As Hereford Council starts using biofuels in its vehicles, ADAS Rosemaund is investigating ways farmers can maximise crops for biofuel production.

A new special bunded diesel storage tank has been installed at Queenswood Country Park.

The tank will allow the service's vehicles and equipment to run on a special 30% bio-blend diesel which will be supplied by Longma Biofuels, of Rotherwas.

The 30% recycled cooking oil is mixed with 70% standard mineral diesel to provide a fuel that is eco-friendly but still compatible with all the different vehicles which are used on and off-site.

"Whereas current sources of biofuels in Herefordshire use recycled oils, future develop is likely to come from the production of biofuel crops," says ADAS researcher Roger Sylvester-Bradley.

Already, petrol and diesel from UK pumps has a small imported biofuel component and UK biofuels production is expected to come on-stream in 2008 or 2009, so UK farmers must start growing biofuels crops. This new market is expected to raise grain prices - indeed it may already be doing so - and raise the technical challenges to both Herefordshire and UK farmers.

The ADAS open day on June 5 will highlight research being carried out with the HGCA to identify appropriate varieties, fertiliser strategies, grain quality specifications and accreditation schemes for biofuel crops.

Jonathan Blake, who is masterminding the ADAS Rosemaund open day, emphasises that management of crops for breadmaking and livestock feeding is not being forgotten.

"It is as important as ever to improve cropping efficiency for all markets and there will be plenty of new ideas to discuss with specialists."

The open day will focus on providing the latest advice on crop production for fuels, as well as established markets. For details, call 01954 268200, email crops@adas.co.uk or visit www.adas.co.uk/crops