Willamette Valley agriculturalists need rotation crops, especially on soils that have few alternatives. The well-publicized conflict over canola is one manifestation of this unmet need for crops that diversify cropping enterprises. Sinapis alba, known by the common names yellow or white mustard, is a potential oilseed feedstock crop that will not cross with Brassica spp. [...]
Posts Tagged ‘Energy’
Sinapis alba: A potenial oilseed rotation crop for the Willamette Valley
Tuesday, May 28th, 2013Camelina: Seed yield response to applied nitrogen and sulfur
Thursday, April 4th, 2013Here’s a new article on nitrogen and sulfur nutrient management in camelina that has been published in Field Crops Research. Camelina is a Brassica family oil seed crop that has demonstrated potential for production in the Pacific Northwest. This work was led by Don Wysocki, OSU Extension Specialist located at Pendleton Oregon. The study shows [...]
Limited canola production to be allowed in the Willamette Valley
Wednesday, August 8th, 2012Thomas G. Chastain A resolution to the long-disputed prohibition of canola production in the Willamette Valley is near with the announcement that a temporary rule is set to go in effect on August 10th. The Oregon Department of Agriculture has determined that canola production will be allowed in specified portions of the Willamette Valley. A [...]
Energy use and efficiency in grass seed crops discussed at OSU’s Hyslop farm field day
Thursday, May 31st, 2012My presentation was on our 3-year field study on energy use and efficiency in perennial ryegrass and tall fescue seed crops. Results from the study have been used to create a life-cycle energy budget for these grass seed crops. Here’s my handout from Hyslop Farm Field Day with more information about the topic: Energy Use [...]
Grass seed, oil, and fertilizer: Is the price right?
Wednesday, January 18th, 2012Thomas G. Chastain Growing a grass seed crop is all about making the best possible solar energy harvesting system at the lowest cost. However, the direct and indirect costs of energy in the forms of fuel and fertilizer can make achieving this goal a challenge for grass seed producers.
Energy use and efficiency in perennial ryegrass topic of field day presentation
Tuesday, May 24th, 2011The efficiency of energy use by US farmers has increased dramatically as the energy use per unit of farm output has declined about 44% since the late 1940s. Despite these gains, there is increasing scrutiny regarding the amount and the cost of energy used in agricultural production. Since the prospect for higher energy prices and [...]