This week I’ve had the opportunity to visit the Ohio State University’s annual Farm Science Review show. It’s all about midwest farming and that includes corn. While I was visiting the Ohio Corn Growers exhibit I found 5 time IHRA Funny Car Champion Mark Thomas. Here he is explaining his car, which runs on ethanol, to an FFA student. Mark …
Biodiesel, Ethanol & Wind Facing Uphill Battle on the Hill
The latest version of the energy bill, which includes an extension of the $1-a-gallon biodiesel tax credit and federal incentives for wind and solar energy (which were all set to expire at the end of this year), has passed the U.S. House, but its future is most assuredly less assured as it moves on to the U.S. Senate. Senate Majority …
CFDC to Hold Ethanol Webinar
In response to recent media reports which have blamed the ethanol industry for the rising price of corn, animal feed, and food, the Clean Fuels Development Coalition (CFDC) will hold a webinar on Wednesday, September 24 at noon central time.
House Passes Energy Bill with Renewable Fuels Provisions
The U.S. House has approved a measure that will renew some tax credits for wind and solar power that were set to expire at the end of this year, as well as allowing more drilling for offshore oil. This story from the San Francisco Chronicle says passage came after some contentious debate on the issue: [House Speaker Nancy] Pelosi hailed …
Wal-Mart Donation to Fund Ethanol Research
Wal-Mart Foundation recently donated $369,000 to the Arkansas Biosciences Institute at Arkansas State University to help fund biomass to ethanol research. According to a university news release, the donation will be used to meet the cost share requirement for a U.S. Department of Energy grant awarded to the university. The Arkansas Biosciences Institute is researching the commercialization of biobased product …
USDA Crop Forecast and Ethanol Demand
The latest crop production forecast out Friday from the U.S. Department of Agriculture slightly lowered the production estimate of the 2008 corn crop from 12.288 billion to 12.072 billion bushels, which would still be the second highest on record. “We were expecting to see the numbers decrease a little, but we remain optimistic about this year’s crop,” said National Corn …
POET Opens Third Indiana Ethanol Plant
Ethanol-powered planes flew in formation in the blue Hoosier sky Thursday to mark the opening of Indiana’s newest ethanol plant in North Manchester. POET hosted a grand opening event for POET Biorefining – North Manchester, the company’s 24th production facility and the third in Indiana. “With its third Indiana facility, POET is quickly becoming a household name in our small …
Austrian Views on Food Versus Fuel
The issue of food versus fuel was a topic of discussion among international agricultural journalists visiting Austria this past week. The group of 250 International Federation of Agricultural Journalists members representing nearly 20 countries was led by former commissioner of agriculture for the European Union Franz Fischler, a native Austrian. Fischler called the food versus fuel controversy “unfair.” “They don’t …