LANE, Okla. -- Scores of peanut farmers parked their equipment several years ago as federal subsidies went away, but researchers are developing ways to bring peanut farming back to the area.

These peanuts may look more suited for a baseball game or a sandwich than the fuel of the future.

"We're not talking about peanut butter anymore, we're talking about biofuels. So the option becomes, we're talking about something for the gas tank opposed to something for the stomach," said researcher Vince Russo.

Researchers at the South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory are testing the best way to grow peanuts. The high oil version of the nuts are great for biodiesel, a crop with a lot of history in Texoma.

"I've raised peanuts ever since I was old enough to get on a tractor and drive it. I was a sophomore in high school was when I put my first 22 acres of peanuts in, worked my way through college planting peanuts, did all the way until 2000," said Tim Abney, a lifelong peanut farmer.

Abney works as a technician at the Lane Research Center. He, his father, and his grandfather were peanut farmers until the federal subsidies went away in 1999. He says, with the right market price, peanuts could make a comeback.

"Most people have probably gotten rid of their old equipment but it probably wouldn't take to much to get back in the business," said Abney.

Old peanut drying facilities are all but rusted memories all across Texoma. But researchers say with the right crops and processing plant, structures like these could be brought back to life.

"If biolfuel peanuts become important again, you don't have to worry about subsidies because it will be an unsubsidized crop controlled by the market. and the way the market is going that could be very beneficial."

The Center is also planting sorghum, milo, and sugar cane to be used as ethanol, a diversity of crops to drive dependence off foreign oil.