Corn Planted Acres Down Four Percent

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Acres planted to corn are lower compared to last year while soybean acreage is a little higher, according to the Acreage report from USDA‘s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

USDA estimates 89.9 million acres of corn planted in the United States for 2022, down 4% from last year. Soybean area planted is estimated at 88.3 million acres, up 1% from last year. NASS surveyed approximately 9,100 segments of land and more than 64,000 farm operators during the first two weeks of June to gather information on what farmers actually planted.

NASS also released the quarterly Grain Stocks report to provide estimates of on-farm and off-farm stocks as of June 1. Corn stocks totaled 4.35 billion bushels, up 6% from the same time last year. On-farm corn stocks were up 22% from a year ago, but off-farm stocks were down 6%. Soybeans stored totaled 971 million bushels, up 26% from June 1, 2021. On-farm soybean stocks were up 51% from a year ago, while off-farm stocks were up 17%.

corn, Soybeans, USDA

Canada Finalizes Clean Fuel Regulations

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Final Clean Fuel Regulations were announced this week by the government of Canada and welcomed by the U.S. ethanol industry.

In combination with the Government of Canada’s $1.5 billion Clean Fuels Fund, the CFR will create incentives for the increased domestic production of low-carbon-intensity fuels (such as ethanol). This will create economic opportunities for biofuel feedstock providers, such as farmers and foresters. It will also help Canadian fuel producers to compete in the rapidly expanding global market for clean energy.

The Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the U.S. Grains Council welcomed the regulations, which are designed to reduce the lifecycle carbon intensity of fuel and energy used in Canada and achieve more than 20 million tons of annual reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and include an average of 15 percent ethanol (E15) in gasoline by 2030.

“We applaud Canada for finalizing its Clean Fuel Regulations and leading the globe in putting a plan in place to slash greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector through higher blends of biofuels,” the organizations said. “The Clean Fuel Regulations set Canada on a path toward better air quality, energy security, and carbon mitigation, all supported by rural communities, by setting the achievable goals of reducing more than 20 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions through a move to 15 percent ethanol in all gasoline by 2030. The Clean Fuel Regulations stand as testimony to the powerful impact biofuels can and will have for Canada’s transportation future.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Grains, Growth Energy, International, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, Trade

RFA Applauds Sheetz for Ethanol Education

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The Renewable Fuels Association thanks fuel retailer Sheetz for slashing prices on higher ethanol blends for a full week ahead of the Independence Day weekend and providing the opportunity for much needed ethanol education.

Sheetz is offering E15 for $3.99 per gallon and E85 for $3.49 at all of their 350-plus stations that sell the fuels, which cover multiple states. The national average price for regular gasoline yesterday was $4.87 per gallon, according to AAA. RFA also released a new Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document today, aimed at answering the most common consumer questions about E15 and dispelling prevalent myths about the fuel.

“At a time when American families are feeling unprecedented pain at the pump, we applaud Sheetz for this innovative effort to demonstrate and promote ethanol’s enormous cost-saving benefits,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “In recent months, ethanol has been selling for $1-1.50 per gallon less than gasoline at wholesale terminals where fuel is blended.”

Cooper also noted that the Sheetz promotion happens to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the first gallon of E15 being sold, at a retail station in Lawrence, Kansas. “Today, there are roughly 2,600 stations across the country selling E15 and more than 5,500 stations selling flex fuels like E85, with new stations being added on an almost daily basis,” said Cooper. “This Fourth of July, we encourage all Americans to declare their independence from dirty foreign oil by choosing homegrown, lower-cost ethanol blends like E15 and E85.”

E15, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Sheetz Offers Ethanol Blend Savings Through Holiday

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Pennsylvania-based restaurant and convenience chain Sheetz is making national news this week for selling higher ethanol blends at a discount for the Independence Day holiday weekend.

The chain announced Monday it was helping to reduce pain at the pump for consumers by reducing the price of fuel to $3.99 a gallon for Unleaded 88, or E15, and $3.49 a gallon for E85 through the July 4th holiday travel season and the story has gone nationwide. CEO Travis Sheetz has been on local TV stations and national news networks, explaining what Unleaded 88 and E85 are and what type of vehicles can use them.

The company operates over 640 store locations throughout Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio and North Carolina.

E15, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Retailers

Advanced Biofuels USA Announces Essay Contest

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Advanced Biofuels USA has announced a new essay competition on the question “How can Advanced Biofuels become a Transformative Source for US Transportation?”

“We think the young people of the world have some great ideas and we think all people, and especially decision makers, should know about them. That’s why we’re sponsoring an essay competition for all people on the planet under twenty-five years old,” said Joanne Ivancic, Executive Director of Advanced Biofuels USA.

The contest offers a $200 first place prize, $150 for second place and $100 for third. In addition, the three winning essays will be published on the Advanced Biofuels USA website. The only qualification for entry is that one must be under 25 years old by December 31, 2022. Deadline for submission is October 1, 2022.

Click for more information.

advanced biofuels, biofuels, biomass, Ethanol

Ethanol Industry Leads in Employing Veterans

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A new study from the Department of Energy (DOE) finds that the U.S. ethanol industry once again leads the nation in the share of military veterans in its workforce, with one in every six employees previously serving in the armed forces. The DOE report also shows that the concentration of union workers in the ethanol industry is higher than the national average.

“Veterans make up 16% of the corn ethanol workforce, a higher concentration of veterans than any other energy technology and higher concentration than the 6% national average,” according to the report, which was prepared by DOE’s Office of Policy, Office of Energy Jobs. Across all energy sectors, veterans account for 9% of the workforce.

Meanwhile, ethanol industry workers represented by a union or labor agreement make up 7% of the industry workforce, higher than the national workforce average of 6%. The ethanol industry’s union worker density is identical to that of the petroleum fuels sector, according to the report.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is proof of that finding, with two military veterans among the organization’s 15 staff members, Vice President of Industry Relations Robert White and President and CEO Geoff Cooper.

“The ethanol industry’s values and priorities align extremely well with those of our women and men in uniform, so it’s no surprise that one out of every six ethanol industry workers is a veteran,” said Cooper. “Military veterans know that they can continue to protect their fellow Americans and serve their country by producing a homegrown, cleaner, greener, and more affordable renewable fuel.”

Cooper also noted that the DOE report underscores that progress is being made toward the industry goals of greater diversity, equity, and inclusion. For example, females account for 30% of the ethanol industry workforce, well above the 25% average across all energy sectors, and workers with disabilities make up 4% of the ethanol industry workforce, double the average across all energy sectors.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Clean Fuels Production Growing to Help Diesel Prices

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U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel producers are working to extend fuel supplies and provide relief at the pump to American families, according to a letter from Clean Fuels Alliance America sent to President Joe Biden, administration officials, and congressional leaders this week.

“Our industry is investing billions to expand production of biodiesel, renewable diesel, and sustainable aviation fuel to further extend consumer access to clean fuels. Our partners in the agriculture industry are investing more than $4 billion to expand the supply of renewable oils for both food and clean fuels,” the letter states. “U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel producers are supplying more than 3.2 billion gallons of cleaner, better fuel to the U.S. market, meeting more than 5% of the nation’s demand for on-road heavy-duty fuels. These fuels are essential to keeping food and other consumer items moving across the country and are keeping diesel prices from rising even higher during the current shortage.”

The letter further highlights a recent study from the World Agricultural Economic and Environmental Service showing that U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel production generates a 4 percent decrease in the price of diesel fuel.

The letter also thanks the administration for recent actions to grow Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for advanced biofuels and biomass-based diesel and provide additional infrastructure grants to improve consumer access to biodiesel.

Biodiesel, biofuels, Clean Fuels Alliance, renewable diesel

Ethanol Report on Lower Food & Fuel Costs Act

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The U.S. House of Representatives on June 16, passed the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, which includes a variety of initiatives targeting cattle marketing, precision agriculture technology, fertilizer prices, and the supply chain, as well as biofuels infrastructure funding and year round access for E15.

In this edition of the Renewable Fuels Association Ethanol Report podcast, we take a look at the legislation and hear from its supporters, including Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), Cindy Axne (D-IA), Angie Craig (D-MN), and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Then we talk with RFA senior vice president of government and public affairs Troy Bredenkamp about the importance of the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act for the ethanol industry and what it’s chances are in the Senate.

Ethanol Report 6-23-22 (18:01)

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA

Ride On Ethanol Biker

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We were saddened to hear about the passing of Doug Brandmahl, a general contractor from Virginia who became an annual ethanol promoter after a chance meeting in 2009.

Brandmahl was an avid motorcyclist who enjoyed attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and was on his way there in August of 2009 when he met Robert White with the Renewable Fuels Association, who was also on his way to the rally to promote ethanol to motorcycle enthusiasts. After learning about ethanol for the first time, Brandmahl offered to help White with the promotion and a lifelong friendship began.

Here are a couple of interviews with Doug as part of the RFA team at Sturgis, in 2011 and 2018.
2011 Doug Brandmahl Interview

Interview with RFA volunteer Doug Brandmahl 2018
Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, Sturgis

NCGA Podcast Busts Ethanol Myths

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Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper joined National Corn Growers Association CEO Jon Doggett on his most recent podcast episode to help knock down some common misconceptions about ethanol.

Not surprisingly, they are the same myths the industry has been fighting for decades – ethanol is bad for small engines, bad for the environment, costs too much energy to produce, food versus fuel, etc. Cooper and Doggett are both veteran ethanol mythbusters, so it’s an enjoyable conversation.

Listen here to the latest episode of Wherever Jon May Roam.

corn, Ethanol, NCGA, Podcasting