This may be a tumultuous time for corn farmers and ethanol producers – but then again, the ethanol industry’s entire history has been a roller coaster ride. The latest episode of “Wherever Jon May Roam” with National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) CEO Jon Doggett revisits the battles that got us to this point with “the Godfather of Ethanol” himself, Bob …
Ethanol Industry Losses Mount
As the COVID-19 pandemic and crude oil glut continue to ravage world fuel markets, U.S. ethanol sales in 2020 could fall by more than $10 billion and the industry’s contribution to gross domestic product (GDP) could drop by nearly one-third, according to a new analysis by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). The economic losses stem from a “pernicious combination of …
Ethanol Left Out of USDA Aid Plan
U.S. ethanol producers struggling with the largest downturn in the history of the industry were disappointed to hear that the new $19 billion USDA aid program will provide no direct help for them. “While we appreciate that USDA’s new program provides needed assistance to the nation’s farmers and ranchers, it is unfortunate and disappointing that the 350,000 workers supported by …
Ethanol Groups Criticize Oil States’ RFS Waiver Request
As ethanol production continues to be decimated by the impact of the COVID-19 restrictions and supplies keep growing, oil state governors are asking EPA to waive renewable volume obligations under the Renewable Fuel Standard, an action that industry leaders say is both wrong and illegitimate. “Apparently toilet paper isn’t the only thing in short supply in oil states these days—clearly, …
Ethanol Report 4-16-20
The social-distancing and stay-at-home restrictions associated with COVID-19 continue to take a devastating toll on U.S. ethanol producers with about half of the industry’s capacity now idled. But the good news is how those ethanol producers, their farmer-owners and employees, have turned around and put those idled plants to good use by helping those on the front lines fighting the …
New York Biofuel Plant Supplies Ethanol for Sanitizer
Western New York Energy (WNYE), New York’s only operational ethanol facility, is supplying corporations across the Northeast and Canada with ethanol to produce 80% antiseptic alcohol sanitizer amidst the COVID pandemic. The plant is producing over 100,000 gallons a day of tech-grade ethanol for businesses that halted operations to meet the urgent sanitizer needs of hospitals and at-risk communities. WNY …
Biofuels Caucus Urges USDA to Help Ethanol Producers
The bipartisan House Biofuels Caucus today sent a letter urging Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue to utilize funds made available to USDA as part of the recently passed CARES Act to assist ethanol producers who are suffering severe economic harm as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. “The biofuels sector provides a direct and significant boost to the value …
Green Plains Donates 5,000 Gallons of Ethanol
Iowa ethanol producer Green Plains Inc. is the latest to donate ethanol to the state of Iowa for its hand sanitizer production project with Iowa Prison Industries (IPI). The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) reports that Green Plains Inc. donated 5,000 gallons this week, following recent donations of ethanol from Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy and Absolute Energy and a donation …
USDA Lowers Corn for Ethanol Outlook
COVID-19 took its toll on the April World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates released Thursday, especially for corn and soybeans. This month’s 2019/20 U.S. corn outlook is for reduced imports, greater feed and residual use, lower food, seed, and industrial use, and larger stocks. Feed and residual use is raised 150 million bushels to 5.675 billion. This is based on …
Ethanol Production Hits Record Lows
The latest EIA Weekly Petroleum Status Report for the week ending April 3 hit some very troubling record lows as a result of the deepening impact on the ethanol industry from the social-distancing and stay-at-home restrictions associated with COVID-19. According to EIA data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production plunged 20.0%, or 168,000 barrels per day (b/d), to …