Our latest ZimmPoll seems to have hit a nerve judging by the number of responses. We asked, “What is the cause of obesity?” Eighty six percent said Bad eating/exercise habits! Only 8% said Over processed food, 4% said Genetics, 2% said Fast food restaurants and no one chose Lack of food regulation. Eating really is a personal choice as well …
Soybean Checkoff Promotes Biodiesel and Bioheat
For the fourth year, the United Soybean Board (USB) through the soybean checkoff is joining with U.S. Department of Energy-affiliated Clean Cities to build demand for soy biodiesel and Bioheat® in major urban areas by providing some reimbursement incentive. The Clean Cities program is a government-industry partnership sponsored by DOE that has more than 90 local chapters across the United …
Cellulosic Ethanol Still Needs to Get Cheaper
A cost comparison study between corn based and cellulosic ethanol has found that corn is still the cheapest way to make the alternative fuel. The study, published in the international journal Biofuels, Bioproducts & Biorefining, concludes that “the production of ethanol from lignocellulose-rich materials such as wood residues, waste paper, used cardboard and straw cannot yet be achieved at the …
First Commercial Flight Made on Advanced Biofuel
The friendly skies of United Airlines are now friendlier for the environment as subsidiary Continental flew the first commercial flight on advanced biofuel yesterday. “United is taking a significant step forward to advance the use of environmentally responsible and cost-efficient alternative fuels,” said Pete McDonald, United’s executive vice president and chief operations officer. “Sustainable biofuels, produced on a large scale …
Biodiesel Industry Pleased with Supreme Court Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court will not hear a case brought by petroleum interests against the Environmental Protection Agency over the expanded Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2). The petition made by the National Petrochemical Refiners Association (NPRA) and the American Petroleum Institute (API) was rejected by the District Court of Appeals in December 2010. The petition filed in March 2010 claims that …
Europe Charges US With Unfair Ethanol Imports
The association which represents European ethanol producers is requesting that the European Commission take action “against unfair imports of fuel ethanol from the United States.” ePure claims that U.S. ethanol policy has encouraged production to the point that it can be sold at much lower prices on the world market. “Massive and sudden imports of US ethanol, combined with unfairly …
GROWMARK Watches Energy Markets
One of the benefits of membership in the GROWMARK cooperative system is daily information about the energy markets and recommendations on contracting fuel at different times of the year. Harry Cooney is manager of customer risk management for GROWMARK Energy and he is constantly keeping an eye on the energy complex, especially gasoline, propane and diesel fuel. He says the …
Nebraska Corn Completes Ethanol Co-Product Research Initiative
A three-year initiative by Nebraska corn growers to fund research into feeding the ethanol co-product distillers grains to cattle has resulted in some new breakthroughs. The initiative created a beef cattle advisory committee to work with University of Nebraska researchers to identify research projects that would benefit cattle producers and the Nebraska Corn Board then provided funding for the projects. …
Ethanol Industry Left Out of Hearing Again
The House Committee on Science, Space and Technology’s Subcommittee on Energy and Environment is holding a hearing today on “Conflicts and Unintended Consequences of Motor Fuel Standards” with a witness list that the ethanol industry claims is biased against biofuels. “This is the second time this year that this subcommittee has held a hearing on ethanol without bothering to include …
Positive View of New Free Trade Agreements
Our latest ZimmPoll didn’t excite too many people judging by the response. Thanks to all of you who did take the poll though. We asked the question, “How do you view the new free trade agreements for U.S. ag?” The majority view the agreements as Positive at 54%, while 28% view them as Negative and 18% as Neutral. I guess …