Biodiesel & Seed Crushing Workshops
The second round of cutting-edge biofuel and oilseed-crushing workshops is coming to farmers in Virginia on March 26th and April 1st. Biofuel continues to be a prime opportunity for small-scale family farmers to make their own fuel or add value to their crops. In addition, the crushing of oilseeds to make valuable food grade oils (such as flax seed or sunflower oil) is growing in popularity among savvy farmers.
“The 2010 biofuel & seed-crushing roadshow” will feature a team of expert professionals offering workshops at rural locations in Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina and Virginia.
The workshop on March 26, 2010 is part of the Southern Virginia Bioenergy Conference. The cost of this event is free. Registration is required.
The workshop on April 1, 2010 is being hosted by Virginia Cooperative Extension, James Madison University, and Piedmont Biofuels.
All of the workshops will be conducted by Piedmont Biofuels Coop, one of the leading community-based biofuel producers in the country. (More information on Piedmont Biofuels at www.biofuels.coop.)
The workshops are three hours long and include an overview of small-scale biodiesel production, as well as an introduction to oilseed crushing machines and techniques. The Piedmont Biofuels mobile training lab includes a biodiesel reactor and a German-made Momfort Komet seed press. The organization has conducted dozens of workshops across the nation in recent years and is in high demand.
Rachel Burton of Piedmont Biofuels said, “We are so pleased to be coming to communities to meet farmers and anyone who is interested. We think every rural community can benefit from this type of hands-on training.”
The team will make enough biodiesel at each stop to fuel its own pick-up truck for the tour.
The 2010 Biofuel and Seed-Crushing Roadshow is coordinated by the Carolina Farm Stewardship Association, based in Pittsboro, NC. Funding is provided by the Risk Management Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, through a grant to the non-profit National Center for Appropriate Technology.
For general information about the tour, contact Fred Broadwell at Carolina Farm Stewardship Association at 919-542-2402 (office) or 919-943-1068 (cell). Site-specific contacts are below.
Roadshow dates and locations*
Virginia
March 26th
Southern Virginia Bioenergy Conference
Workshop Location: Institute for Advanced Learning and Research
150 Slayton Avenue
Danville, Virginia 24540
April 1st
Virginia Cooperative Extension, Shenandoah Valley
Workshop location: Montezuma Hall, Montezuma, VA
Workshop time: Starts at 10AM
Contact: To register for this event please contact the Rockingham County Extension Office at 540-564-3080
The registration fee is $10 and includes lunch.
ALABAMA
Wed. & Thurs. February 17, 18
At the 118th Annual Tuskegee Farmer’s Conference, Tuskegee, AL
Hosted by the Tuskegee Institute
Biofuels/seedcrushing workshops both days.
www.tuskegee.edu (click on “Outreach” for conference registration)
Contact: Barrett Vaughn (334)727-8527or (334) 552-1152
GEORGIA
Friday February 19
Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA
10:30 AM – 2 PM
Contact: Leon Porter, porterl@fvsu.edu, 478-987-2028, ext 245
Also Friday February 19
Koinonia Partners, Americus, GA
Call for time.
www.koinoniapartners.org
Contact: Sarah Prendergast, sarah@koinoniapartners.org, 877-738-1741
FLORIDA
Saturday February 20
Wildwood Farmers Market, Wildwood City Hall, Wildwood, FL
Hosted by UF/IFAS Sumter County Extension Service
9 AM to 12 noon
Contact: Susan Kelly, sakelly@ufl.edu, 352-793-2728
Monday February 21
Crescent Moon Organic Farm, Sopchoppy, FL
Hosted by Florida A&M University Statewide Small Farm Programs
1PM to 4:00PM
Contact: Jennifer Taylor, Jennifer.taylor@famu.edu, 850-412-5260
SOUTH CAROLINA
Tuesday February 22
Low Country Council of Government offices, Yemassee, SC
Hosted by Clemson University Cooperative Extension
1:30 to 4:30 PM
Contact: York Glover: yglover@exchange.clemson.edu, 843-812-2909
*Note: More dates are planned in March in Kentucky, Tennessee and Virginia.
February 19th, 2010 at 2:58 pm
We would like to thank Chris Jude, & his assistant for a job well done at Fort Valley State University. We have mentioned with Mr. Jude that we would like to extend an invitation for the Roadshow to return to Fort Valley State University on September 2nd, 2010 for our Agricultural Field Day.
Feel free to contact me at this email address, also Mr. Jude has my card & contact information. Your staff was very knowledgeable and caputured the interest of many of our students and faculty alike. Thanks, again.
I will be contacting you soon to determine what will be necessary to make Sept. 2nd happen.
Dr. A. Williams