National Corn Growers Association president Garry Niemeyer, a farmer from Illinois, penned an editorial this week in an effort to let those still complaining about the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) know that the game is over. Read that commentary below. Back in August, the Green Scissors Project identified ways the federal government could shave $380 billion from the …
Iowa Corn Caucus Grades Candidates on Energy
The Iowa Corn Caucus released its report card for presidential candidates today, giving grades for different policy areas related to agriculture, including energy and biofuels, and an overall grade for each candidate. The highest overall grade went to Newt Gingrich, who scored straight As on every single policy issue. Second in the class was Rick Santorum, who received straight As …
Farmers Harvest Biomass for Cellulosic Ethanol
Farmers in north central Iowa have harvested 61,000 tons of corn crop residue to produce cellulosic ethanol, but delivery to POET’s Project LIBERTY plant in Emmetsburg is contingent on funding of a federal program that provides incentives for biomass production. Some 100 farmers are waiting for word on the status of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) in the 2012 …
Nebraska Corn Completes Ethanol Co-Product Research Initiative
A three-year initiative by Nebraska corn growers to fund research into feeding the ethanol co-product distillers grains to cattle has resulted in some new breakthroughs. The initiative created a beef cattle advisory committee to work with University of Nebraska researchers to identify research projects that would benefit cattle producers and the Nebraska Corn Board then provided funding for the projects. …
2012 Export Exchange Set
Get out your 2012 calendars and mark the date for just under a year from now to attend the next global event to help increase exports of ethanol co-products for livestock feed. Once again, the U.S. Grains Council (USGC) and the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) are teaming up for the Export Exchange 2012, an international trade conference focused on the …
Jury Rules in Favor of Novozymes in Patent Dispute
The jury has ruled but the judgement is still out on the lawsuit between Novozymes and Danisco over a patent for enzymes used in biofuels production. A jury in the US District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin determined that Novozymes patent is valid and ordered Danisco to pay damages of more than $18 million for infringement. The jury …
American Ethanol Car to Race at Martinsville
American Ethanol will be in the spotlight at the Martinsville Speedway NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race this weekend in Virginia. The No. 33 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet race car will feature a special-edition American Ethanol paint scheme at the race and will be driven by American Ethanol spokesman and recent Talladega race winner Clint Bowyer. In addition, the American Ethanol …
Reports Blame Speculators for Higher Prices
Two reports released earlier this week concluded that commodity market speculation is largely to blame for increasing prices of food and energy. The reports were issued in advance of the October 18 meeting of the Commodities Futures and Trading Commission (CFTC) which placed limits on speculation in a variety of commodities including oil, corn, gold and natural gas. One report …
USDA Predicts Smaller Corn Crop But Larger Inventory
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has shaved another 64 million bushels off projections for this year’s corn crop, but added 208 million bushels to beginning corn stocks for 2011/12. Corn production is now forecast at 12.4 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the September forecast and down slightly from the 2010 production estimate, but still expected to be the fourth …
Farm and Ethanol Groups Warn Against RFS Changes
A coalition of seven agricultural and biofuels organizations sent a letter this week to two members of Congress who have introduced legislation to modify the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS2), warning that it is unnecessary and could lead to higher prices at the pump. The organizations were reacting to a bill introduced by Representatives Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and Jim Costa (D-CA) …