During a visit to a Massachusetts renewable energy company on Friday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack highlighted USDA’s continuing efforts to invest in research and development projects that will help reduce America’s reliance on foreign oil. Vilsack toured Agrivida, a company that is developing technologies to reduce the cost of converting biofuel feedstocks into sugar, focusing on sorghum, corn stover, and …
Record Corn Crop Forecast as Ethanol Exports Grow
Despite flooding of farm land and delayed planting in many areas, USDA is forecasting a record corn crop for this year. The World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate for May represents USDA’s initial assessment of U.S. and world crop supply and demand prospects. The report projects corn production for 2011/12 “at a record 13.5 billion bushels, up 1.1 billion from …
Biomass Grants Awarded By USDA and DOE
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced a total of $47 million to fund eight research and development projects that will support the production of biofuels, bioenergy and high-value biobased products from a variety of biomass sources. “The projects that we are announcing today will spur innovation in bioenergy by developing renewable resources that …
REG Says 2011 RVOs Can Be Met
This year is poised to be a great year for the biodiesel industry. The EPA upheld the Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) for this year and along with the return of the tax credit, the industry is busy getting back online and producing quality fuel. However, despite the RVO, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed to ensure …
May Deadline for Biomass Crop Assistance
May 27 is the deadline for proposals to be submitted under USDA’s Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP). The program, which is administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) provides incentives to eligible farmers, ranchers and forest landowners for the establishment and production of biomass crops for heat, power, bio-based products and biofuels. FSA Acting Administrator Val Dolcini announced the deadline …
USDA & EPA Tour REG Biodiesel Plant in Newton, IA
Renewable Energy Group (REG) executives hosted USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson as well as leaders from the ethanol industry at their REG Newton biorefinery to discuss the role of advanced biofuels in meeting the President’s energy independence goals. Also on hand for the event were representatives from Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE) and POET. Both …
BioProcess Algae Dedicates Grower Harvester Bioreactors
On Friday April 15, BioProcess Algae, dedicated its Grower Harvester bioreactors signaling the final phase of construction for its commercial scale algae biorefinery. On hand for the event in Shenandoah, Iowa, were USDA Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack along with Green Plains Renewable Energy (GRPE) CEO Todd Becker and Mary Rosenthal, the executive director of the Algal Biomass Association. After touring …
USDA Report Changes Ethanol Corn Use Term
USDA’s new supply and demand report makes a subtle, but significant, change in the way it reports corn use for ethanol, acknowledging for the first time the livestock feed produced as a by-product of ethanol. Instead of calling the usage category “ethanol for fuel” USDA has changed the wording to “ethanol & byproducts,” with a footnote reading “Corn used to …
USDA Announces Funding for Ethanol Blender Pumps
During a press briefing, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a USDA program will provide funding for installation of ethanol blender pumps to provide Americans with flexible fuel vehicle with more choices when they fill up. “This announcement is going to help expand the national biofuels industry and create jobs across the country,” said Vilsack. USDA is issuing a rule …
USDA Raises Corn Use for Ethanol
USDA’s latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate released this morning shows an increase in corn use for ethanol. U.S. corn ending stocks are unchanged this month as a projected increase in corn use for ethanol is offset by a reduction in expected feed and residual use. Corn used to produce ethanol is raised 50 million bushels as strong blender …