Timber county hopes canola oil will spur economy
GRANTS PASS, Ore. (AP) - Josephine County commissioners hope that biofuel from canola oil will help boost a local economy hit by the recession after a long decline in the timber industry.
"I'm very excited about it," Commissioner Dave Toler said of a proposal from Salem-based N.W. Seed Crushers.
Commissioners voted 2-1 on Tuesday to give the company an $85,000 economic development grant to grow canola locally for feed stock and biodiesel.
N.W. Seed Crushers will supply equipment to growers and personnel to plant, harvest, process and transport the seed to market.
Company owner Chuck Bergfeld and co-founder Tim Parker want to bring the crop to Josephine County because of restrictions in the Willamette Valley caused by potential cross-pollination with vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower.
The Oregon Legislature has mandated increased use of biofuels, requiring 10 percent ethanol and 5 percent biodiesel in fuel sold in certain parts of the state.
To meet demand, the state is offering subsidies to in-state growers through the Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit.
The program also serves as an incentive by offering a 50 percent credit for eligible costs of growing and processing canola seeds.
Money in the county's economic development fund comes from the Oregon Lottery and must be used for programs like the N.W. Seed Crushers proposal.
Commissioner Dwight Ellis also supports the idea with Toler, who note the N.W. Seed Crushers plan could also increase farmland value because canola grows on marginal soil and requires little or no irrigation.
Commissioner Sandi Cassanelli, however, said she was concerned that canola, which is in the rapeseed family, could become a blight to plants and animals.
Cassanelli said she would prefer the $85,000 grant be used to develop the Grants Pass or Illinois Valley airports.
Daryl Ehrensing, an Oregon State University crop and soils specialist, told commissioners canola is nontoxic and is not a noxious weed.
When managed correctly, he said it could actually suppress growth of yellow star thistle and other invasive plants.
"I'm very excited about it," Commissioner Dave Toler said of a proposal from Salem-based N.W. Seed Crushers.
Commissioners voted 2-1 on Tuesday to give the company an $85,000 economic development grant to grow canola locally for feed stock and biodiesel.
N.W. Seed Crushers will supply equipment to growers and personnel to plant, harvest, process and transport the seed to market.
Company owner Chuck Bergfeld and co-founder Tim Parker want to bring the crop to Josephine County because of restrictions in the Willamette Valley caused by potential cross-pollination with vegetables like cabbage and cauliflower.
The Oregon Legislature has mandated increased use of biofuels, requiring 10 percent ethanol and 5 percent biodiesel in fuel sold in certain parts of the state.
To meet demand, the state is offering subsidies to in-state growers through the Oregon Business Energy Tax Credit.
The program also serves as an incentive by offering a 50 percent credit for eligible costs of growing and processing canola seeds.
Money in the county's economic development fund comes from the Oregon Lottery and must be used for programs like the N.W. Seed Crushers proposal.
Commissioner Dwight Ellis also supports the idea with Toler, who note the N.W. Seed Crushers plan could also increase farmland value because canola grows on marginal soil and requires little or no irrigation.
Commissioner Sandi Cassanelli, however, said she was concerned that canola, which is in the rapeseed family, could become a blight to plants and animals.
Cassanelli said she would prefer the $85,000 grant be used to develop the Grants Pass or Illinois Valley airports.
Daryl Ehrensing, an Oregon State University crop and soils specialist, told commissioners canola is nontoxic and is not a noxious weed.
When managed correctly, he said it could actually suppress growth of yellow star thistle and other invasive plants.