The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is urging USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) to reconsider its plan announced last week to discontinue all County Estimates for Crops and Livestock beginning with the 2024 production year. “With the rapid emergence of state and federal climate policies that will compel ethanol producers to carefully track certain feedstock characteristics, the availability of robust …
More Voices Push for Summer E15 Waivers
This week, 46 members of Congress and 15 Iowa fuel retailers added their voices to those urging the Biden administration to issue waivers to permit the sale of E15 for the 2024 summer driving season. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-SD) and two dozen other members of the U.S. House sent a letter calling on President Biden to direct EPA to allow …
WASDE Increases Corn for Ethanol Use
USDA’s April World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) released Thursday forecasts greater corn used for ethanol and feed and residual use and smaller ending stocks. Corn used for ethanol is raised 25 million bushels to 5.4 billion based on data through February from the Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production report and weekly ethanol production data as reported by the …
Grassley Hearing GREET Model Update Rumors
Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley is unhappy with what he has been hearing about the GREET model updates for sustainable aviation fuel expected soon from the Biden Administration. “We understand that this model might say that you can use (corn as a) feedstock but it will have to be grown in one of three conditions – minimum tillage, cover crops, or …
Ethanol Industry Seeks Permanent End to Brazil Tariff
This week, the U.S. ethanol industry submitted comments to the Brazilian government seeking a permanent end to that country’s tariff on imported U.S. ethanol. The Renewable Fuels Association, U.S. Grains Council and Growth Energy jointly submitted comments within the Brazilian Chamber of Foreign Trade (CAMEX) regarding the 18% Brazilian tariff on all incoming U.S. ethanol, while Brazilian ethanol imports enjoy …
New Tailpipe Emissions Rules Would Impact Corn Demand
The National Corn Growers Association reports new tailpipe emissions rules would be a “major shock on demand for corn used to produce ethanol” that could result in potentially devastating impacts on farmers and the rural economy. EPA’s recently released final rule for multi-pollutant emissions standards for model years 2027 and later light-duty and medium-duty vehicles dictates that sales of non-electric …
RFA Provides Input to GREET Working Group
As the clock continues to tick, the Sustainable Aviation Fuel Interagency Working Group continues its work on a modified GREET model for the 40B SAF tax credit. The Renewable Fuels Association this week provided some input to the working group regarding what time period should be used for land use change (LUC) emissions accounting under the new model. In a …
Ethanol Exports Down 7%, DDGS Up 9%
February U.S. ethanol exports slipped seven percent, while exports of the animal feed co-product dried distillers grains (DDGS) rebounded nine percent, according to the latest analysis from the Renewable Fuels Association. Ethanol exports in February totaled 139.0 million gallons (mg), with Canada as the top destination for the 35th consecutive month despite a 17% decline from January. “Exports surged to …
Iowa Hits E15 and Biodiesel Records in 2023
Last year was another record for E15 sales in Iowa at 178 million gallons, a whopping 47 percent increase from 2022. In addition, a record 68 million gallons of biodiesel was blended into Iowa diesel for 2023, according to the Iowa Department of Revenue 2023 Retailers Motor Fuel Gallons Annual Report. Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw says …
Farmers and Ethanol Workers Call for E15 Waiver
Nearly 1,000 farmers, ethanol industry workers and other supporters from across the country sent a letter to President Biden this week calling for action to allow continued access to E15 throughout the upcoming summer driving season. “With the 2024 summer driving season just a few months away, we are urging your administration to take additional action that will ensure consumers …