ACE Conference 2026

RFA Analyzes USDA Report for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association Logo The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) hosted a webinar this morning to discuss the new USDA Prospective Planting and Grain Stocks reports and what they indicate for America’s supply of corn and how demand from ethanol production might play into food pricing this year.

Some of the main points made by RFA VP of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper about the reports relative to ethanol and food prices are:

1. The additional corn acreage is coming through crop switching, not land expansion
2. An average 159.7 bushels per acre will maintain current carry-out levels
3. 2011 ethanol production expected at 13.8-14 bg; about 5 billion bushels of corn
4. USDA is likely underestimating ethanol yield
5. On net basis, ethanol using only 23% of the 10/11 corn supply – not 40%
6. Food price inflation expected to be in line with average of 3.4%
7. Energy prices and speculation more important factors in food price increases
8. Corn is a minor cost component of most retail food items
9. Just 12 cents of every retail food dollar goes to the farm level
11. U.S. corn exports have not declined as ethanol use has expanded
12. U.S. ethanol uses 3% of world grain supply; grain not being “diverted” for fuel use

Cooper notes that the USDA prospective plantings report should be taken “with a grain of salt” since it only indicates farmers’ current intentions and will likely change as planting season gets underway.

Link to RFA power point presentation.

Listen to Geoff Cooper’s presentation here: RFA's Geoff Cooper on USDA report

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Food prices, RFA, USDA

Corn Stocks are Down, Plantings Expected Higher

Cindy Zimmerman

USDAUSDA expects more five percent more corn to be planted this year according to the Prospective Plantings report released this morning, but stocks are down 15% from last year at this time.

Corn growers intend to plant 92.2 million acres of corn for all purposes this year, up 5 percent from last year and 7 percent higher than in 2009. If realized, this will be the second highest planted acreage in the United States since 1944, behind only the 93.5 million acres planted in 2007.

In the new Grain Stocks report today, USDA says corn stocks in all positions on March 1, 2011 totaled 6.52 billion bushels, down 15 percent from last year. “Of the total stocks, 3.38 billion bushels are stored on farms, down 26 percent from a year earlier. Off-farm stocks, at 3.14 billion bushels, are down slightly from a year ago. The December 2010 – February 2011 indicated disappearance is 3.53 billion bushels, compared with 3.21 billion bushels during the same period last year.”

“This morning’s acreage estimate clearly shows that American farmers respond to signals from the marketplace,” said Renewable Fuels Association Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper this morning. “There is every expectation that farmers will once again produce the corn that is needed to meet all demands.”

According to Cooper, based on this acreage estimate, corn yields would need to average 159.7 bushels per acre to maintain current carry-out levels. “To increase carry-out stocks to near one billion bushels, an average yield of 163.5 bushels per acre would be needed,” he said. “Such a yield is entirely possible and in line with trend yield growth from the last 15 years. In 2009, American farmers set the all-time yield record at 164.7 bushels per acre.”

Cooper will be providing more analysis on what the reports mean for the ethanol industry in a webinar this morning at 10:00 AM Eastern. To get info on how to tune in, please email Taryn Morgan at tmorgan@ethanolrfa.org.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Book Review – Climate of Corruption

Joanna Schroeder

In the past several years, there seems to be a growing number of people who believe that global warming is a very orchestrated political and environmental hoax. As hype around Earth Day is growing (April 22, 2011), I thought it would be interesting to read, “Climate of Corruption: Politics and Power Behind the Global Warming Hoax,” by Larry Bell. Now Larry Bell is no more a climate scientist than Al Gore. He is a space architect and doesn’t pretend to be anything different. But Bell believes there is a conspiracy amongst us relating to the horrors of climate change that center around fossil-fuel CO2 emissions.

He writes, “Understand that the real impetus behind the cooked numbers and doomspeak of the global warmers has little to do with the state of the environment and much to do with shackling capitalism and transforming the American way of life in the interests of global wealth redistribution (“social justice”).

Bell acknowledges that climate change is real – only that it is not man-made- and says that no one can reliably predict what Earth’s global climate will be in a decade or longer. What he sees as the real problem is the global energy supply dilemma, one that he believes has no simple solution.

Throughout the book, Bell lays out his case for his way of thinking beginning with “outing” those who are “cooking the climate books.” This includes Al Gore as well as the United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In other words, he “sets the record straight.” From there, he highlights those that he believes are political hijackers of science – meaning policy makers who have molded climate science research to support their own agenda – mainly cap and trade. (I fondly call this crap and raid.) Bell argues that all forms of cap and trade are scams.Read More

biofuels, book reviews, Environment, global warming, Solar, Wind

Obama Sticks to His Guns on Biofuel Policy Support

Joanna Schroeder

President Obama is sticking to his guns in his support of biofuels, among other energy sources, as viable ways for America to reduce its dependence on foreign sources of oil. This morning, his administration released its plan for a comprehensive energy policy their report, “Blueprint For A Secure Energy Future.”

As a result of the report, the biofuel and biotech industries came out in support of the president’s commitment to biofuels.

Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) President and CEO Jim Greenwood thanked President Obama and his administration for its leadership in supporting the commercial development of biorefineries.

“Continued reliance on foreign petroleum threatens not only our economy, but also our energy and national security,” said Greenwood. “Next generation biorefineries utilizing renewable biomass to produce advanced biofuels, biobased products and renewable chemicals offer the potential to help stabilize energy prices and revitalize U.S. rural and manufacturing communities. The policies announced today by President Obama will provide important support to path-breaking biotechnology companies seeking to build commercial-scale cellulosic and advanced biorefineries.”

BIO’s Executive Vice President, Brent Erickson, added that to continue the momentum in the commercialization of biofuels, Congress and the country’s energy policy must enable federal agencies to serve as leaders in creating an open marketplace for biofuels to compete.

Also responding to the report was Brooke Coleman, the executive director of the Advanced Ethanol Council. Coleman reiterated that the biofuels industry is ready and waiting to assist the country in meeting its domestic energy needs and also called upon the administration to work with the industry to create a “responsible transition and transformation of current biofuel tax policy and investments in ethanol vehicle technology and fueling infrastructure.”

Coleman concluded, “Challenging capital markets, economic uncertainty, and uncertain federal policy have worked to slow the commercialization of promising advanced ethanol technologies. By committing to policies that accelerate the commercial production of ethanol from a wide range feedstocks, the nation can gain more control over its energy future. Ethanol production from wood wastes, grasses, municipal solid waste, and other non-traditional feedstocks will go a long way to making America truly independent of a need to import oil.”

advanced biofuels, BIO, biofuels, Biotech, Government

Ethanol Group to Host Webinar on Plantings Report

Cindy Zimmerman

The first big crop report of the season is due out on Thursday and the ethanol industry is ready to interpret what it means for them.

Renewable Fuels Association LogoFollowing the release of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s prospective plantings forecast in the morning, the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) will host a webinar to detail what the report means and how America’s supply of corn and the demand from ethanol production play into food pricing.

The webinar, “Understanding the 2011 Planting Outlook, Ethanol, and Food Pricing,” will be presented by RFA Vice President of Research and Analysis Geoff Cooper at 10:00 AM Eastern on Thursday. It is free to join in, all you have to do is RSVP by emailing Taryn Morgan at tmorgan@ethanolrfa.org.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, USDA, Webinar

I Can Hear The Boots On The Ground In DC

Joanna Schroeder

The “Biofuels Beltway March” is underway in Washington, D.C. and more than 60 grassroots members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) have their boots on the ground and are meeting with policy makers to set the record straight about ethanol. By the end of today, the ethanol advocates from 16 different states, will have engaged in 160 meetings with Members of Congress or their staff bringing ethanol information to Congressmen and Congresswomen representing 43 states.

I had a brief chance to speak with Executive Vice President Brian Jennings via Skype between meetings and he said the group’s priorities during the meetings are to show the proven benefits of ethanol, promote fuel choice through Flexible Fuel Vehicles and blender pumps, and to reform the ethanol tax credit (VEETC) while preventing moves for its repeal.

Listen to Brian’s Skype interview from D.C. here: Biofuels Beltway March Update From DC

Jennings stressed the importance of the timing of the fly-in and said that the ACE group will meet with nearly half of the freshman Members of Congress. More than half of this freshman group voted against E15 or blender pumps in the Continuing Resolution.

“We are not preaching to the choir. We’re putting boots on the ground to meet one-on-one with people who need to learn the facts about ethanol, and we plan to make a real impact in these two days,” Jennings added.

The group has been addressed by special guests USDA Under Secretary for Rural Development Dallas Tonsager, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), U.S. Senator John Thune (R-SD), part of the GOP leadership and member of the Senator Finance Committee which has jurisdiction over ethanol tax issues.

For those not able to attend but would like to get involved in ACE’s grassroots efforts, can check out their “Virtual Fly-In” campaign and send messages to Members of Congress coinciding with their face-to-face meetings. The messages urge Congress to vote against Senator Coburn’s (R-OK) amendment to repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC). Messages may be sent this week through ACE’s Legislative Action Center.

You can also view photos from the meetings in their “Biofuels Beltway March” photo album.

ACE, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, politics

Senate Ag Holds Hearing on High Gas Prices

Cindy Zimmerman

How domestic fuel can fight higher gas prices was the focus of a hearing today before the Senate agriculture committee.

jeff broin“Fundamentals and Farming: Evaluating High Gas Prices and How New Rules and Innovative Farming Can Help” featured a panel that included POET CEO Jeff Broin who testified on how the industry needs market access to help alleviate high gas prices by increasing ethanol supplies through expansion in cellulosic ethanol.

“The solution to keep gas prices lower is for American motorists to have an alternative to gasoline,” Broin said. “That alternative is available today – in homegrown, renewable ethanol.”

Broin also encouraged ethanol tax credit reform by redirecting those funds to build out ethanol blender pump infrastructure along with a requirement for Flex Fuel Vehicles and loan guarantees for dedicated ethanol pipelines. “With those elements in place, the oil industry would no longer enjoy exclusive access to 90 percent of the fuel supply,” Broin said. “The best way to lower prices for consumers is to allow ethanol to compete with oil in the marketplace.”

Listen to or download Broin’s testimony here: Jeff Broin testimony

Also testifying was Kansas livestock and grain producer Stan Townsend, a sixth generation farmer, who talked about the high cost of farming. “In 1988, when I started, a new tractor was $41,000. That tractor today is $281,000,” he said.

As a livestock producer, Townsend said he understands the impact of higher corn prices yet supports ethanol production. “Ethanol has provided the industry with the unique opportunity to incorporate the use of high-quality DDGs into our feed cycle, one of the many ways we can mitigate our costs and remain profitable,” he said.

Listen to or download Townsend’s testimony here: Townsend testimony

Audio, biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Process Optimization Seminar Heading to Houston

Joanna Schroeder

process optimizationBack by popular demand, the fifth Process Optimization Seminar is heading to Houston on April 27-29, 2011. The event is designed for plant managers, operations managers, technical Managers, lab Managers and general managers who are ready to get more out of their ethanol plant. The three-day course is taught by leading industry technical leaders from Phibro Ethanol Performance Group, Fermentis, Novozymes, and Fremont Industries. This session, presenters will focus on topics ranging from overviews of new process technologies to help lower carbon output, to technical reviews of new products in development to strategies for better human resource management.

Tom Slunecka of Phibro says the seminars have been very popular with ethanol plant operators and managers. “There just can’t be enough education, there’s always things changing and new technologies available,” Slunecka said. “We keep the class sizes very small so about 60 people are invited each time.”

Slunecka says this seminar will be a little different than the previous four. “This seminar is going to give managers some really tactical advantages to advance small, incremental changes in their plant,” he said. “It’s going to give management at the plant some new ideas and new ways to help their team get the absolute maximum out of the plant’s fermentation.”

Listen to Tom talk about what this seminar has to offer here: Tom Slunecka Interview

Guest speakers at the Houston event include:

    Randall Sigle – Renewable Fuels Ethanol Instructor, Northeast Community College, who will provide insight into people management.

    Doug Durante – Executive Director, Clean Fuels Development Coalition, who will provide an overview of the issues the ethanol industry is facing in Washington, DC and discuss the opportunities that may be available through carbon credits.
    Bill Roddy – Corporate Environmental Manager, ICM who will share insights on carbon modeling and life cycle assessments for shipments of ethanol to California.
    Dave Vander Griend, CEO, ICM who will discuss insights on next generation plants and other insights on an ever evolving industry.

In addition to the eduational sessions, participants can also engage in a Valero refinery tour, a tour of the SGS labs that includes a reception and dinner, and a chance to see the Houston Astros play the St. Louis Cardinals on April 28th.

Space is extremely limited. Register by April 15 to receive the early registration rate of $200 and includes all sessions, tours, meals and entertainment. Click here to register.

Audio, conferences, Education, Ethanol, Ethanol News

President Calls for Secure Energy Future

Cindy Zimmerman

President Obama today released his administration’s Blueprint for A Secure Energy Future that outlines the comprehensive national energy policy.

“In an economy that relies on oil, rising prices at the pump affect everybody – workers and farmers; truck drivers and restaurant owners,” said the president during a speech in Georgetown. “The only way for America’s energy supply to be truly secure is by permanently reducing our dependence on oil.”

As alternatives to oil, Obama voiced support for both natural gas and biofuels, “not just ethanol, but biofuels made from things like switchgrass, wood chips, and biomass.”

“That’s why we’re investing in things like fueling stations and research into the next generation of biofuels,” he said. “Over the next two years, we’ll help entrepreneurs break ground on four next-generation biorefineries – each with a capacity of more than 20 million gallons per year. And going forward, we should look for ways to reform biofuels incentives to make sure they meet today’s challenges and save taxpayers money.” Obama also urged the expansion of alternative vehicles in the federal fleet and announced that he is directing agencies to purchase 100% alternative fuel, hybrid, or electric vehicles by 2015.

The ethanol industry was pleased with the president’s comments. “America’s ethanol industry stands ready to work with the Obama Administration and Congress to transform current biofuel policies to reflect the evolving nature of the industry and the fiscal concerns voiced by many on Capitol Hill,” said Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “That means we must think outside the box when it comes to incentivizing the use of ethanol, expanding the market for ethanol, and accelerating the commercialization of advanced ethanol technologies.”

“President Obama deserves credit for identifying both short and long term solutions to reducing our nation’s dependence on foreign oil by encouraging the increased use of ethanol and next generation biofuels. He particularly recognized the role of America’s farmers in the production of corn ethanol today and next-generation biofuels in the future. Ethanol is part of the solution, whether that ethanol comes from grain or cellulosic biomass,” said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy.

The president also encouraged the increased use of other clean energy sources, including wind and solar and encouraged Congress to maintain critical investments in clean energy. “At a moment like this, sacrificing these investments would weaken our energy security and make us more dependent on oil, not less,” he said.

Fact sheet from the White House on America’s Energy Security

biofuels, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Natural Gas, Solar, Wind

U.S. Ag Exports May Benefit From Japan Disaster

Chuck Zimmerman

The earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan has repercussions in a variety of industries. Agriculture is no exception. Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “How will Japan disaster affect US exports?” 61% said it will increase exports while 23% said decrease and 17% said no impact. So how has this disaster affected agriculture in Japan? You can learn more in this interview I conducted with a Japanese ag journalist this week.

It’s mid term for the current administration in Washington, DC. So we thought it would be interesting to get your take on how you think our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture is doing. Here’s your chance to grade him. The new poll is now live and asks the question, “What mid-term grade would you give Ag Sec. Tom Vilsack?” Let us know what you think and thank you for participating.

ZimmPoll is sponsored by Rhea+Kaiser, a full-service advertising/public relations agency.

ZimmPoll