Distiller grain production was a hot topic discussed throughout the 2012 Export Exchange. Dr. Bob Wisner, Agriculture Extension Economics at Iowa State University, shared his research on the future of DDGS and what we can expect in the coming years. He also spoke on how this years drought affected DDGS production and it’s long-term affect on our US supply. “The …
World Grain Buyers Get US Producer Perspectives
Grain buyers from around the world in attendance at the 2012 Export Exchange had the opportunity to embrace the US producers perspective on the 2012 crop through a producer panel during the opening general session. Key panelists were Ron Gray, Illinois farmer and Secretary/Treasurer of the US Grains Council, and John Mages, Minnesota farmer and Chairman of the Minnesota Corn …
Export Exchange: Bringing Buyers & Sellers Together
The key purpose for the 2012 Export Exchange was for buyers and sellers to meet and establish important relationships. The event sponsored by the US Grain Council and Renewable Fuels Association focused on getting answers, making contacts and building business. During the conference I had the opportunity to talk with Tom Sleight, President & CEO of the US Grains Council, …
Getting Ready for Export Exchange
The 2012 Export Exchange is coming up next week in Minneapolis, the second event of its kind co-sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council and the Renewable Fuels Association to bring together buyers and sellers of grains and livestock feed, including the ethanol by-product distillers dried grains with solubles or DDGS. “The Export Exchange is a fabulous opportunity for customers to …
Study Indicates RFS Waiver Could Increase Feed Prices
On the eve of the deadline for providing comments to the Environmental Protection Agency on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) waiver request, the ethanol industry has released a new study that indicates a waiver could actually increase the cost of feed for livestock and poultry producers. The analysis, conducted by Cardno-ENTRIX and commissioned by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), finds …
Report: Distillers Grains Enhance Cattle Diet
According to research conducted by a team from the Department of Animal Science at the University of Nebraska, cattle feed of treated corn stover mixed with distillers grains (DDGS) from ethanol plants can reduce feed costs for cattle feeders. The goal of the research is to continue to provide livestock feeders with options for optimizing feeding efficiency. The current project …
Vilsack Defends Ethanol at Dairy Expo
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack held a town hall meeting at World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin this week and took questions from the audience, one of which concerned ethanol and the impact it has had on livestock producers. The questioner, who was from California, said ethanol was “not a very popular word” with dairy farmers in her state. “Where …
Top 10 Efficiency & Technology Innovations
The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) has released a Top 10 list of efficiency and technology innovations of the past decade. IRFA Vice President and Absolute Energy CEO Rick Schwarck noted that while a lot has been written about the ethanol and biodiesel industry since the passing of the Renewable Fuel Standard in 2005, not enough focus has been on …
Ethanol Production Declines
New data has been released from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) regarding ethanol production data that averaged 796,000 barrels per day (d/d) or 33.43 million gallons daily. This is down 6,000 b/d from the previous week. The four week average ethanol production is 819,000 b/d for an annualized rate of 12.55 billion gallons. Gasoline demand for last week averaged 363.7 million gallons …
Ethanol Output and Exports Drop
U.S. ethanol production is the lowest its been in nearly two years, and exports are continuing to drop. According to the latest Energy Information Administration data, ethanol production averaged 821,000 barrels, or just under 34.5 million gallons, per day the week ending July 6. That is down 36,000 barrels per day from the week before and is the lowest weekly …