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 …
President Touts Clean Energy in Iowa
President Obama stressed his support for renewable energy and biofuels during a visit to Iowa Thursday and urged Congress to renew tax credits that encourage clean energy production. Obama spoke to workers at TPI Composites, a company that makes blades for wind turbines and employs more 700 people. “If Congress doesn’t act, companies like this one will take a hit,” …
GROWMARK Studying E15 Retailer Handbook
As a leader in fuels produced by farmer cooperative members, GROWMARK is studying how to best implement 15% ethanol and upgrading its biodiesel quality program for marketing through the FS Brand system. There are over 300 locally and independently operated FS FAST STOP and FAST STOP Express locations so GROWMARK Renewable Fuels Product Manager Brigette Harlan says they are carefully …
Sustainable Aviation Biofuels Initiative Launched
Aviation and clean technology leaders have joined together to launch the Midwest Aviation Sustainable Biofuels Initiative (MASBI). United Airlines, Boeing, Honeywell, the Chicago Department of Aviation and the Clean Energy Trust formed the initiative with the goal of advancing aviation biofuel development in a 12-state region of the central United States. MASBI will deliver “a comprehensive evaluation of the region’s …
Cellulosic Ethanol From Corn Kernels
Researchers at the National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) recently announced the successful production of ethanol from the cellulosic portion of the corn kernel. “This research is demonstrated proof of the viability of ‘generation 2.0 ethanol,’” NCERC Director John Caupert said. “By utilizing existing technologies readily available in the commercial marketplace, the Center was able to produce a biofuel that builds …
Subcommittee Hears Support for Energy Programs
The House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy and Forestry was urged to reauthorize Farm Bill energy programs and provide them with mandatory funding during a hearing on “Formulation of the 2012 Farm Bill: Energy and Forestry Programs” on Friday. “American agriculture is the key to the successful development and commercialization of clean, abundant, renewable, domestic energy and biobased products in …