NCGA: We Will Not Stand for RFS Attacks

Joanna Schroeder

The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is continuing to fight back said NCGA president Chip Bowling of Maryland during a press conference at the Farm Progess Show. “It’s about the many people who attack us [farmers] in DC like the DC bureaucrats, radio talk loudmouths and fearmongers on social media.” Among other issues, Bowling was referring to the attack on …

Agribusiness, Audio, corn, E15, E85, Ethanol, NCGA, RFS

ARF Reacts to Hillary Clinton’s Ag, Energy Plan

Joanna Schroeder

Presidential candidate Sec. Hillary Clinton (D) made another visit to Iowa this week where she unveiled her agriculture and rural policy plan. She called for strengthening the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) so that it continues to drive the development of advanced cellulosic and other advanced biofuels. Clinton called for more consumer choice at the pump with better access to ethanol …

Agribusiness, Biodiesel, biofuels, E15, E85, Ethanol, RFS

Reign in the EPA Say Republican Candidates

Joanna Schroeder

The last batch of Republican presidential candidates took the Soapbox stage during the last weekend of the Iowa State Fair. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie (R) took a different approach and only answered questions. His overall statement was that the government needs to enforce the laws currently in place – not just the laws we like- but all laws. Speaking …

advanced biofuels, Agribusiness, Audio, Clean Energy, Clean Power Plan, Iowa State Fair, politics, RFS

Perry Urges Return to “Constitutional Country”

Joanna Schroeder

Former Texas Governor Rick Perry’s main message on the soapbox yesterday at the Iowa State Fair was to get America back to a constitutional country. Citing the 10th amendment, he stressed that power and decision making needs to go back to the state and to the people, as intended by our founding fathers. Power needs to be taken away from …

Agribusiness, Audio, Iowa State Fair, politics

Prez Candidates Tell ‘Bootstraps’ Stories

Joanna Schroeder

I’ve hit on a few common themes in recent posts after hearing more than a dozen soapbox speeches at the Iowa State Fair. Another one: how the presidential candidates’ parents succeeded with nothing to make life better for their children and the children pulling themselves up by their “bootstraps” to become successful. These stories were no different when Florida Senator …

Agribusiness, Audio, Energy, Iowa State Fair, politics

Republican Candidates: ‘We Can Fix America’

Joanna Schroeder

The battle cry of the presidential Republican candidates is to fix America through debt elimination, military strength and cooperation. Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Senator from South Carolina Lindsey Graham took the stage during the Des Moines Register’s Soapbox and spoke to thousands of people at the Iowa State Fair. While the crowd is supposed to …

Agribusiness, Audio, biofuels, Environment, Ethanol, Iowa State Fair, politics, RFS

Jeb Bush Kicks off Fair Speech on Energy

Joanna Schroeder

Republican Jeb Bush, former governor of Florida and presidential hopeful, kicked off his time on the Presidential Soapbox promoting his support of renewable energy and agriculture. Florida has a huge agriculture community and is home to one of the first advanced cellulosic facilities, Ineos Bio located in Vera Beach, that began production in May of 2013. The plant uses wood, …

Agribusiness, Audio, Clean Energy, Clean Power Plan, Iowa RFA, politics

Dems Webb & O’Malley Take the Soapbox

Joanna Schroeder

Democratic hopeful presidential candidates Jim Webb and Martin O’Malley both appeared on the Des Moines Register’s Presidential Soapbox yesterday afternoon speaking to hundreds of Iowans attending the Iowa State Fair. They have some fundamental issues in common, including both the need for better education and to bring the American dream, aka the economy, back to Americans. While Webb’s plans to …

Agribusiness, Audio, biofuels, Clean Energy, Ethanol, Iowa State Fair, Nuclear Energy, Renewable Electricty Standard (RES), RFS, Wind

Mike Huckabee on the Soapbox

Joanna Schroeder

Presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, former governor of Arkansas (the state of the Clinton’s), took the soapbox this morning as the kick-off candidate of the Des Moines Register’s Presidential Soapbox series taking place during the Iowa State Fair. He was the winner of Iowa’s 2008 Republican Caucuses. Now back to the Clintons for a moment. Huckabee worked and fought and campaigned …

Agribusiness, Audio, biofuels, Iowa State Fair, politics, RFS

Iowa State Fair to Host Prez Soapbox

Joanna Schroeder

Iowa State Fair visitors have an opportunity to see what presidential candidates think about energy and agricultural issues compliments of the Des Moines Register’s Presidential Soapbox series. A majority of the presidential candidates from both parties have confirmed they will speak from the soapbox during the fair. A total of 14 Republicans and four Democrats are on the soapbox schedule …

Agribusiness, biofuels, Government, politics