RFA’s Missy Ruff Receives National Safety Award

Carrie Muehling

RFA’s Missy Ruff, left, received the TRANSCAER Chairman’s Award at an RFA Committee Meeting with RFA VP for Regulatory Affairs Kelly Davis.

TRANSCAER presented the 2018 Chairman’s Award to Missy Ruff, technical services manager for the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA).

The award recognizes a TRANSCAER team member who has contributed above and beyond the normal call of duty to advocate, demonstrate and implement TRANSCAER’s principles. Ruff received the award during the RFA Committee Meeting prior to the start of the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop in Indianapolis.

“Your accomplishments and contributions deserve our recognition,” wrote TRANSCAER Chairman Keith Silverman in his award letter to Ruff. “The award reflects the endless hours that you personally contribute to plan, organize and implement TRANSCAER training dedicated to the safe handling of ethanol and awareness response training for emergency responders across the U.S.”

TRANSCAER is a voluntary national outreach effort that focuses on assisting communities to prepare for and respond to a possible hazardous material transportation incident. TRANSCAER members include volunteer representatives from the chemical manufacturing, transportation, distribution, hazardous material storage and handling, emergency response and preparedness, and related service industries as well as the government.

“No one is more deserving of this recognition than Missy Ruff,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “Her dedication and tireless efforts to maintain the ethanol industry’s impeccable safety record should be celebrated. Missy has made it her personal mission to ensure first responders in every state are trained and prepared for any situation. Missy is a highly valued member of the RFA team, and I appreciate everything she does to help the ethanol industry thrive.”

Ruff leads RFA’s award-winning safety initiatives and assists with numerous technical and regulatory initiatives, including rail issues. In addition to her work with TRANSCAER, she has planned and executed hundreds of Ethanol Safety Seminars and workshops across the country training thousands of attendees. Missy works closely with state and federal agencies, industry partners, emergency responders, consumers, petroleum marketers and retailers among others.

Renewable Fuels Association, safety

Growth Energy: American Drivers Reach E15 Milestone

Carrie Muehling

Just after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced approval of year-round sales of E15, Growth Energy recognized that United States drivers have now logged 10 billion miles on the road using the E15 blend.

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor was among many who attended President Trump’s visit to Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE).

“This is a great day for Iowans,” said Skor. “It’s a great day for American drivers and rural Americans across the country. I am thrilled to be here on behalf of ethanol producers to thank the President for following through on a promise he made. He said he would make sure the EPA gave us year round access to E15, that they would do it in time for the summer driving season. They met that deadline and so we’re very happy to be here.”

Skor said while the group is thankful for the E15 announcement, there is more work to be done including addressing small refinery exemptions, upcoming renewable volume obligations numbers, and the significant need for access to markets on the global trade front.

Interview with Emily Skor, Growth Energy

President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant Photo Album

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Growth Energy, Renewable Energy

FEW High Octane Award Goes to Steve Vander Griend

Cindy Zimmerman

Steve Vander Griend, Technical Director of the Urban Air Initiative, received the High Octane Award this week at the Fuel Ethanol Workshop (FEW). The High Octane Award is presented each year by BBI International and Ethanol Producer Magazine to a person whose passion and unstoppable pursuits have significantly benefited the ethanol industry.

Vander Griend was recognized for his dedication and passion to learn and educate the industry about the technical and regulatory details related to fuel and ethanol. Thanks to his attention to detail, the ethanol industry is better educated about issues with the MOVES Model, the importance of splash blending and how real world driving conditions and fuels are key to accurately reflect ethanol emissions.

“It is an honor to receive this award, as many people know, I’m just a little passionate about the benefits of ethanol. It is a great fuel and has a great story to tell,” said Vander Griend.

Vander Griend was nominated by his peers and selected as the winner by previous recipients of the High Octane Award.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, FEW

Behind the Scenes with President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) CEO Geoff Cooper and Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy CEO Mike Jerke shared their thoughts about President Donald Trump’s behind the scenes tour of the ethanol plant Tuesday.

Jerke and Cooper met the president as he arrived at the plant and escorted him in to meet some local farmers and plant employees and learn more about ethanol. Both said President Trump took a very active interest in the plant and listened to concerns they raised about Small Refinery Exemptions hurting demand.

Listen to comments from Jerke and Cooper and watch the White House highlight reel from the visit below.

Press call with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper and SIRE CEO Mike Jerke

President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant Photo Album


Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

Biodiesel Industry on Capitol Hill This Week

Cindy Zimmerman

Rep. Abby Finkenauer (D-IA) with NBB Chairman Kent Engelbrecht and Vice Chairman Chad Stone.

Over 70 National Biodiesel Board (NBB) members are in the nation’s capital this week to meet with 130 Congressional offices and discuss the status of the biodiesel tax incentive and the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Kurt Kovarik, NBB’s Vice President of Federal Affairs, stated, “Biodiesel and renewable diesel are produced, distributed and used across the United States. The industry supports more than 60,000 jobs across multiple economic sectors. Gathering in Washington each year is important to our members so that they can meet as constituents with their Representatives and Senators. We are hosting a record 130 meetings this year to discuss the uncertainty our industry’s companies and workers along with farmers are facing, due to the biodiesel tax incentive’s lapse and the negative impact of small refinery exemptions on the Renewable Fuel Standard.”

NBB thanked Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Cheri Bustos (D-IL), Dave Loebsack (D-IA) and 19 other Representatives for urging House leaders in a letter this week to immediately extend the biodiesel tax incentive.

“Biodiesel and renewable diesel represent a sustainable and alternative fuel source that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and supports thousands of green jobs across the country,” the letter stated.

Biodiesel, NBB

REG Life Sciences’ Assets Sold to Genomatica

Carrie Muehling

Renewable Energy Group, Inc. has completed the sale of substantially all assets of REG Life Sciences’ to Genomatica.

“We are pleased to be selling our Life Sciences’ assets to Genomatica, who are well positioned to build upon the technical progress we have made, and to advance the team and the technology through to commercialization,” said REG’s CEO Cynthia J. Warner. “As we focus on our core strategies to grow our fuel business, this deal allows the technology to develop with a new owner while we retain the opportunity to participate in the successful commercialization of the technology in the future.”

REG acquired the Life Sciences business in 2014. Since then the team has successfully advanced the technology development over several years including through key strategic partnerships with Exxon Mobil and Clariant. Many of the REG Life Sciences team members will join Genomatica at its San Diego Innovation Center.

“Consumer demand for sustainable products continues to grow, and successful companies will increasingly switch to ingredients that reduce harm to the environment and work with partners with shared values,” said Christophe Schilling, Genomatica’s CEO. “This acquisition adds powerful technology and talent to help Genomatica enhance the sustainability of everyday products.”

Biodiesel, REG, Renewable Energy

Iowa Farmer Represents Corn Growers with Pres. Trump

National Corn Growers Association First Vice President Kevin Ross represented corn growers in hosting President Trump for a tour of Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy ethanol plant in Council Bluffs, Iowa Tuesday. Ross farms in nearby Minden and sells corn to the ethanol plant.

The visit was an opportunity for NCGA to thank the President for following through on the commitment to allow for year-round sales of E15, a priority for corn farmers. On May 31, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule for E15. In addition to increasing demand for farmers, higher blends of renewable fuels such as E15 reduce fuel prices for drivers by three to ten cents per gallon and result in lower emissions, improving air quality and providing greater greenhouse gas reductions.

Ross also urged President Trump to address EPA’s waivers to large refiners that are undermining the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and work with members of Congress to pass an infrastructure bill.

Listen to Kevin’s remarks and an interview with him below:

SIRE plant remarks by NCGA officer Kevin Ross, Iowa

Interview with Kevin Ross, NCGA 1st VP

President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant Photo Album

AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, corn, Ethanol, NCGA

WASDE Lowers Corn Forecast

USDA’s World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report for June sharply lowered the forecast for U.S. corn production this year.

Corn production for 2019/20 is forecast to decline 1.4 billion bushels to 13.7 billion, which if realized would be the lowest since 2015/16.Unprecedented planting delays observed through early June are expected to prevent some plantings and reduce yield prospects. USDA will release its Acreage report on June 28, which will provide survey-based indications of planted and harvested area. With sharply lower supplies, use is projected to decline 425 million bushels to 14.3 billion, based on reductions to feed and residual use and exports. With supplies falling more than use, ending stocks are projected to decline 810 million bushels to 1.7 billion, which if realized would be the lowest since 2013/14. The season-average farm price is raised 50 cents to $3.80 per bushel.

The latest crop progress report shows corn planting most delayed in Ohio (50%), Michigan, South Dakota, Indiana, and Illinois. In Iowa, where this photo was taken this week, 93 percent of the crop is in the ground, but only 73 percent is emerged and half of that is rated fair to very poor.

Yesterday’s MGEX Crop Report Conference Call featured commentary on the report from Randy Martinson of Martinson Ag Risk Management. Listen here.

MGEX crop call with Randy Martinson, Martinson Ag Risk Management
AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, corn, USDA

President Signs Biotechnology Order

During his visit to an Iowa ethanol plant yesterday, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to Modernize the Regulatory Framework for Agricultural Biotechnology Products. The order encourages biotechnology innovation, ensures coordination across regulatory agencies, and safely enables billions of people across the world to reap the benefits of American biotechnology crops.

“Throughout our history, farmers have always led the way,” said President Trump. “We will never stop fighting for our farmers.”

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was with the president in Iowa and applauded the new executive order.

“Our current regulatory framework has impeded innovation instead of facilitating it. With this Executive Order, President Trump is once again putting America first and setting us on a course to modernize our regulatory framework so that it works for our farmers, ranchers, and consumers. We need all the tools in the toolbox to meet the challenge of feeding everyone now and into the future – if we do not put these safe biotechnology advances to work here at home, our competitors in other nations will,” said Secretary Perdue. “Science-based advances in biotechnology have great promise to enhance rural prosperity and improve the quality of life across America’s heartland and around the globe. I applaud President Trump for signing this important Executive Order that will help America’s farmers do what we aspire to do at USDA: Do Right and Feed Everyone.”

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Biotech

President Trump Celebrates Ethanol With Farmers

President Donald J. Trump brought a hopeful message to farmers in the Midwest on Tuesday with an appearance at Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy ethanol plant to celebrate year round sales of E15.

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) introduced the president, and Trump in turn brought Iowa farmer and National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) first vice president Kevin Ross up to the stage to tell his story. President Trump also gave the microphone to a SIRE plant worker and a regional E15 retailer.

The president touted many administration accomplishments for farmers, including disaster assistance, and talked about the USMCA and China tariffs.

Listen to it all here:
President Donald Trump at SIRE ethanol plant

President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant Photo Album

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, corn, Ethanol, Exports, NCGA, RFA