Biodiesel is ready now to meet the goals of the Agriculture Innovation Agenda. That was the message that the National Biodiesel Board gave to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in comments last week on “’ready to go’ technologies, practices, and management approaches to benefit farmers, consumers, and the environment.” NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik wrote in …
USDA Lowers Forecast for Corn and Soybeans
The November World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates from USDA show lower forecasts for domestic production of both corn and soybeans. This month’s 2020/21 U.S. corn outlook is for lower production, reduced feed and residual use, larger exports, and smaller ending stocks. Corn production is forecast at 14.507 billion bushels, down 215 million with a reduction in yield to 175.8 …
USDA Lowers Corn Use for Ethanol
USDA is now forecasting a slightly smaller corn crop compared to last month’s estimate, but still higher than last year. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) October Crop Production report, corn production for grain is now forecast at 14.7 billion bushels, down 1 percent from the previous forecast but up 8 percent from 2019. Based on conditions as …
USDA Announces New Biofuels Infrastructure Grants
USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue was in Albert Lea, Minnesota on Thursday to announce $22 million out of the up to $100 million in grants available to increase American ethanol and biodiesel sales under the Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP) to recipients in 14 states. The initial $22 million in HBIIP investments are projected to increase ethanol demand by nearly …
Secretary Perdue Says Congress Must Approve Ethanol Aid
Despite estimates that ethanol producers could lose up to $8 billion this year, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue says he has no authority to make payments to plants through the Commodity Credit Corporation under the latest round of the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP 2). The secretary confirmed that he believes Congress has to approve any aid for ethanol …
USDA Undersecretary Censky to Return to ASA
USDA Undersecretary Steve Censky gave one of his last addresses in his current role to the American Coalition for Ethanol virtual annual conference this week. It was announced this morning that Censky will be returning to his former job as CEO of the American Soybean Association in November as after serving with USDA since October 2017. In his prerecorded remarks …
Corn Use for Ethanol Estimate Lowered
The August derecho that charged across the Midwest has taken its toll on the latest crop estimates in USDA’s September World Agricultural Supply and Demand report. Corn production is forecast at 14.9 billion bushels, down 378 million from last month on a lower yield forecast and reduction in harvested area. Corn supplies are reduced from last month, as a smaller …
RFA Helps Retailers Apply for Infrastructure Grants
The Renewable Fuels Association has been able to assist retailers in 21 states this year apply for infrastructure project grants totaling over $52 million. The grants are part of USDA’s Higher Blends Infrastructure Incentive Program (HBIIP), which has $86 million available to transportation fueling facilities to expand the availability and sale of higher blends of ethanol like E15 and E85/Flex …
Mustard Family Plant Could Make Biofuel
Scientists at USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are studying a plant in the mustard family as a source for making butanol. It’s scientific name is Lesquerella, but it is often called Fendler’s bladderpod and Yellow Top, a plant native to the U.S. Southwest. Butanol is a cleaner-burning alternative to gasoline that was produced worldwide until after World War II, when …
RFA Offers USDA Renewable Fuels Innovation Agenda
The Renewable Fuels Association provided USDA with a roadmap to renewable fuel growth in comments on its Agriculture Innovation Agenda (AIA). The agenda calls for “increased biofuel feedstock production and biofuel production efficiency and competitiveness to achieve market-driven blend rates of E15 in 2030 and E30 in 2050.” RFA’s response identified the following five opportunities for the industry: Increasing productivity …