Two recent reports have found that ethanol production continues to become even more efficient. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Office of Chief Economist and titled, “2015 Energy Balance for the Corn Ethanol Industry“. The second report titled, “Literature Review of Estimated Market Effects of U.S. Corn Starch Ethanol,” was published by the University of Missouri, Food and Agricultural Policy …
Preview of National Ethanol Conference
The Reverend of Renewable Energy, Mr. Bob Dinneen, Renewable Fuels Association, in traditional fashion, provides us with a preview of the 21st National Ethanol Conference. The Conference kicked off this morning at English Turn Golf & Country Club with the annual NEC tournament. The weather threatened but held off for a beautiful day. Bob says the agenda includes some great …
Iowa Corn Remains as Sponsor of Iowa Corn 300
Iowa Corn Growers Association along with Iowa Speedway have announced a multi-year sponsorship renewal of the IndyCar Series Iowa Corn 300 through 2018. This is the 10th year of partnership and the extension makes Iowa Corn the second longest entitlement sponsor in INDYCAR racing. “The Iowa Corn 300 reaches a global audience with an expanding viewership,” said Mark Heckman, Iowa …
Ethanol Cmte Looks at Cal’s Green Fuel Industry
California has an ethanol industry that is growing in size and importance. That’s why members of the National Corn Growers Association’s Ethanol Committee went to Sacramento last week to meet with California regulators and ethanol industry representatives in this important market. This news release from NCGA says the meetings focused on existing market conditions, modeling to calculate greenhouse gas emissions …
Donnelly ‘Friend of Farmers’ for Support of Ethanol
A U.S. senator’s support of ethanol and the Renewable Fuel Standard has garnered him the inaugural “Friend of Farmers” Award from the Indiana Soybean Alliance and Indiana Corn Growers Association. This news release says Sen. Joe Donnelly was recognized for his unwavering support of Indiana farmers’ policy efforts. The Friend of Farmers Award was established by ICGA’s Board of Directors …
Enogen Use Up as Syngenta Announces Sale
Syngenta made headlines this week with news that ChemChina, a Chinese state-owned company, has offered to acquire the company with the cash purchase of all Syngenta shares. The $43 billion deal must still be approved by two-thirds of Syngenta shareholders and receive regulatory approval. During a call with reporters, Syngenta Chief Operating Officer Davor Piskof said the offer will allow …
Gevo, Porta Building Isobutanol Plants in Argentina
Renewable energy technology company Gevo, Inc. has inked a deal with South American alcohol maker Porta Hnos S.A. to build several isobutanol plants in Argentina. This Gevo news release says they plan to use corn as a feedstock. The first plant is to be wholly owned by Porta and is anticipated to begin producing isobutanol in 2017. The plant is …
Ethanol in Ag Economic Outlook
At the ASTA CSS 2015 and Seed Expo last week, AgResource Company president Dan Basse presented his economic outlook for agriculture during the opening general session for the fifth year in a row, and once more biofuels figured into the picture. Basse talked about a “world awash in grain” with record global wheat and soybean crops and second largest corn …
Iowa Corn Receives Bio-Based Process Patent
The Iowa Corn Promotion Board (ICPB) has received a U.S. patent (U.S. 2015/0329449) for a production method using corn in the industrial manufacturing of a raw material called monoethylene glycol (MEG). The product can be used as a replacement of fossil-fuel-based chemicals used in products such as plastics and helps the product to biodegrade. “Patenting this research will lead to …
Midwest Renewable Energy to use Enogen® corn
Syngenta has signed an agreement with Midwest Renewable Energy to begin using Enogen® corn enzyme technology at its Sutherland, Nebraska ethanol production facility beginning with the 2016 planting season. “The agreement with MRE will enable them to source alpha amylase enzyme directly from local growers and keep enzyme dollars in the local community,” said Chris Tingle, head of marketing for …