USDA Boosts Corn for Ethanol Forecast

Ethanol is driving up demand for corn in the December supply demand estimate from USDA. The forecast for 2017-18 increases the amount of corn used to produce ethanol by 50 million bushels to 5.525 billion, based on less sorghum going to ethanol production. Corn ending stocks are lowered in turn by 50 million bushels but the impact on the season-average …

AgWired Energy, corn, Ethanol, NCGA, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, USDA

Groups Urge Trump to Stop EPA Changes to RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

Biofuels stakeholder organizations have sent a letter to President Donald Trump, urging him to “act quickly to prevent actions” at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that threaten to undermine future growth of the biofuels industry under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). “If the proposed changes are finalized, EPA’s actions would cause severe harm to our industry, undermining your efforts to …

ACE, Biodiesel, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NBB, NCGA, RFA, RFS

Latest USDA Reports Increase Corn Forecast

Cindy Zimmerman

The September Crop Production report increased both corn and soybean production by about one percent compared to August, but two hurricanes in the past two weeks mean that data is already dated. Rainfall from Hurricane Harvey caused flooding in parts of southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana, impacting data collection activities for the September report, so NASS will collect harvested acreage …

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA, RFS, USDA

NCGA Officers at #FPS17

Officers of the National Corn Growers Association are busy at the 2017 Farm Progress Show this week. I had a chance to chat with NCGA president Wesley Spurlock of Texas, first vice president Kevin Skunes from South Dakota, and 1st VP elect Lynn Chrisp first thing yesterday morning at show. We talked about a variety of topics, including crop conditions …

AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, corn, Farm Progress Show, NCGA

Court Decision Sides with Ethanol Industry

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. biofuels interests were pleased with an appeals court ruling Friday that ‘EPA erred in how it interpreted the “inadequate domestic supply” waiver provision’ of the Renewable Fuel Standard in setting volume obligations. The Americans for Clean Energy v. Environmental Protection Agency ruling by the court vacates EPA’s decision to reduce the total renewable fuel volume requirement in 2016 and …

Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA, RFA

Senator Blasts Ethanol from the Floor

As over 200 corn growers were meeting in the nation’s capitol this week, Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-OK) blasted corn ethanol in an attempt to kill legislation that would allow 15% ethanol blends to be sold year round, instead of being restricted in some areas during the summer months. Inhofe began his speech by complaining that “the fossil fuel industry has …

AgWired Energy, Audio, corn, Ethanol, Government, NCGA

NCGA Dedicated to Driving Ethanol Demand

State and National Corn Grower Association (NCGA) staff recently met to conduct an in-depth, state of the ethanol industry analysis in Bloomington, Illinois at the offices of Illinois Corn. The goal was to discuss and review the ethanol plan constructed by the group last November. The corn team reviewed ethanol production, demand and volume obligation scenarios under the Renewable Fuels …

AgWired Energy, corn, Ethanol, NCGA

Mexico Important Trading Partner for Corn

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts asked grain industry officials from Mexico and the United States join him Tuesday for a press conference to highlight the importance of Mexico to U.S. agriculture and how the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has benefited both countries. “Bilateral trade with Mexico has helped grow agriculture in our state over the years,” said Governor Ricketts. …

Agribusiness, AgWired AgNewsWire, AgWired Energy, Audio, corn, Grains, NCGA, Trade, USGC

Busy Ag Week on the Hill

Cindy Zimmerman

National Ag Week was a busy one for agriculture on Capitol Hill. National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) First Vice President Kevin Skunes of North Dakota spent last week visiting Congressional offices on behalf of both the corn growers and the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE). “Ethanol is our number one priority,” said Skunes. “We need to have this outlet for …

ACE, Ag group, Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

#Ethanol Controversy Talk at #Classic17

Cindy Zimmerman

The controversy that erupted this week within the ethanol industry over alleged backroom deals with the Trump administration to change the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) has generated a lot of discussion this week at the annual Commodity Classic in San Antonio. The event is the annual meeting for thousands of corn, soybean, wheat and sorghum farmers from around the country. …

Audio, Commodity Classic, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA