Local farmers introduced to guar gum

CMI staff writer

kbaird@cnjonline

Area farmers were introduced Wednesday to a desert crop that is in high demand because of its use in the hydraulic fracturing process.

link Kevin Baird: CMI staff photo

Wheat farmer Doug Gibbs of Clovis smells the guar plant during the New Mexico State University annual field day at the NMSU agricultural science center at Clovis. There is a high demand for guar because guar gum is used in the hydraulic fracturing process.

“The U.S. spent $1 billion importing guar gum from India in 2011,” crop scientist Dick Auld of Texas Tech University said. “Guar is indigenously adapted to a desert like this.”

Auld was one of seven scientists who gave presentations on crop research being conducted during New Mexico State University’s annual field day at the NMSU Agricultural Science Center at Clovis.

According to Halliburton’s website (an oil company that spent $800,000 at Texas Tech on guar research), fracking is a process of pumping a sand-water mixture deep into a well and into subsurface shale rock layers. The sand-water mixture opens up fissures in the shale that release trapped natural gasses into the well bore.

Auld said the guar gum, which is derived from guar seeds, is an additive in the sand-water mixture used in fracking that keeps the fissures open by soaking up moisture, and expanding. Auld said the guar gum is impervious to petroleum and will not break down during the fracking process.

Sen. Pat Woods, R-Curry County, a farmer in Broadview, said it is a positive opportunity “anytime we can talk about drought resistant crops that we can use in a minimal irrigation situation. Guar — that was quite a crop.”

Guar has plenty of other uses, scientists said.

Crop scientist Kulbushan Grover of NMSU said, “guar is hindi for cow feed.” Grover added that the fresh greens of the guar plant are also a popular vegetable for human consumption in India. He said guar can also be used as forage for livestock.

He added disease and insects are a minor issue with the guar plant.

NMSU PhD candidate Sukhbir Singh discussed another crop that grows well in this climate. Singh said safflower is in the same family as the sunflower and its roots grow eight to 10 feet below the surface.

link Kevin Baird: CMI staff photo

Crop scientist Sangu Angandi, left, shows guar seeds to an audience of farmers, while guar research scientist Dick Auld holds a coffee grinder to make a point that extracting guar gum is a simple process and can be done from home.

According to Singh the oil derived from safflower seeds can be used for a high quality cooking oil and salad oils. Singh said safflower oil is healthy and contains oleic and linoleic fatty acids, which can reduce cholesterol. He said what is left of the seeds after extracting the oil can be used as a high protein cattle feed.

Dryland farmer John Fury of Broadview said farmers cannot risk experimenting with crops, so the research at the science center is very important.

“The field day provides us with different alternatives from what we’ve been growing, and it encourages us to think outside the box,” Fury said.