The Iowa Corn Promotion Board is one step closer to expanding the corn market after receiving a new patent application on a proprietary production method using corn in the industrial manufacturing of monoethylene glycol (MEG). Most MEG is produced from fossil fuels, with the exception of some bio-MEG made from sugarcane ethanol and sourced from Brazil. Consumers are driving a …
USDA Boosts Corn for Ethanol Forecast
Ethanol is driving up demand for corn in the December supply demand estimate from USDA. The forecast for 2017-18 increases the amount of corn used to produce ethanol by 50 million bushels to 5.525 billion, based on less sorghum going to ethanol production. Corn ending stocks are lowered in turn by 50 million bushels but the impact on the season-average …
Basse Bullish on Biofuels
Even if volume obligations for biofuels under the Renewable Fuel Standard are mostly stagnant or lower in 2018, agricultural economist Dan Basse of AgResource Company is bullish on growth in the sector next year. One reason is lower prices for corn, which is helping expand ethanol production plans. The other is the restriction of biodiesel imports from Argentina and Indonesia, …
Corn Harvest Wrapping Up
The corn harvest is not quite finished, but weekly USDA crop progress reports are done for the year. According to the last report issued on Monday, 95 percent of the corn crop nationwide is in the bin, less than the 98 percent average for the end of November. Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin are dragging behind with less than 90 percent …
CoBank: Cautious Optimism for Ethanol Exports
A new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division is cautiously optimistic about opportunities for US exports in grains, oilseeds and ethanol over the next three years. “In the absence of major weather disruptions, global grain surpluses are expected to persist over the next three years. Acreage expansions and improvements to yields in competing export hubs will be headwinds for U.S. …
Corn Crop Increase Surprises
USDA surprised many with the crop production forecast out this month estimating a two percent increase from last month for corn. Based on conditions as of November 1, yields are expected to average 175.4 bushels per acre, up 3.6 bushels from the October forecast and up 0.8 bushel from 2016. If realized, this will be the highest yield on record …
Industry Just Says No to EPA NODA
Ethanol, biodiesel, and agricultural organizations were united in their message to the Environmental Protection Agency in comments to a Notice of Data Availability (NODA) that would further reduce overall biofuels volumes under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) – just no. The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), which was chosen to participate in EPA’s new Smart Sectors program, urged the agency …
Corn Farmers Promoting American Ethanol in Talladega
Corn growers from around the country are heading to Alabama this weekend to promote American Ethanol at “The Big One” in Talladega. The National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) is partnering with corn farmers in Alabama, Kansas, Iowa and Michigan – to promote E15 American Ethanol all weekend in the popular Fan Zone exhibit area, nearby campgrounds, on-track signage, the pavement …
Corn Stover Could Generate Electricity
Two new studies show that generating energy from corn stover biomass could create a new market for farmers and increase the value of ethanol by reducing its overall carbon footprint. The studies are based on the premise that the crop residue left behind in the fields after corn to be used for ethanol is harvested. Iowa-based Regional Strategic, Ltd. examined …
Corn Progress Lagging
About seven percent of the nation’s corn crop has been harvested so far, but maturity of the crop is running behind average. Less corn acres have reached the dented or mature stage than the five-year average according to the latest USDA crop progress report. With 86 percent of total corn acres dented by September 17 and mature acres at only …