The same trait that makes Enogen corn hybrids great for ethanol production is also good for livestock feed. The higher levels of the alpha-amylase enzyme in these hybrids help break down sugar into energy more efficiently which benefits both ethanol producers and cattle. “The Enogen technology and how it gains efficiencies and makes the ethanol plant money is similar in …
New NCGA CEO Talks Corn Issues at #NAFB18
Jon Doggett participated in his first NAFB Trade Talk this year as CEO of the National Corn Growers Association. Doggett is no stranger to farm broadcasters, having served as head of NCGA’s policy efforts in Washington D.C. since 2002 and becoming executive vice president in 2014. But he was just officially named CEO in September. “I thought I was traveling …
Grains Council Officers Meet in Mexico
U.S. Grains Council (USGC) officers headed south of the border last week to talk about the new trade agreement and meet with new government officials in the country that accounts for a big chunk of U.S. feed grains exports. Leaders from the U.S. feed grains value chain traveled to Mexico on the heels of the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) negotiations, …
Corn Growers Dispute Land Use Petition Claims
Environmental groups filed a petition with EPA this week claiming that “millions of acres of wildlife habitat” have been converted to corn and soybean crops to produce biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard, based on a June report to Congress, which offered no specific conclusions about land use change related to biofuels production. The petition claims that previously uncultivated land …
Ethanol Stakeholders Comment on High Octane Fuel
Ethanol stakeholder groups submitted comments Friday to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) on the proposed SAFE Vehicles Rule, emphasizing the benefits for fuel economy and emissions reductions from the use of high-octane fuels, which can be attained with higher blends of ethanol. “Ethanol delivers the highest octane at the lowest cost, allowing automakers …
Concerns Raised About E15 Rulemaking Delay
Ethanol interests have been raising concerns this week about the Environmental Protection Agency delaying the start of the rulemaking process for year-round E15 until February 2019, which would make the timeline for getting it approved before next summer very tight. “EPA ought to speed it up, or otherwise it’s going to look like the president wasn’t serious about his announcement,” …
Export Exchange Furthers USGC Mission
The chairman of the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) is optimistic about the growth of export markets for grains and ethanol co-products such as distllers grains (DDGS). “In the 2017-18 marketing year, the U.S. set a new record for exports of feed grains and co-products for the second year in a row,” said USGC chair Jim Stitzlein, manager of market development …
National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center Celebrates 15 Years
The National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville (SIUE) is celebrating 15 years of biofuels research this month. The Illinois Corn Growers Association was instrumental in fostering development of the Center in 2003 and the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) has worked closely with NCERC since its inception and continues partnering on various projects. NCERC Executive Director John …
Corn Forecast Lower But Still Second Largest Crop
The latest USDA World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimate (WASDE) report for corn calls for lower production, increased exports, reduced feed and residual use and larger ending stocks. Production was revised downward by 49 million bushels on a reduced yield forecast. The new estimate for corn production is 14.78 billion bushels for 2018/19, which would still make it the second …
Ethanol Stakeholders Welcome E15 Announcement
Christmas came very early this year for ethanol stakeholders who have been pressing for sales of E15 to be allowed year round, as President Trump announced he was instructing the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to initiate a rulemaking process that would extend the summer Reid Vapor Pressure waiver to E15. “What it really means is that we’re helping our farmers,” …