Economic feasibility of diesel fuel substitutes from oilseeds in New York State

Journal Article · Thu Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1984

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-5826(84)90023-8· OSTI ID:7038982

Lazarus, W F; Pitt, R E

The feasibility of producing oilseeds for feed and for a diesel fuel substitute has primarily been discussed in terms of the major oilseed producing areas. The Northeast region of the United States is a major agricultural producing area which imports large quantities of soybean meal for cattle feed. This paper considers the technical and economic feasibility of producing oilseeds for feed and fuel in New York State, which is selected as a case study for the region. The possible crops considered for expanded production are sunflowers, soybeans, and flax. It is found that if enough oilseeds are grown to replace 25% of the diesel fuel used on farms, then at most 5% of the cropland would have to be converted to oilseeds, and meal would not be produced in excess of the amount currently used. The cost of producing oil is calculated as the cost of producing the seed plus the cost of processing minus the value of the meal. Enterprise budgets are developed for estimating oilseed production costs in New York State. The cost of processing is estimated for both an industrial-size plant, which does not now exist in New York, and a small on-farm plant. It is found that the diesel fuel and vegetable oil prices would have to rise substantially before oilseeds were produced in the Northeast region for feed and fuel. Moreover, the construction of an oilseed processing facility would not necessarily stimulate production of oilseeds in the region. 22 references.

• Research Organization: Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United States)
• OSTI ID: 7038982
• Resource Relation: Journal Volume: 3:3
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
BIOMASS PLANTATIONS
ECONOMICS
DIESEL ENGINES
FUEL SUBSTITUTION
NEW YORK
VEGETABLE OILS
PRODUCTION
AGRICULTURE
ANIMAL FEEDS
CATTLE
COST ESTIMATION
DIESEL FUELS
FARMS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
FLAX PLANTS
IMPORTS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LAND USE
SEEDS
SOYBEANS
SUNFLOWERS
ANIMALS
DOMESTIC ANIMALS
ENGINES
FEDERAL REGION II
FOOD
HEAT ENGINES
INDUSTRY
INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES
MAMMALS
NORTH AMERICA
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PLANTS
RUMINANTS
USA
VEGETABLES
VERTEBRATES
090122* - Hydrocarbon Fuels- Preparation from Wastes or Biomass- (1976-1989)
140504 - Solar Energy Conversion- Biomass Production & Conversion- (-1989)