Officials with the National Corn Growers Association say while they are concerned about the potential impact of weather on this year’s corn crop, growers are confident they can meet the demand.
“Thanks to a very successful 2007, we started this year off with a significant level of beginning stocks that can help see us through a season of reduced production,” said NCGA President Ron Litterer, a grower from Greene, Iowa.
In its latest supply/demand report, the U.S. Department of Agriculture this week lowered expected yields for this year’s corn crop by five bushels per acre and are now projecting the 2008 corn crop to be 11.7 billion bushels, down 390 million from last month. The yield was reduced by 5 bushels an acre due to “slow planting progress, slow crop emergence, and persistent, heavy rainfall across the Corn Belt.”
In its report, the USDA also increased its projection of carry-out from the current crop marketing year to 1.433 billion bushels, based on slightly reduced projections for exports this year. The latest projection for corn to produce ethanol in the current year remained unchanged at four billion bushels.
Moving to second generation ethanol production is obviously a priority for the nation’s ethanol producers.
American motorists are rethinking their driving habits. That is, according to a 
The 8th race of the 2008 IndyCar racing season is less than two weeks away. IndyCar Drivers hit the track for the 2008 Iowa Corn Indy 250 Sunday June 22nd. The track buzz isn’t just about racing though. The Ethanol Promotion and Information Council has a handful of activities set up for race weekend. 
Solazyme is about to make history as the first algae-biodiesel maker to meet stringent standards that diesel fuel must meet.
The leaders from the two biggest biofuels groups in the country are countering what they term as a smear campaign against the benefits of biodiesel and ethanol by the nation’s grocers.
“With oil prices up more than 100 percent in the last 12 months, it is wrongheaded for groups to attack biofuels which represent one of the few components of US energy policy that is actually working. Biofuels are currently contributing over 8 billion gallons of fuel to our fuel supply, without which fuel prices, and consequently food prices, would be even higher than they already are.”
“It’s time for some truth in advertising from the world’s largest food processors. Instead of smearing American farmers and the only fuel that is backing out foreign oil, why aren’t GMA and its allies pointing to the skyrocketing price of oil as the main cause of increasing food prices and the main reason American’s have less to spend.
After a long primary season, the presumptive Democratic and Republican nominees for president continue to expend plenty of hot air… and probably will continue to do so through Election Day in November. Now, maybe some of that wind will actually power their conventions.
Xcel said the two, week-long conventions combined would use about 3,000-megawatt hours of power. The donated wind power is worth about $30,000, a utility spokesman said.
As we last left the Earthrace, a boat powered by 100 percent biodiesel trying to set a world record for circumnavigating the globe, she was limping into Singapore after hitting some debris near Palau and damaging a prop.
Hollywood is recognizing the importance of renewable energy and a greener approach to entertainment. The Los Angeles Film Festival, scheduled for June 19th-29th, will be using biodiesel, as well as offsetting carbon usage with investment in wind energy.
And speaking of the silver screen, Josh Tickell’s biodiesel documentary, “Fields of Fuel,” will be playing this week at the