The final 2008 corn crop estimate from the U.S. Department of Agriculture released today confirmed that American farmers produced the second-largest crop on record with the second highest average yield per acre in history – despite adverse weather across the Corn Belt during the early part of the growing season and a late fall harvest. Corn for grain production in …
Biofuels Focus at Farm Bureau Meeting
Biofuels have been a major topic of discussion at the American Farm Bureau Federation 90th annual meeting in San Antonio this week. A conference titled “The Growing Role of Biofuels for Today, Tomorrow and Beyond,” featured Brooke Coleman, executive director of the New Fuels Alliance and spokesperson for FoodPriceTruth. “Agriculture is the key to the new energy economy,” Coleman said. …
Ethanol Industry Outlook for 2009
2008 was a year that for the most part everyone would like to forget – including those in the ethanol industry. Now that 2009 is underway, Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen says there are still challenges ahead for the industry – but opportunities as well. That is the subject of this edition of “The Ethanol Report” podcast …
POET Producing Pilot Cellulosic Ethanol
The world’s largest corn ethanol producer is now successfully producing cellulosic ethanol at a pilot plant in South Dakota. According to company officials, POET Research Center in Scotland, S.D. is now producing cellulosic ethanol at a rate of 20,000 gallons per year using corn cobs as feedstock. “The start-up of the pilot scale facility has been extremely smooth,” said POET …
Economist Says Biofuels Demand Will Drive Crop Prices
An agricultural economist speaking to members of the nation’s largest general farm organization meeting in San Antonio this weekend said crop prices this year will be driven by demand for biofuels. Jim Sullivan of Informa Economics in Washington, D.C. told a crop outlook seminar at the American Farm Bureau Federation 90th annual meeting that the global recession will mean weakening …
Obama Economic Speech Highlights Alt Energy Plans
This week’s major economic speech from President-elect Barack Obama pointed out how ethanol and biodiesel, as well as other alternatives to conventional energy sources, will be key to the nation’s economic recovery. This article from the New York Times says the plan also pushes energy efficiency: “To finally spark the creation of a clean energy economy, we will double the …
Outgoing Ag Secretary Notes Biofuel Gains
The outgoing U.S. Secretary of Agriculture listed advancements in the renewable fuels industry among the accomplishments of the Bush administration over the past eight years. Speaking to reporters this week, Secretary Ed Schafer noted that growth in ethanol and biodiesel production have helped create “remarkable prosperity and growth in the agriculture economy” during the Bush administration. “Looking to the future, …
Biodiesel, Ethanol Friend Leaving Senate
U.S. Sen. Christopher “Kit” Bond, a longtime friend of renewable and clean energy efforts, has announced he will not seek re-election in 2010. During his nearly 40 years of elected service as Missouri’s State Auditor, the state’s youngest governor and a U.S. Senator (which he served an amazing four, six-year terms), Bond has been a great advocate for green fuels. …