Record high production of ethanol and biodiesel in 2016 continued to power the rural Iowa economy engine despite another challenging year, according to the latest economic impact study commissioned by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). “The environment facing Iowa’s biodiesel industry was more favorable than that experienced by ethanol producers,” said study author John Urbanchuk, ABF Economics. “Both the …
Growth Energy Honors Vilsack
Growth Energy awarded former Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack the America’s Fuel Award, which is presented each year to an individual who has “gone above and beyond the call of duty to act as a champion for the renewable fuels industry.” “We are thrilled to recognize Secretary Vilsack with the America’s Fuel Award for his remarkable commitment to the nation’s …
NCGA #Ethanol Action Team Discusses Demand
Members of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) Ethanol Action Team (ETHAT) were recently in Savannah, Georgia to talk about expanding demand for corn ethanol. The agenda covered topics ranging from fuel dispenser infrastructure to sports marketing sponsorships, according to ETHAT Chair Paul Jeschke, who noted that there is a lot of excitement over the Trump administration’s stated support for …
USDA Sees Increased Corn Use for Ethanol
USDA’s February World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) report shows an increase in corn use for ethanol this marketing year. This month’s 2016/17 U.S. corn outlook is for increased food, seed and industrial (FSI) use and reduced stocks. Corn used to produce ethanol is raised 25 million bushels to 5,350 million based on the most recent data from the …
#Ethanol Report on Export Picture
Ethanol exports are in the news this week. First we heard about record net ethanol exports for 2016 in a new report from the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), followed quickly by an industry letter to President Trump drawing attention to China’s trade barriers that are shutting out U.S. exports of ethanol and distillers feed co-products. In this Ethanol Report, RFA …
Trump Urged to Address China #Ethanol Trade Barriers
Ethanol and grain trade organizations are urging President Donald Trump to put America first and address “China’s recent implementation of protectionist trade barriers that are shutting out U.S. exports of ethanol and distillers dried grains (DDGS).” The U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy sent a letter to the president this week calling his attention to …
#Ethanol Exports Top One Billion Gallons in 2016
Net U.S. ethanol exports topped a billion gallons last year to set a new record, according to a summary of 2016 ethanol trade just published by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). Net ethanol exports totaled 1.01 billion gallons in 2016, while gross U.S. ethanol exports totaled 1.05 billion gallons, second only to 2011’s record of 1.19 billion gallons. U.S. ethanol …
NBB Names New Chief Operating Officer
The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has promoted Doug Whitehead to Chief Operating Officer, after 10 years in various roles with the organization, most recently as the Director of Operations and Membership. “Doug has admirably served the biodiesel industry in his various roles at NBB over the years and his experience and expertise in operations, membership, strategic thinking, and management uniquely …
Former White House Spokesman to Speak at #RFANEC
Former White House press secretary Ari Fleischer will provide a heaping helping of political analysis for lunch at the 22nd annual National Ethanol Conference, Feb. 20–22 in San Diego. From 2001 to 2003, Fleischer was the primary spokesperson for President George W. Bush. He previously served as the Bush campaign spokesman in 1999 and 2000. In his almost four years …
Confirmations Continue to Crawl Along
Confirmation hearings for Trump administration cabinet members have been moving slowly, so it may be toward the end of February before Sonny Perdue is confirmed as Secretary of Agriculture, but he has been meeting with lawmakers in the meantime. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE) “had a good conversation” with the former governor of Georgia last week where they discussed “regional differences …