Corn production for this year was cut by four percent in the latest forecast out this morning from USDA, a bigger drop than expected by the industry. Corn production is now forecast at 12.7 billion bushels, down 3 percent from last year’s record production of 13.1 billion bushels. Yields are now expected to average 155.8 bushels per acre, down 6.7 …
Ag Secretary to Make “Major” Biofuels Speech
Later this month, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will give a “major speech on domestic biofuel production.” According to USDA, Vilsack will discuss the progress USDA and other federal agencies are making toward achieving the 36 billion gallon biofuel production goal mandated by the Renewable Fuels Standard and new efforts by the Obama administration to bolster the industry and reduce U.S. …
Ethanol Report With New RFA Chairman
The board for directors for the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) last week elected Chuck Woodside, General Manager of farmer-owned KAAPA Ethanol in Minden, Nebraska as the new chairman for the organization. The election was held at RFA’s Annual Membership Meeting in Washington, DC. Woodside succeeds Chris Standlee, Executive Vice President of Abengoa Bioenergy, who served for three one-year terms. Chuck …
Second Look at USDA Ethanol Energy Balance Report
A report released by USDA in June on the energy balance of ethanol plants is getting a second look this week, thanks to a post on the USDA blog. The second look is well deserved, since the report, titled “2008 Energy Balance for the Corn Ethanol Industry,” got less coverage than it deserves when it was first released. The findings …
RFA Wants Answers to DOE Loan Program Problems
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) wants some answers from the Department of Energy and Congress about why the Renewable Energy Loan Guarantee Program is not working. In a post on RFA’s The E-Xchange Blog today, RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen says the program “has been defined by inaction and obstruction and is largely seen as a complete failure to …
Ethanol Report on Export Exchange
This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features comments from Renewable Fuels Association (RA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen and U.S. Grains Council (USGC) CEO and president Tom Dorr about promoting exports of the ethanol co-product distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS). The two organizations are working together on the upcoming “Export Exchange” conference that will focus on increasing U.S. exports …
Farmers Dealing With VeraSun Payment Letters
Hundreds of farmers have been showing up at meetings held around the Corn Belt trying to find out what they should do about letters received saying they owe money for grain delivered two years ago to a bankrupt ethanol company. VeraSun officially filed bankruptcy nearly two years ago. Just a few months prior to filing, the company reported a 500 …
Renewable Fuels Awareness Month in Nebraska
Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman visited Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island Wednesday to proclaim September as Renewable Fuels Awareness Month in Nebraska. Joined by representatives of the Nebraska Corn and Soybean Boards, Gov. Heineman said that renewable fuels are a critical component of energy independence and energy security, while providing economic growth and vitality in the state. “Nebraska is one …
Ethanol Industry E15 Vehicle Study Detailed
A new study released this week makes a good case for allowing up to 15 percent ethanol in all vehicles, to avoid having different standards for older cars. The ethanol industry is hoping it will help the Environmental Protection Agency rule favorably on the request to grant a waiver allowing E15 that was requested nearly two years ago. “Indications are …