Iowa Ethanol and Biodiesel Marketing Awards

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig presented Casey’s General Stores and Quick Oil Company with the 2019 Ethanol and Biodiesel Marketing Awards at the FUEL-Iowa annual meeting Tuesday in Des Moines. The awards were created by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship to recognize fuel marketers that have gone above and beyond in their efforts to promote and sell renewable fuels.

“Casey’s and Quick Oil Company have shown great leadership and commitment to marketing our homegrown renewable fuels. I am very proud to recognize the investment they have made to not only our renewable fuels industry, but the environment and Iowa economy as well,” Naig said.

Casey’s is rapidly adding E15 and E85 locations in Iowa and promoting its availability to customers. From 2017 to 2018, Casey’s went from two E15 and E85 stations in Iowa to 13.

Quick Oil Company has 11 employees and operates two tank wagons and three bulk fueling plants. They serve a primary customer base of farmers, contractors, and various other end-use customers.

FUELIowa is the new name for the Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Stores of Iowa (PMCI), the state trade association serving the needs of independent petroleum marketers and convenience store owners throughout the state.

Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Retailers

Governor Reynolds to Keynote Iowa RFA

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds will once again address the annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit to discuss the many ways biofuels boost the state’s economy, protect the environment, and drive Iowa into the future.

“Iowans play a tremendous role in America’s renewable fuel industry,” Governor Reynolds said. “Since the very beginning, we saw its unlimited potential and now our state leads the country in production. The ripple effect is incredible, especially when you consider renewable fuels supports nearly 47,000 Iowa jobs. That’s why I’m excited to address this year’s Summit attendees and share Iowa’s success story.”

Also on the Summit program is former EPA staffer Paul Argyropoulos, who oversaw the implementation of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for over a decade. Argyropoulos is now President of Policy Nexus Advisors and he will share his thoughts on the history and future of the RFS with attendees at the summit.

The Summit will take place at the Meadows Conference Center at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa on Tuesday, January 29. The event is free to attend and open to the public but registration is required. The last day to preregister is January 25, 2019.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA, IRFA Renewable Fuels Summit

President Includes Ethanol in Farm Bureau Speech

Cindy Zimmerman

It took a while to get there, but President Donald Trump did mention ethanol in his speech to the American Farm Bureau Federation 100th Annual Convention Monday.

“We’re ensuring that ethanol remains a vital part of America’s energy future with E15 and we’re making it available year round, all 12 months, that’s a big difference for the farmers,” said Trump. “Chuck Grassley, Joni Ernst, your senators – a lot of great people were very strong on that.”

The president also tied that action into the current lower gas prices, which he said “didn’t happen by accident.”

“We saw $1.75 for gasoline today coming in,” Trump said. “I’m in ‘The Beast’ and I’m looking at gas stations.”

It may have been only a brief mention in the one hour address, but it was very much appreciated by ethanol industry stakeholders who tweeted their thanks to the president.

Listen here: AFBF19 President Trump ethanol comments

AFBF, Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News

ACE Announces DC Fly-in Dates

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) will hold its 11th annual Washington, D.C. Fly-in and Government Affairs Summit April 2-3 this year.

“Ethanol producers are experiencing economic stress due to artificial limits on demand and we have more policy irons in the fire than ever before. Given these stakes, we encourage ethanol supporters to mark their calendars for the ACE fly-in and join us April 2 and 3 in D.C.,” said Brian Jennings, ACE CEO. “More than 100 new Members of Congress recently took their oaths of office and it is up to us to make sure they understand the importance and value of a strong U.S. ethanol industry.”

The meetings will take place at the Liaison Capitol Hill hotel and on Capitol Hill. Fly-in attendees will meet with Trump administration officials to emphasize the importance of completing a legally defensible Reid vapor pressure (RVP) rule for E15 before the 2019 summer driving season and argue for reallocation of the waived gallons from the Renewable Fuel Standard through refinery waivers. Participants will also advocate for increasing ethanol demand through low-carbon and high-octane policies.

Event registration and sponsorship opportunities are available at ethanol.org/events/fly-in.

ACE, Ethanol, Ethanol News

National Biodiesel Board Hires Federal Affairs Director

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) has hired David W. Cobb as Director of Federal Affairs to work in the organization’s Washington D.C. office.

Cobb most recently served as Federal Affairs Director for CHS Inc., a Fortune 100 company and the nation’s largest farmer-owned cooperative, where he advocated for the company’s legislative and regulatory policy priorities. Prior to his six years at CHS, he worked in government affairs for S&P Global, as a legislative assistant for Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), and for Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA).

“I am pleased to add David Cobb to the NBB team as our new Director of Federal Affairs,” said NBB CEO Donnell Rehagen. “David brings direct experience in the agriculture, biofuel and refining industries and can hit the ground running on behalf of the biodiesel industry.”

Kurt Kovarik, NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs, added, “David Cobb is a great addition to the NBB team who will help broaden the biodiesel industry’s advocacy in Washington. He brings deep knowledge of the legislative process and the inner workings of Congress.”

Biodiesel, NBB

President Trump Addresses 100th AFBF Convention

For the second year in a row, President Donald J. Trump addressed the members of the American Farm Bureau Federation at its 100th annual convention Monday in New Orleans.

Despite being nearly an hour late, the president was greeted by thousands of farmers and ranchers who had been in place waiting to see him since early in the morning, and he did not disappoint. President Trump spent about half of the speech talking about the importance of border security and getting a wall, which is a very big issue for agriculture and especially for ranchers like Jim Chilton of Arizona who lives on the border and has smugglers coming into the country through his property. “Mr. President, we need a wall,” said Chilton when he was invited on stage by the president.

Trump hit on all the important agricultural issues of the day, from trade and the estate tax, to WOTUS and ethanol. “We are fighting for the American farmer and we are fighting for the American dream,” the president said as he wrapped up his one hour address. “The greatest harvest is yet to come. The future for America’s farmers is bigger, better, bolder and brighter than ever before.”

Listen here:
AFBF19 President Trump address

2019 AFBF Annual Convention photo album

AFBF, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio

Sen. Roberts Addresses #AFBF19

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS), who just announced he will be retiring from Congress after his current term ends in 2020, addressed some 7,000 members of the American Farm Bureau Federation at the organization’s 100th annual convention Sunday in New Orleans.

Known for his caustic wit and straight talk, as well as his dedication to the agriculture community, Roberts served eight terms in the House and this is his fourth in the Senate. He is the first member of Congress to chair the Agriculture Committees in both Houses.

His address to Farm Bureau focused on the 2018 Farm Bill and trade issues, and proved to be as entertaining as ever. He also gave a nice shout out to members of the farm media. “Thank God for the ag press, they tell it like it is, they shine the light of truth into darkness,” said Roberts.

Listen here:
AFBF19 Sen Pat Roberts remarks

Roberts also held a press conference for the media where he addressed a number of current topics:
AFBF19 Sen Pat Roberts press conference

2019 AFBF Annual Convention photo album

AFBF, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, Government

AFBF Celebrates Centennial

American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) President Zippy Duvall officially opened the organization’s 100th annual convention in New Orleans Sunday before approximately 7,000 farmers and ranchers from across the nation.

Duvall outlined a few of the organization’s many historic accomplishments since 1919, such as leading the way on the nation’s first farm bill in the 1930s and helping develop the Food for Peace Program in the 1950s. As AFBF heads toward a new century of service to America’s farm and ranch families, Duvall said the organization will continue to be guided by the honorable principle that “farmers want to feed people.”

“Farm Bureau members throughout our history, and still today, have always answered the call to feed, fuel and defend our nation. I am grateful for this wonderful organization,” Duvall said. “Its founding 100 years ago was truly a breakthrough in American history. The founding fathers and mothers of our nation and of Farm Bureau were guided by a divine hand, a hand that still guides us today.”

On Monday, President Donald Trump will address the Farm Bureau meeting for the second year in a row during the closing general session.

Listen to Duvall’s address here:
AFBF19 President Zippy Duvall address to members

2019 AFBF Annual Convention photo album

AFBF, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio

Iowa Breaks Ethanol Production Record

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa ethanol plants had another record-breaking year in 2018, producing 4.35 billion gallons, up from 4.2 billion gallons in 2017.

Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Executive Director Monte Shaw said the increased production is due largely to record exports and despite this success, producers suffered from lower margins.

“This record production is a testament to the resilience of Iowa’s ethanol producers,” Shaw said. “This past year, they were hit with demand-destroying small-refinery exemptions and a closed Chinese market. The resulting low or in some cases negative margins made 2018 a tough year for ethanol producers and our corn suppliers. Iowa ethanol producers have weathered the storm fairly well given the reports of idled and even shuttered plants in other states.”

Shaw said action is needed to return profitability to the industry by growing markets abroad and at home.

“We hope that 2019 can get ethanol demand out of neutral and growing again with a properly enforced RFS, year-round E15, and the reopening of the China market,” he said. “Much depends on the actions of the Trump Administration and the EPA. It is within their power to set us on the course for not only record ethanol production, but restored prosperity in rural America.”

Iowa’s production is approximately 27 percent of total U.S. ethanol production for 2018.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA

Slow Start for 2019 Ethanol Production

Cindy Zimmerman

According to the latest Energy Information Administration data analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association, ethanol production declined the first week of the new year to the smallest volume in 37 weeks at an average of 1.000 million barrels per day (b/d)—or 42.00 million gallons daily. The four-week average for ethanol production settled lower at 1.025 million b/d for an annualized rate of 15.71 billion gallons.

For the last week of 2018, ending on December 28, ethanol production was the lowest volume in 11 weeks at an average of 1.011 million barrels per day (b/d)—or 42.46 million gallons daily. The four-week average for ethanol production softened at 1.036 million b/d for an annualized rate of 15.88 billion gallons.

Of course, both of those weeks included holidays when production is normally lower.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA