Following up on the biofuels initiatives that he announced last week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack visited First United Ethanol, LLC (FUEL) located in Mitchell County, Georgia on Monday to highlight the importance of ethanol production in all parts of the nation. “The southeast is poised to really assist us in creating new biorefineries with a wide variety of feedstocks that …
Vilsack Defends Ethanol in WSJ Letter
In a letter to the editor of the Wall Street Journal published Monday, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack responded to an editorial last week criticizing EPA’s decision to allow higher blends of ethanol in our fuel as politically motivated. Defending and clarifying the EPA ruling, Vilsack wrote, “The EPA’s decision to allow the increased use of ethanol in some automobiles is …
Swine and Poultry Experts Discuss DDGS Use
Swine and poultry producers are using the ethanol co-product distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) as feed for good reasons. Dr. Phillip Smith, a nutritionist with Tyson Foods, spoke at the recent Export Exchange event sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the U.S. Grains Council about the value of DDGS in the poultry sector. “It’s a very good …
Bioethanol Pilot Plant Opens in Norway
Norwegian biofuels company Weyland has opened a pilot plant for second generation bioethanol in Bergen, Norway. According to a company release, the plant was formally opened today by State Secretary Per Rune Henriksen of the Norwegian Ministry of Petroleum and Energy during an opening ceremony. The pilot plant has the capacity to produce 200,000 litres (about 53,000 gallons) of bioethanol …
Vilsack to Visit Georgia Ethanol Plant
First United Ethanol of Georgia, better known as FUEL, will host U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on Monday, October 25th. Secretary Vilsack will be accompanied by U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop and U.S. Representative Jim Marshall. “We are very excited about this opportunity to speak face to face with one of the most important policy makers in America. We look …
USDA Announces Biofuels Initiatives
As part of the Obama Administration’s effort to promote production of fuel from renewable sources, create jobs and mitigate the effects of climate change, Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced a series of measures during a speech to the National Press Club in Washington. “Domestic production of renewable energy, including biofuels, is a national imperative and that’s why USDA is working …
Ethanol Producers Value DDGs Exports
Ethanol producers who attended the recent Export Exchange event sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and the U.S. Grains Council know how important it is to promote increased exports of the ethanol co-product distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). “For every three bushels of corn that comes in, you get a bushel of DDG out, and what we sell …
CME Webcast on Food vs Fuel
CME Group is holding a live webcast today of a panel discussion on food versus fuel. The webcast will be coming from CME’s third annual Global Financial Leadership Conference in Naples, Florida and the panel will focus on commodity markets and the fundamental factors driving supply and demand for global food and energy. Participants will include Tim Gallagher, Executive Vice …
EPA Proposes 15 Percent Ethanol Warning Label
The Environmental Protection Agency has released its proposed design for the label on fuel pumps that would dispense E15, or 15 percent ethanol, as promised under the fragmented ruling issued last week allowing the fuel mix in only vehicles of model year 2007 and newer. EPA must now solicit comment on the proposed label for 60 days before it can …
Weather Impacts Brazil Sugarcane Harvest
Brazil’s sugarcane growing areas went from too little rain earlier this season to too much rain in September, putting a damper on harvest activity, according to the latest report from from the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association (UNICA). Heavy rains, nearly 60 percent higher than average for the month, hampered cane crushing for second consecutive two-week period, but reportedly favored ethanol …