Tight corn supplies, higher corn prices, low ethanol processing margins, export demand and high soybean meal prices are among the factors contributing to higher prices for dried distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS), the ethanol co-product used as livestock feed. South Dakota State University economics professor Darrell Mark says price for distillers grains usually declines going into summer as cattle feedlot …
Hurdle Cleared for Sale of 15% Ethanol Blends
The Environmental Protection Agency has given its approval for the first retailers to sell 15% ethanol blended fuel. “Today, the last significant federal hurdle has been cleared to allow consumers to buy fuel containing up to 15 percent ethanol (E15),” said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. “This gets us one step closer to giving the American consumer a real choice at …
Farm Bill Amendments Target Energy Programs
Several of the more than 200 amendments proposed for the 2012 Farm Bill in the Senate would negatively impact Farm Bill energy programs. Among the growing list are two from Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) that would eliminate all energy title mandatory funding and prohibit loan guarantees. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) is seeking to kill the Biorefinery Assistance Program and Sen. …
IRFA to Celebrate 10th Anniversary
Although ethanol has been used in Iowa for many decades, an Iowa-focused organization dedicated to the use of renewable fuels didn’t begin until 2002 – The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA). To celebrate the 10 year milestone, IRFA is hosting an event coinciding with the 34th anniversary of the first retail sale of E10, which just so happened to take place in …
9,000 Acres to be Dedicated to Non-Food Energy Crops
An additional 9,000 acres in New York and North Carolina, and the expansion of an area in Arkansas, is being set aside as part of the Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) project. USDA announced $9.6 million will be spent to fund this latest effort to use more non-food crops for the production of biofuels, such as biodiesel and ethanol: “Increasing …
Ethanol Discussed at Clinton Global Initiative
Growth Energy CEO Tom Buis recently participated in a working group on clean fuels and transportation, emphasizing the important role of ethanol as a domestically produced energy. This occurred as leaders from across the United States gathered at the Clinton Global Initiative to discuss some of today’s most challenging problems. During the working group, Buis highlighted the importance of American …
TransFerm Yeast Product Available
Mascoma Corporation has released a yeast product for the ethanol industry called TransFerm that is being joint marketed by Lallemand Ethanol Technology. The product is derived using the Mascoma Grain Technology (MGT) platform. TransFerm is a drop-in substitute for fermenting yeast that according to Lallemand lowers costs for corn ethanol producers because it eliminates the need to purchase enzymes currently …
Ethanol and Environmental Groups Unite for RFS
Ethanol, environmental, science and advanced biofuels groups jointly signed a letter to Congressional leaders this week asking them to protect the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and extend expiring tax incentives for cellulosic biofuels. The letter was signed by the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), the Advanced Ethanol Council (AEC), the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS), the Natural Resources Defense Council …
USDA Increases Ethanol Usage Number
The latest World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates (WASDE) are bumping up the use of corn for ethanol in the 2011-12 marketing year. According to the June 12 report, the 50 million bushels adjustment upward to corn usage for 2011/12 reflects the latest ethanol production and trade data. “Weekly ethanol production has increased since mid-April after gradually declining from the …
Ethanol Safety Training in Iowa
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), CN Railway and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association are co-hosting two Ethanol Safety Seminars in Iowa this week. The Dubuque, IA seminar will be held Wednesday at the Dubuque County Emergency Responder Training Facility, also co-hosted by Big River United Energy. The Waterloo, IA seminar will be held Thursday at the Hawkeye Community College, also …