In what might be considered a bit counter-intuitive, U.S. soybean acres planted have dropped to the lowest level in 12 years… despite increased interests in biodiesel… a product that often uses soy oil as its feedstock. This story posted on Forbes.com says the culprit is more farmers switching to corn to make the even more popular ethanol: The USDA reported …
E85 Amendment Passes Committee
A congressional committee has added an amendment to the Energy Bill that would require U.S. Government gas pumps to offer E85 ethanol. This release from the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition says Michigan Democrat Representative Bart Stupak’s measure would direct federal agencies to install pumps for renewable fuels like E85 at their fleet fueling centers: “I was pleased the Committee accepted …
US FEW Report
US Farm Report was on location this week at the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop in St. Louis. Agribusiness Director Al Pell taped a segment of the weekly show on the trade show floor. His guests were ICM, Inc. president Dave Vander Griend, National Corn Growers Association chairman Gerald Tumbleson, and BBI International CEO Mike Bryan. The segment will be part …
FEW Award for POET
The chief science officer for POET received the 2007 Award of Excellence at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop this week. Steve Lewis accepted the award during Wednesday’s general session. The award was established in 2000 to recognize individuals who have made significant contributions to the fuel ethanol industry through their research, technical advisory and/or development activities. Lewis has 22 years of …
Growing Corn Acres
The latest report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service shows that acreage planted to corn this year is now estimated at 92.9 million acres, up 19 percent from 2006 and 14 percent higher than 2005. Farmers increased corn plantings 3 percent from their March intentions, resulting in the highest planted area since 1944 when 95.5 million acres were planted for …
Speaker Declares “Energy Independence Day”
Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives have rolled out an energy plan during what they tout as America’s “Energy Independence Day.” The Houston Chronicle reports Speaker Nancy Pelosi outlined a broad array of “green energy” proposals her party hopes to get through Congress before leaving for the August recess: “When it comes to energy, we must think big,” Pelosi …
Plan for First Ethanol Plant on Great Lakes a Go
The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority in Ohio has given the green light to the proposed construction of an ethanol plant… the first with direct access to the Great Lakes. This story from the Toledo (OH) Free Press reports the plant is to be built on a site on the Maumee River: “We are very pleased that the Port Authority feels …
Nation’s First Closed-loop Ethanol Facility Plant Opens
The nation’s first closed-loop ethanol facility has opened near Mead, Nebraska. Closed-loop means it has a cattle feedlot attached with an ethanol plant. The E3 BioFuels Genesis Plant uses the manure from feedlot’s 28,000 cattle manure and some cellulosic biomass to make a biogas in an anaerobic digester. That biogas powers the ethanol plant, and the ethanol by-product, distillers grain, …
Making Biofuels More Accessible in Tennessee
Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen wants drivers to be able to find ethanol and biodiesel to fill their tanks. This story on the WKRN-TV web site says stickers at the gas pumps pushing the state’s new BioTenn plan, promoting E85 ethanol and biodiesel, should be popping up in about a month or so: “What I’m trying to do is get Tennessee …
EPA at FEW
The administrator for Region 7 of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told participants at the 2007 Fuel Ethanol Workshop in St. Louis this week that the partnership between EPA and agriculture is helping to find solutions to environmental challenges. “We’ve had a major role in dealing with one of America’s top priorities – reducing dependency on foreign oil,” said John …