I am looking for land to lease for NEW crop in Australia to produce Biodiesel.
Looking for around 4/5000 acres

Hi
Can you tell me what is the NEW crop please mate, I may be in a position to help
How much water does it need? How long do you want the land for?
Cheers
Chris

Hi Chris,
The crop is Jatropha /a oil producing bush or small tree .
Rainfall requirements are minimul around 7/8 inches /yr -prefers summer rainfall
I am perhaps looking for only a small area this year (2006) for a trial ,but with the option to lease a larger area .
I would prefer waste land if possible ,as good cropping land is much better to be kept in normal crops --this crop will grow on marginal lands ,not used for other purposes .
If successful in Aust ,the trees last 30/50 tears and should start to produce a worthwhile crop after 3/4 years

Regards

Calvin Muller

Cool Stuff,
At least someone in Aus is giving Jatropha a go.Please have a read of the Jatropha thread in here.As there is a lot of controversy in Australia regarding it.
Also before you go about selecting the variety do a well researched study.There are about 931 ientified varieties identified.And about 60 species being cloned as we speak.
If you need any help re selection and stuff give me a shout.
Also have a look at Chinese Tallow.Chris has done a detailed posting on the same.
But mate it's great to see someone willing to give Jatropha a go.Which state are you in as in 2 states it has been declared as a noxious weed by our govt. .Without off cource much qualified information for the public.In fact Mr.X has called it the Internet Plant
Must admire the guys ways of disemminating knowledge to the public.

Anyways please feel free to give me a shout anytime if you want to know more about jatropha and the multi compound extracts and compounds that the Plant produces.

Cheers
Sauman
P.S.:Have a yarn with Chris.He will also throw some light regarding plant selection.

Hello Calvin
Mate where are you on this? this IS A DECLARED weed in this country Unless you have spoken to the department and there is a change of law in the last few weeks I would strongly suggest you check your facts before you go anywhere with this one
Sorry about that, I do not want to enter into any lengthy to and fro on the merits of Jatropha either
That is the Law of the land as it stands
Cheers
Chris

Hi man
I am out on the cold on this one Sauman My mate just got a huge fine as well as a three year good behaviour bond ( he was in contempt of court as he voiced his view of the situation rather strongly ) over serrated tussock another nasty weed
Worst of all it spread from the next door property which is owned by some Gov authority
But he coped it really bad Three court appearances $8 K in cost's as well as a fine and a bond Plus a very expensive clean up excersise of the weeds Not a good thing
Cheers
Chris

Chris
You are right mate.
Keep out of there way.Thanks for the advise mate.I get carried away at times
Keep smiling and shining
Cheers
Sauman.

New imformation on Jatropha >
There are 163 varities of Jatropha species
According to reply from AQIS ,there are only 6 of these varieties quatantine from being imported into Aust .
We are sourcing a NON quantined variety of seeds from India ,and I am sure questioning the likely hood of whether the plants could spread like weeds .I ,for one ,being a farmer ,would certainly not be interested in importing anything like weeds
Will keep you updated
Calvin Muller

Good work Calvin, glad to hear that the strain you need is not one of the quarantined varieties. I'd be very interested to see more info on this topic and I would like to get some real info available for other farmers and the biodiesel community in general about growing Jatropha in Oz.

Which variety were you looking at planting here that IS allowed?

Am I right in thinking that there is still some concern that even if you planted this non-quarantined variety, there is still concern that it will spread like a weed?

(I may move this subject to a new thread once we get some more definitive info on it.)

__________________
Robert Fyvie
Site Admin
Sydney Biodiesel Users' Group and Australian Biofuel Users


......................................................
2007 Mazda 6 Diesel ..................................2000 Peugeot 306..........................2001 Landrover (retired)
2L Turbo charged (Common Rail) ...................XTdt 1.9L Turbo ............................Freelander TD4 (Common Rail)
on B100.................................................. ...on B100.......................................on B100

Calvin,
Great Stuff.I had given the Jatropha thing to be a dead issue in Oz.
We need to talk.
I will be in Oz soon...hopefully.
Been involved in the Jatropha Revolution in India for last 14 months.
If not all strands are declared a Noxious weed then it is a bummer.We can really win on this one.In fact there are actually 931 varities identified so far.Few cloned varities and lot of work happening here in India.
We have a pilot plantation that is bearing upto 45% oil.
But again expelling and seed prep is the key.
Like de cortication,stage wise expelling ,preferably 4 stage expelling so that final oil content in cake is reduced to about 7~7.5%.

Mate would love talk about it.have you got skype?

Cheers
Sauman