News Release

Native Seedsters, Inc. Announces USDA/SBIR Phase II Award to confirm Commercial Feasibility of Seedster Technology to Harvest Inter-seeded Camelina.

Billings, MT March 2011 Native Seedsters, Inc (NSI) announced a Phase II USDA Small Business Innovation and Research (SBIR) grant to apply Seedster technology to harvest inter-cropped camelina. There is interest among growers and researchers in growing camelina as a cash cover crop in vineyards, some nut orchards and other perennial crops. Camelina is an oilseed with oils rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and is an efficient biofuel source. The by-product of crushing camelina for oil is a high protein meal also rich in Omega 3-fatty acid oil for livestock feed.  

Inter-seeded crops require a narrow harvester.  Normal combines are too wide for inter-seeded crops, and plot combines cost twice the projected cost of a camelina Seedster. Phase I SBIR testing confirmed the technical feasibility of using Seedster technology to harvest camelina.   Native Seedsters, Inc produces a Small Plot and harvester, dubbed the "SP" model that has a chassis that fits between vineyards and orchard rows.  The Seedster header can be raised and seed dumped quickly at the end of a row.  NSI established Phase II objectives of 95% seed recovery, 1-2% impurities in the harvested sample, no damage to seed, and ground speed of 3 mph.

Following development of a line of harvesters for native grass seed and a stem scalper attachment for switchgrass, NSI is excited to extend its unique technology to specialty crops.

For additional information using Seedster Technology on inter-seeded camelina, contact Lee or Maggie Arbuckle at info@nativeseedsters.net or visit www.nativeseedsters.com.

ABOUT Native Seedsters, Inc.  Native Seedsters, Inc. is a harvest technology firm that designs, manufactures and markets the Arbuckle Native Seedster (the Seedster).  Four models of the Seedster FH are offered.  With the support of USDA grants the Seedster was developed to harvest the seed of those native grasses that are particularly difficult to harvest, such as switchgrass, green needlegrass, needleandthread, big bluestem, miscanthus, indiangrass and little bluestem.  Harvesters are being developed to harvest seed of wildflowers, camelina, and specialty crops.  Native Seedsters serves a nationwide market from its base in Billings, MT.