We have been very lucky and truly blessed with several facilities who are more like partners than customers -- these folks have helped put together the first off take agreements for oil in the state of Florida.
Knowing who you are selling the crops to and for how much, is the basis of a farming formula that has been in place since the time of the pilgrims in this country. In addition, a comfort level had to be achieved within the farming community before the planted acreage of these important crops could increase to its current level and beyond.
Our biomass chips, cubes and pellets made from harvested wood (usually dead citrus) and kenaf are sold to local biomass conversion facilities and waste to fuel conversion facilities. These are established markets and there is a high demand for all biomass at these facilities.
Feedstock oil from camelina sells to several different types of end users within the biofuel industry. Local biodiesel facilities will purchase the oil in bulk, or enter into long term off take agreements with the farmers. Large farms can be safely invested in and planted in fields proximate to these local facilities, which are receptive and willing to work with new farmers.
We are prepared to share detailed financial models and all our buyer relationships with new farmers, in order to educate them and help reduce their risk. This is another reason that the Marketing Cooperative we have formed for new farms has been so well received and utilized by landowners and facilities alike. |
