag Network, Montana Department of
Agriculture, Alternative Energy Resources Organization, MSU-Extension,
Department of Environmental Quality, the University of Idaho, and the
National Center for Appropriate Technology.

Biodiesel Processor and Great Resources to be Featured at Oilseeds and
Biodiesel Workshop in
Livingston, MT, January 9th

Montana farmers interested in learning more about how to produce and use
biodiesel or how to raise oilseed crops can learn more about these and
many other topics at the Oilseed and Biodiesel Workshop.

The workshop will take place on Tuesday, January 9th at 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
at the Livingston Best Western Yellowstone Inn, 1515 West Park. On-site
registration begins at 8:30 a.m. The cost for the workshop is $15 per
participant. Pre-registration is encouraged because of limited space
and very high interest. The deadline to pre-register is January 3rd.
To pre-register for the workshop or for more information on this event,
contact Julianne at the Northern Rocky Mountain RC&D office 406/
222-7227 or julianne@nrmrcd.org.

Topics that will be covered include oilseed production, crushing and
processing; biodiesel quality issues, small scale and commercial
biodiesel production, feasibility and economics of oilseed and biodiesel
production; and market trends in oilseeds and co-products. Speakers
include Dr. Chengci Chen (MSU cropping systems specialist), Howard
Haines (Bioenergy Engineer with the Montana Department of Environmental
Quality) and Kent Wasson, a grain farmer and president of Peaks and
Prairies Cooperative. Peaks and Prairies produces oilseed-based
lubricants using Montana grown crops.

Workshop attendees will receive a free packet of resource and
educational materials to take home after the event. The acclaimed book
Building a Successful Biodiesel Business will be available for sale at
the workshop. A portable biodiesel processor will be on display as well.

Sponsors of these workshops include the Northern Rocky Mountain Resource
Conservation and Development (RC&D), Natural Resources Conservation
Service (NRCS), MSU Extension, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Grain
Growers Association, National Biodiesel Education Program, Montana
Department of Agriculture, Northern Ag Network, Alternative Energy
Resources Organization, Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and
the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT).

Support for this workshop is provided in part by an NRCS Conservation
Innovations Grant, with additional support from Stranie Ventures, the
Bullitt Foundation and contributions from workshop sponsors.

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Grist Series on Renewable Fuels:
http://www.grist.org/news/maindish/2006/12/04/biofuels/index.html

- BiodieselMontana.org