2012 Annual Report 1a.Objectives (from AD-416): Determine the chemical composition of soybeans in rotation with pennycress. 1b.Approach (from AD-416): Pennycress will be grown post corn harvest at Western Illinois University and grown over winter. In late May, pennycress will be harvested and soybeans grown to full maturity and harvested. A control of soybeans planted both at optimum date and post pennycress harvest date will also be grown and harvested at the same time as the pennycress rotation study. Soybean samples will then be brought to the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR) and analyzed for their chemical composition: oil, protein, moisture, and fatty acid profiles. NCAUR will utilize near infrared and gas chromatographic fatty acid methyl ester methods to conduct the chemical composition analysis. 3.Progress Report: All of the known pennycress accessions were grown on the same field plot under the same environmental, nutrient, and water treatments under this agreement. Harvest of these variety trial blocks provided seed for chemical analysis. ARS scientists in the Bio-Oils Research Unit, USDA-ARS National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research (NCAUR), Peoria, IL, provided chemical analysis for 200 samples. Total oil content by pulsed nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), fatty acid distribution by gas chromatography, as well as methyl ester and moisture content by gravimetric analysis were determined. In addition, representative samples are being evaluated for total nitrogen content by combustion analysis. Soybean production post-harvest is now being evaluated where seed yield and chemical profiling will be conducted post-harvest this fall.