BIODIESEL

FS/GROWMARK and Illinois Soybean Association Announce Increased Availability of Biodisesel Fuel

BLOOMINGTON, ILL. – Biodiesel fuel is widely available for the first time in a retail setting in Illinois. FS/GROWMARK and the Illinois Soybean Association announced that the cooperative would serve as the first major retail outlet for biodiesel in Illinois at a press conference January 29 in Bloomington, Ill.

Biodiesel, made from soybean oil, is quickly becoming the diesel fuel of choice for farm operations. In response to the increased demand for this environmentally friendly fuel, FS cooperatives throughout Illinois are now offering on-farm delivery of biodiesel in blends from two to 20 percent.

Although focused on sales to farmers, FS also offers biodiesel to consumers, businesses and other fuel purchasers. The Lincolnshire, Ill. Park District has been using the fuel in their maintenance vehicles for several months.

“FS cooperatives realized that as farmers learn more about the benefits of using soy-based biodiesel, they would need to be able to supply the fuel,” said Brad Glenn, president of the Illinois Soybean Association. "Now that FS is selling biodiesel in my area, I’ll be dedicating all my diesel fuel purchases to biodiesel and will be running it in my combines and tractors."

In a blend of two percent soybean oil and 98 percent petroleum, biodiesel fuel generally sells for two cents more than petroleum diesel. Blends of up to 20 percent are available, with the price dependent on the price of soybean oil, but often run one cent more for every one percent increase in biodiesel.

Farmers are also learning about the mechanical benefits of biodiesel. After extensive testing, biodiesel has been shown to increase lubricity by up to 65 percent over petroleum diesel in as little as a one percent blend. Machinery can run on blends of up to 20 percent with no significant engine modifications.

The use of biodiesel in conventional diesel engines does not void engine warranties. John Deere recently modified its formal warranty statement to affirm the company’s endorsement of the use of low-blend biodiesel fuels in their equipment. The company cited biodiesel’s safety and superior lubricity.

The Illinois soybean checkoff has been instrumental in developing the demand for biodiesel. Through farmers’ checkoff contributions over the last ten years, Illinois farmers have invested more than $2 million in research to confirm the benefits of biodiesel. Last year, the Illinois Soybean Association was also instrumental in securing approval of an EPA requirement to reduce diesel fuel sulfur levels from 500 parts per million (ppm) to 15 ppm by 2006. Biodiesel, which is naturally low in sulfur, is currently the only fuel that will be able to meet this standard.

For more information:
Contact: Gail Miller, GROWMARK (309) 557 6184
or Theresa Miller, Illinois Soybean Association (309) 663 7692