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So you want to use biodiesel in the equipment on your farm but aren’t sure about the modifications that may need to be made to your machinery to make it compatible. Worry no more, according to an official with the National Biodiesel Board.

Blends of up to 20 percent biodiesel and 80 percent diesel require no modification whatsoever, according to Jenna Higgins, director of communications for the National Biodiesel Board, which has its headquarters in Jefferson City, Mo.

And even with 100 percent biodiesel, the alterations are "minimal," Higgins said.

"Biodiesel" describes fuel that contains no petroleum and is derived from organic materials, like soybeans. It can be mixed with petroleum-based diesel to create a blend that burns cleaner and emits fewer pollutants than 100 percent petroleum diesel fuel, according to information from the National Biodiesel Board.

Biodiesel is registered as a fuel and fuel additive with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Higgins said, and, despite rumors to the contrary, use of biodiesel in existing diesel engines does not void parts and materials workmanship warranties of any major U.S. engine manufacturer.

Biodiesel is a bit more expensive than petroleum diesel, Higgins said. The cost difference amounts to about a penny a gallon more per percentage of biodiesel blended. So B2, or 2 percent biodiesel blend, would cost about two cents more per gallon. But the benefits far outweigh the added costs, Higgins said.

Biodiesel increases the "lubricity" of petroleum diesel. "Lubricity is a characteristic of fuel that is extremely important to the engine," she said, adding that a fuel with higher lubricity "reduces the wear and tear on an engine and ultimately prolongs the life of that engine."

And the environmental benefits are significant, she said, "significantly reducing emissions that contribute to ‘global warming."’

Biodiesel currently is available for retail sale at only three stations in Ohio, according to information from the National Biodiesel Board Web site – Harvest Land Co-op in Greenville, Fuel Depot in Delaware, and World Energy in Heath. But 11 fuel distributors in the state have it available. Higgins suggested farmers contact their local stations or distributors about offering biodiesel for sale at their retail pumps.

"We really encourage all farmers to start buying biodiesel," Higgins said. "We would love to see more Ohio soybean farmers using biodiesel in their farm equipment. Farmers have already invested millions of dollars through the soybean check-off program. If they would just invest a little more in their own use of the product, they could do a lot to advance its use."

For more information about biodiesel, visit the National Biodiesel Board’s Web site through www.ofbf.org and click on featured links.

Photo courtesy of United Soybean Board/Soybean Checkoff