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 …
Four Ethanol Safety Webinars Scheduled
Four free ethanol safety webinars are scheduled this year for ethanol emergency response teams and the first is being held tomorrow, February 7. The Renewable Fuels Association and TRANSCAER® are hosting the “Train the Trainer” webinars, funded through a Federal Railroad Administration / TRANSCAER® grant. RFA is a founding member of the Ethanol Emergency Response Coalition (EERC) and this program …
Lower Corn Prices Encouraging Ethanol Production
University of Illinois agricultural economist Gary Schnitkey gave an update on the farm economy at the Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau annual meeting last week, and the news overall was bleak. “We’re seeing deteriorating financial conditions on many farms and we’re likely to continue to see that as long as we have corn prices below four dollars a bushel,” said …
PERC Launches Autogas Newsletter
The Propane Education & Research Council (PERC) is launching a new quarterly e-newsletter this month for transportation professionals interested in propane autogas. “We know how busy transportation professionals are every day, so we’re going to take only the most important must-have news and information, and package it in an easy-to-consume format every quarter,” said Michael Taylor, director of autogas business …