Pennycress closer to commercialization

WJBC
By: Carrie Muehling 3-15-2012

Most Central Illinois farmers are getting ready to plant this year’s crop, but a few are monitoring one that is already in the ground.

Lexington farmer Bruce Klein hosted a field day Tuesday to give others a chance to see his 80-acre field of pennycress, which he will double crop with soybeans this year.

Klein said he has been interested in any kind of crop that can be used for biofuels.

“I saw it as a way to begin growing a biofuel that wasn’t going to cause us to short the food supply, so that’s what really sparked my interest,” said Klein.

Klein is working with Pennycress Partners, a group dedicated to seeing the crop commercialized for biodiesel production.

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