The ethanol industry has been handed a setback in its case against the California Air Resources Board Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) that was ruled unconstitutional by a judge in December. From a Growth Energy statement: Yesterday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit issued an order expediting briefing in the California Air Resources Board’s appeal of a …
New Production Poll from BASF
With the 2012 crop year now underway, we’re introducing the BASF Production Poll. This new poll will be conducted twice each month during the season with timely questions that we think both farmers and non-farmers alike will find interesting. We’d love to hear from you. So let’s get started with our first one. How do you think the 2012 growing …
Early Planting Fuels Corn Production Speculation
Corn planting is running well above normal across the country, fueling speculation that this year’s crop could be huge. The crop progress report this week shows that seven percent of the nation’s corn crop is now planted – more than double normal for this time of year. Progress in some Midwestern states has already hit double digits. Missouri has 23% …
Most Corn Acres Since 1937 Expected
The last time the United States planted as many corn acres as USDA is predicting for this year, Franklin D. Roosevelt was just entering his second term as president. It was 1937 when an estimated 97.2 million acres were planted. This year, the USDA Prospective Planting report predicts that corn growers will plant nearly 96 million acres – 95.9 million …
GROWMARK Tracking Biofuels Legislative Issues
Legislative issues related to biofuels on both the Illinois state level and the national level are priorities for the GROWMARK agricultural cooperative system this year, according to government affairs director Chuck Spencer. On the state level, Spencer says Illinois will be looking at updating sales tax incentives this year with the pending introduction of 15% ethanol blends in the consumer …
Ethanol Advocates Unite for RFS
Eight ethanol-advocating organizations joined together to champion the success of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) in a letter to Congressional leaders this week. The letter addressed to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), Senator Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), House Speaker John Boehner(R-OH) and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) highlighted “ethanol’s proven ability to lower gas prices and reduce …
More Dairy Production Benefits Ethanol Industry
Like a rising tide that floats all boats, rising milk production helps many sectors of agriculture, including ethanol, according to the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). The latest USDA estimate released earlier this week shows milk production in the United States continues to expand, with February 2012 production up 8% compared to a year ago thanks to a one percent …
Update on DuPont Cellulosic Ethanol Iowa Plant
DuPont Cellulosic Ethanol (DDCE) is hoping to start construction on a 27.5 million gallon cellulosic plant later this year, according to DDCE Global Business Director Steve Mirshak. At a recent Pioneer Hi-Bred media event, Mirshak talked about DDCE’s purchase last year of land in Nevada, Iowa, adjacent to the Lincolnway Energy conventional ethanol plant. “We have some very positive synergies …
American Ethanol No. 3 Chevy Debuts in Vegas
The American Ethanol No. 3 Chevy made its debut over the weekend at the Las Vegas Nationwide Series Sam’s Town 300 with rookie driver Austin Dillon finishing strong in 7th place. Representatives of American Ethanol partners, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) and Growth Energy, were in town for the March 10 race. Pictured here with RCR team owner (and …
Ethanol Land Use Debate Continues
The debate over ethanol, greenhouse gases and land use continues – and that was the topic of a panel discussion at the recent 17th annual National Ethanol Conference. The panel, moderated by Renewable Fuels Association VP of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper, consisted of Thomas Darlington with Air Improvement Resource, Inc.; Dr. David Zilberman with the University of California-Berkeley; and …