Colorado Research Center Studies Canola's Potential as New Winter Crop for Arkansas Valley

Soyatech.com

Pueblo Chieftain, The (CO) (KRT) -- Sep. 19 -- Rocky Ford -- A research project is looking at which varieties of winter canola, a source of fuel oil, will grow best in the Arkansas Valley in light of the boom in biofuel production.

"Canola has the potential to be developed for diesel fuel," Jim Valliant, irrigation specialist for Colorado State University told the Lower Arkansas Valley Water Conservancy District Wednesday. "It's very competitive with wheat."

Dryland wheat production in Southeastern Colorado averaged 260,000 acres, meaning there is potential for a large canola crop. While canola is also used as a food oil, its value in biodiesel makes it more resilient in the marketplace, Valliant said.

The Lower Ark board voted to support the research effort with a three-year grant of $16,000 to supplement other funding.

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