ICM, Inc. has completed full-scale commercial installations of its new Selective Milling Technology™ (SMT) at four ethanol plants. The plants that have installed the technology are LifeLine Foods LLC, Kansas Ethanol LLC, Green Plains Shenandoah, LLC and Lincolnland Agri-Energy LLC. Formerly known as Fine Grind Technology, ICM is unveiling its new product name of Selective Milling Technology™, because it more …
Vote to Cut Military Biofuels Disappoints Ag Secretary
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack is “disappointed” in recent Congressional action that would cut the use of biofuels by the military. “We are extremely disappointed in that vote because I think it fails to recognize and appreciate the enormous potential of this industry to revitalize the rural economy,” said Vilsack during a conference call today when asked specifically about a …
SLIP Plate Offers Wide Range of Products
A 95-year-old graphite company is reaching out to let more industries know about the advantages of their dry film lubricants. SLIP Plate is a Superior Graphite product that was developed in 1975 for the railroad industry as a natural lubricant that would stand up to weather and other environmental conditions. The dry film coating was not affected by temperature extremes, …
Novozymes Nebraska Enzyme Plant Opens
Advanced biofuels took a $200 million step forward on the march toward commercialization Wednesday with the official opening of Novozymes’ enzyme plant in Blair, Nebraska. The inauguration of Novozymes’ new Blair facility was celebrated with employees, customers, community leaders and government officials, including the governor of Nebraska, Dave Heineman, U.S. Department of Energy Senior Advisor Jason Walsh and Blair Mayor …
Senator Visits Michigan Cellulosic Ethanol Facility
Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) highlighted the benefits of next-generation biofuels during a tour of the Alpena Biorefinery in the northern part of her state. “This innovative partnership is producing Michigan-grown fuel that has the potential to spur new job growth and help reduce our dependence on foreign oil,” said Stabenow, who chairs the Senate Agriculture Committee which just sent a …
Iowa Ag Secretary Says Ethanol is Strong
Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey continues to be bullish on ethanol, despite tight margins for producers. Speaking on Iowa Public Television’s Iowa Press program Sunday, Northey disagreed with a reporter’s question that losing the blenders tax credit has put the ethanol industry on “quicksand” and could be sinking. “No, ethanol is certainly very strong,” Northey said. “We have 41 …
Is Atrazine Settlement Good for Farmers?
Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Which group should restaurants consider experts on animal care?” Recently many folks in agriculture participated in an online thank you campaign for Domino’s Pizza. Why? Because the restaurant chain made a decision based on good humane animal practices and did not give in to the demands of the animal activist group HSUS. According to …
Harvesting Pennycress for Biodiesel
More farmers are growing weeds to harvest for biodiesel. Some Midwestern farmers are just finishing their harvest of pennycress, a weed that produces about 20,000 seeds per plant that are composed of 36% oil, twice that of soybeans, and has a chemical composition that is ideally suited for conversion to biodiesel or green renewable jet fuel. An acre of pennycress …
SunPower Celebrates Anniversary in Wisconsin
SunPower Biodiesel is celebrating the one-year anniversary of their retail pump in Cumberland, Wisconsin today. One year ago, SunPower Biodiesel emerged into the retail energy sector by opening their first fueling station in Cumberland selling high biodiesel blends, including B99 & B20. According to the company, SunPower started its sales with local farmers, “who quickly saw the benefits of using …
ACE Highlights Ethanol at Farm Bill Session
Ethanol was highlighted during a Farm Bill listening session in South Dakota this week. American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Executive Vice President Brian Jennings made comments about the importance of the homegrown fuel to the economy in general rural areas in particular during the session hosted by Representative Kristi Noem (R-SD) on Thursday. “The ethanol industry recognizes the need for …