Ethanol industry leaders from Growth Energy took their story about the importance of biofuels and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to dozens of lawmakers and administration officials this week in Washington DC as part of the organization’s Advocacy Conference. On Tuesday, some 100 of them heard from Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack who repeating his support for the Renewable Fuels …
USDA Slightly Lowers Corn Crop
The September crop production forecast from the U.S. Department of Agriculture slightly lowers this year’s drought stricken corn crop to 10.7 billion bushels, with an average yield of 122.8 bushels per acre – the lowest since 1995. That would still be the eighth-largest corn crop in history, despite the worst drought conditions in more than 50 years. On the demand …
Ethanol Producers Support Farm Bill Now
A growing coalition of organizations is calling on Congress to pass a five-year, comprehensive farm bill before the current legislation expires on September 30. A rally today on Capitol Hill will feature representatives from many of the Farm Bill Now coalition groups, and many others will be there in support, including Growth Energy. CEO Tom Buis says members of Growth …
Iowa Teacher Gets Ethanol Rocks Boost
The National Corn Growers Association gave an Iowa teacher a bit of a lift in its Ethanol Rocks video contest, an effort to highlight corn ethanol in this country. Mediapolis High School ag instructor and FFA Advisor Alaina Holdgrafer picked up an NCGA backpack filled with goodies, including a Sony HandyCam and a lot of information about ethanol at the …
New Billboard Touts E15 to Iowa Motorists
A new billbord courtesy of the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association introduces E15 to motorists in in Marion, Iowa. This IRFA news release says the new billboard will go up at Linn Co-op Oil Company, the first EPA-approved retailer in Iowa to sell E15 for 2001 and newer vehicles, SUVs, and light-duty trucks. “We’re excited that we’re only a week away …
“Forever Young” Switchgrass for Cellulosic Ethanol
Scientists at the USDA might have found a way to keep switchgrass forever young and better for cellulosic ethanol. Agricultural Research Service (ARS) geneticist Sarah Hake, working with University of California-Berkeley plant geneticist George Chuck, found that taking a gene from corn called corngrass and inserting it into switchgrass keeps the grass always in a juvenile form that doesn’t flower, …
Renewable Energy Part of Obama Acceptance
Renewable energy was part of President Obama’s acceptance speech Thursday night as the Democratic nominee for 2012. “We have doubled our use of renewable energy, and thousands of Americans have jobs today building wind turbines and long-lasting batteries,” Obama said to applause. “In the last year alone, we cut oil imports by 1 million barrels a day, more than any …
Vilsack Talks Biofuels at DNC
Delegates gathered to nominate Pres. Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, NC heard from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who pointed to his boss’ commitment to biofuels and rural America. “President Obama has a detailed plan for a new rural economy,” Vilsack told the delegates. “More support for small businesses making, creating and innovating. More investment …
Ethanol Eliminates 100 Mil Tons of Green House Gases
A new report from an international group promoting biofuels says the forecasted amount of global ethanol production this year will eliminate green house gas (GHG) emissions of 100 million tons in 2012. The Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) has released its annual forecast and puts the amount equal to 20.2 million cars being taken off the road.. the total number …
Lallemand Acquires Yeast Co., Expands Ethanol Biz
Canadian company Lallemand, which researches, develops, produces, markets and distributes yeast and bacteria, has acquired Atlanta, Georgia-based North American Bioproducts Corporation (NABC), a provider of yeast and fermentation adjuncts as well as support and education services for the ethanol industry, to form a larger business to make ethanol. This new Business Unit, yet to be named, will be headquartered in …