BioDieselNow - Renewable biodiesel fuel

Are there any feedstock producers for biodiesel in west Texas / North Texas out there? Me and some friends who are interested in growing rapeseed / jatropha or other high yeilds are trying to form a co-op in order to help promote the industry. Were new to this so any suggestions you have would help also. We have some small parcells of land south of Dallas and are looking at buying some more land in West Texas area. If your out there please let me know. Any and ALL cooments help.

 "Strength in numbers."

Hello splitm -

I am not a farmer nor am I from Texas. I am the owner of FillmoreFuels.com and passionate about bio-diesel and increasing the marketplace. It is always encouraging to see others getting involved and looking for knowledge.

I am curious if you have looked into using Chinese tallow?

Wikepedia of Chinese tallow: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_tallow_tree.

"The Chinese tallow tree (sapium sebiferum) seeds produced contain approximately 40% - 45% extractable material. The oil yield per acre is 10 times higher than soy bean oil."

There are some difficulties that would need to be overcome and some cautions with cultivation such as is stated in this article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2002/02/020225084502.htm As this article points out, it is not hard to grow, but hard to contain. Chinese tallow can produce high amounts of oil per acre.  

 hello'

we are cultivator of jatropha in india and now going to start in texas the same cultivation of jatropha

we want to buy some cheap land for start the same you may join if you want  

Sorry its been a while.  I have been putting #'s on paper about Sunflowers here in Texas. They grow just about everywhere and with that I would assume there a very sustainable crop for Texas.

I have not really looked more into the jatropha but will certainly do.

you should have green houses for the jatropha curcas. unless you've grafted up a strain that is cold resistant. once it hits 40 degrees for an extended period, say 8 hours or so. its bye bye jatropha.

...and by bye jatropha aint good mom, aint good.

Thanks ccheck. Were humid up here but not as tropical as you guys are down there. I'll probably have to stick with the ideas of crops that are normally grown in these areas. Soybeans are high yeild and sunflowers still have a place in my heart being that they are drought tolerant and a hearty little plant.

I have the land , tractor . I am looking at planters right now and have found some of craigslist. I would like to do a "NO TILL" planting. These typex of course are more expensive and the cost of a normal planter / drill and the cost of a used disk is still much cheaper that the cost of a used "not till" planter.

I am running into problems with harvesting ideas. For example the sunflowers have to have a "sunflower harvesting head" on a combine. Combines are expensive even small used ones. Does anybody know if there is an implement company that makes a pull behind type of harvester for a 3 pt hitch on a tractor ?