05/10/07 Camelina

Stephen Guy gets excited when he talks about the potential of a crop on which he's been conducting experiments for three years. GUY "This is a brasseca crop so its in the cabbage family along with the canola and rapeseed and mustards." The University of Idaho crop management specialist is talking about camelina, a crop that dates back 35 hundred years ago to Eastern Europe. Camelina has a lot of potential as a feedstock for biodiesel production but Guy has also been looking at the heart healthy aspects by testing the omega-3 fatty acid content of camelina. Its been used as an edible oil and some crushed camelina oil goes into cosmetic production. Three years ago, there was practically no camelina in Montana but now its showing up in dryland farming areas across that state. GUY "Last year I've heard reported anywhere from 14 thousand to 20 thousand acres. This year the current reports are that there's at least 50 thousand acres of camelina being grown in Montana." Guy thinks north Idaho and eastern Washington are ideal for camelina production. More about that part of the story tomorrow. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott