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Washington farmers produce over 350 agricultural products in a variety of different agricultural systems. These are primarily high-value food crops, and dedicated “energy 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);