The U.S. Department of Agriculture increased the forecast for the nation’s corn crop by two percent in the September crop production report out Friday morning. The forecast is now an even 13 billion bushels, just 100 million bushels short of the 2007 record crop. The soybean crop, already expected to be the biggest ever, was boosted another one percent in …
Minnesota Ethanol Plant Grand Opening
After more than three years of planning and construction, Highwater Ethanol in Lamberton, Minnesota is ready to open the doors and celebrate. The plant was officially announced on June 7, 2006 and began grinding corn last month. The new 55 million gallon a year facility will hold its grand opening on September 11, the eighth anniversary of terrorist attacks on …
Brazilian Sugar Crop Forecasts Dropped
In a follow up to a recent post about the forecasted record sugarcane harvest in Brazil, it appears that this won’t come to fruition. UNICA, the Brazilian Sugarcane Industry Association, has released today the news that heavy rains in South-Central Brazil, the country’s top sugarcane producing region, caused a drop of 23.8 percent in the volume of sugarcane crushed during …
BRAIN-y Idea Helps Wisconsin Biodiesel & Ethanol
Wisconsin will be getting $1 million to help put in E85 ethanol and biodiesel stations and infrastructure across the state. This article from the Milwaukee Business Journal says that the new Biofuels Retail Availability Improvement Network (BRAIN) will fund the installation of 27 E85 and biodiesel retail locations around the state, as well as support the installation of biodiesel blending …
E85 and Biodiesel Promo in Sioux Rapids, IA
The First Coop Association is one of many stations to take advantage of the Renewable Fuels Promotional Assistance Program sponsored by the Iowa Corn Promotion Board, the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA) and the Iowa Soybean Association. Through the Renewable Fuels Promotional Assistance Program, Iowa Corn and IRFA partners with retailers for grand openings for E85 and ethanol blender dispensers. …
Competition Underway to Build Biofuel Snowmobile
The race is on… but this time it’s to build a cleaner burning snowmobile. This post on the Good Green Cars blog says the Society of Automobile Engineers… aka SAE International… has challenged college engineering students to build a snowmobile that runs on biodiesel, ethanol or electricity: The snowmobiles will be rated in categories like emissions, noise, and acceleration.The idea …
Dakar Rally Race to Debut Ethanol Category in 2010
The world’s largest rally competition will include an ethanol category for the first time next year. The new category was introduced by the Dakar Rally organizers at the request of Brazilian rally veteran and former rally winner Klever Kolberg, who will drive the first-ever flex-fuel vehicle to take part in the prestigious race next year – a Brazilian-made 2010 Mitsubishi …
Ethanol Report on RFA CEO at Farm Progress Show
This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features an interview with Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen during a visit to the 2009 Farm Progress Show in Decatur, Illinois on September 2. Dinneen discusses the need to increase the amount of ethanol allowed in gasoline above the current 10 percent, the Environmental Protection Agency rulemaking on the expanded Renewable …