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

DuPont Launches OPTIMASH DCO+

Carrie Muehling

A new product from DuPont Nutrition & Biosciences (DuPont) will help ethanol producers to increase corn oil yield. DuPont™ OPTIMASH® DCO+ allows for increased recovery of corn oil in dry grind ethanol plants.

OPTIMASH® DCO+ is a patent-pending thermostable protease dosed into liquefaction, where it helps to liberate corn oil from the protein and fiber matrix of the corn kernel. Because it is a stand-alone product, ethanol producers can precisely dose OPTIMASH® DCO+ without having to change their alpha amylase.

“We strongly believe that the precision and performance offered by OPTIMASH® DCO+ is the right tool to help ethanol producers achieve additional profitability through greater corn oil yield,” said Troy Wilson, Global Industry Leader for the XCELIS™ Ethanol Solutions platform at DuPont. “We are excited to deliver this innovation for the ethanol industry.”

OPTIMASH® DCO+ is a part of the XCELIS™ Ethanol Solutions platform by DuPont.

Dupont, Ethanol

Ethanol Plant Proud to Host President Trump

Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) CEO Mike Jerke is honored to be able to host President Donald Trump today as he appears to celebrate the easing of restrictions on sales of 15% ethanol in the summer time.

“The employees and owners of SIRE are very proud of what we have accomplished here,” says Jerke, who serves on the board of the Renewable Fuels Association. “This plant has helped to revitalize southwest Iowa, providing economic opportunity and a new market for local farmers. The year-round use of E15 will create even more long-term value for our fuel while further lowering prices at the pump. We are grateful for President Trump’s leadership and determination to remove this burdensome regulatory barrier.”

The president is expected to tour the plant and make remarks around 3:00 pm central time today.

Jerke talks about preparations for the presidential visit and why it is important for farmers and the ethanol industry: Interview with SIRE CEO Mike Jerke

President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant Photo Album

AgWired Energy, Audio, Ethanol, RFA

Novozymes Announces New Products

Carrie Muehling

Novozymes made two major product announcements during the 2019 Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo.

Fortiva is a new alpha-amylase technology that helps customers avoid having to choose between maximizing enzyme performance and operational efficiency. In yeast, Force continues to deliver on the promise to quickly bring innovative, robust, and reliable biological solutions to the market from the Innova yeast platform established last year.

“Fortiva and Innova Force both provide ethanol producers with the technology needed to push for greater profits in changing market conditions – and they underline Novozymes’ continued commitment to support the ethanol industry with innovation that makes a real, meaningful difference for the producer,” says Brian Brazeau, Vice President, Biofuels Commercial North America at Novozymes. “Novozymes has always spearheaded biological innovation for the ethanol industry; Fortiva and Force continue that journey with more to come as we work to unlock the full potential of biology.”

Learn more about Fortiva and Innova Force here.

Ethanol, Novozymes

House Agriculture Committee Unveils New Website

The House Agriculture Committee has launched a new website with an updated design that is compatible with phones, tablets and desktops.

The new website can be found at the same link: agriculture.house.gov.

“I’m proud of our new website, that makes it easier for folks to navigate and find out what the committee is up to,” said Chairman Collin C. Peterson. “We’ve taken a modern approach that works on all devices and with this new platform, the people we fight for are able to find the critical information they need.”

The new site also features rebranded committee imaging as well as links to the committee’s YouTube, Twitter and Instagram accounts.

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Government

RFA Ready for President Trump Visit to Ethanol Plant

Cindy Zimmerman

President Donald Trump will visit the Southwest Iowa Renewable Energy (SIRE) ethanol plant later this afternoon and the Renewable Fuels Association is ready to welcome him and thank him for supporting farmers and the industry.

SIRE, an RFA member company, operates a state-of-the-art ethanol biorefinery that produces approximately 130 million gallons of high-octane fuel ethanol per year, along with more than 360,000 tons of nutrient-rich animal feed. Mike Jerke is the company’s CEO and represents SIRE on RFA’s Board of Directors.

In anticipation of the President’s visit, RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper stated, “We look forward to joining Mike and the entire SIRE team in welcoming President Trump to America’s heartland, and we thank the President for keeping his promise to remove the unnecessary and ridiculous regulatory barrier that prohibited the summertime use of E15 in most of the country. President Trump understands that ethanol plants like SIRE are important economic engines in rural America, supporting good-paying jobs and bolstering the farm economy. And he knows ethanol reduces prices at the pump, plays a key role in American energy dominance, and helps clean the air we breathe. I can say without hyperbole or exaggeration that without President Trump’s personal interest and advocacy on year-round E15, this critical regulatory reform would not have happened. We are thrilled to have President Trump visit Iowa, so we can personally thank him for his commitment to our nation’s ethanol producers and farmers.”

AgWired is in Council Bluffs for the event today and interviewed Cooper as they were making preparations.

Interview with Geoff Cooper, Renewable Fuels Association: Interview with RFA CEO Geoff Cooper

President Trump at Iowa Ethanol Plant Photo Album

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA

NUVU Fuels to Make E15 Standard Blend

Carrie Muehling

Michigan-based fuel retailer NUVU Fuels plans to make E15 the standard blend at all locations, according to Growth Energy.

NUVU Fuels will offer flex vehicle owners the choice of higher biofuel blends like E85. In addition, E10 will be available at designated dispensers for owners of older cars (which represent less than 10 percent of the vehicle fleet) and small engines. This news follows the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of summer sales of E15. E15, known to consumers as Unleaded 88, is approved by EPA for all cars 2001 and newer.

“This decision is consistent with the purchase patterns of our customers, follows consumer demand, and allows us to be highly competitive in the marketplace,” said NUVU Fuels CEO Mitch Miller. “Now that we can reliably offer E15 year-round, we can confidently make it our biggest focus and offer our consumers better fuel choices to match their lifestyles. Higher biofuel blends give all drivers access to choices that are smart for their engines, kinder for the environment, and better for their wallets.”

“Growth Energy is proud to have led the fight on year-round E15 alongside fuel retailers to give all Americans access to a cleaner-burning, engine smart fuel year-round,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “We’re excited for the model NUVU Fuels is setting and have heard interest from other retailers in moving in this direction now that E15 year-round is a reality.”

E15 is currently sold at 1,807 stations in 31 states.

E15, Ethanol, Growth Energy

Auto Channel Gives E15 Blending Tips

Cindy Zimmerman

Marc Rauch, Executive Vice President and Co-Publisher of THE AUTO CHANNEL, is offering do-it-yourself advice for motorists who want to use E15 (15% ethanol) but can’t find it nearby – make your own.

“In fact, you can do what I have safely and economically done to make my own E20, E30, E40, and even higher “custom blends” for use in both non-flex fuel and flex fuel vehicles: I splash-blend my way to saving money and contributing to a healthier environment,” said Rauch.

The first step, according to Rauch, is to find a station that sells E85.

Put in the desired amount of E85 into your tank, and then move to a regular E10 pump and fill the tank the rest of the way to average out at the target blend level. Can your vehicle safely and efficiently use E15? Yes, of course. In fact, all gasoline-powered vehicles on the road can safely and efficiently use E15 and higher ethanol-gasoline blends. How do I know? Simple! In 2010, the EPA issued their advisory that all vehicles manufactured after 2001 could safely and efficiently use E15. In the press conference held by the EPA, I asked if any other blends were tested, and the EPA Administrator answered that E20 was also tested. In follow up questions, I was told that the results for E20 were comparable to E10 and E15 – in other words, just as safe.

Read his entire piece.

automotive, blends, E15, E85, Ethanol