ACE Conference 2026

Former Agriculture Secretaries Meet

Just days after the passing of former Secretary of Agriculture Bob Bergland, four former secretaries met with current Secretary Sonny Perdue to discuss the latest agricultural issues.

Those in attendance included former Secretaries John Block (1981-1986), Dan Glickman (1995-2001), Ann Veneman (2001-2005), and Mike Johanns (2005-2008). The Secretaries discussed several issues including trade, wildfires, agriculture research, infrastructure, cell-based meat, and rural prosperity.

Former Agriculture Secretaries Bob Bergland, John Block, and Clayton Yeutter at 2012 NAFB Convention

The last time the four were together at USDA was in 2012 to celebrate the agency’s 150th anniversary. Three other former secretaries still living are Mike Espy (1993-1994), Ed Schafer (2008-2009), and Tom Vilsack (2009-2017). Espy recently lost his bid to replace retiring Mississippi Senator Thad Cochran in a high profile runoff election.

Bergland, a Minnesota farmer who served as secretary under President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981 died December 9 at the age of 90. He also served as vice president and general manager of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association until he retired in 1992.

In 2012, Bergland joined former secretaries Block and Yeutter at the NAFB Convention. Enjoy his opening comments here – Former ag secretary Bob Bergland at 2012 NAFB

2012 NAFB Convention Photo Album

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, NAFB, USDA

Praise for Farm Bill Soil Carbon Pilot Program

Cindy Zimmerman

Several organizations are pleased that the new farm bill includes a climate-friendly soil carbon pilot program.

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE), Environmental Entrepreneurs (E2), the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) thank the Farm Bill conferees for including language in the 2018 Farm Bill to establish an Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) pilot program to promote and document the benefits of farming practices which improve soil health.

“This new EQIP provision provides the tools to incentivize farmers to adopt smart soil management practices that improve soil health to increase drought resiliency, improve nutrient utilization, and enhance soil carbon sequestration,” said Keith Alverson, South Dakota farmer and NCGA board member.

“The economic value farmers can receive from being properly credited for their ability to sequester carbon and participate in low carbon fuel markets and for other climate policies is significant,” said Brian Jennings, ACE CEO. “ACE is committed to fostering the development of these low carbon market opportunities that also increase income to farmers and rural America.”

ACE, corn, Environment, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

Conaway Pleased with Final Farm Bill

Cindy Zimmerman

Passage of the 2018 Farm Bill is a “big deal for rural America” and for House Agriculture Committee chairman Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX), who loses his chairmanship next month when the Democrats take the majority in the House.

After the House voted 386-47 to pass the conference report and send the bill to the president, Conaway released a video talking about the importance of it and how pleased he was to be able to complete a farm bill as chairman.

“You really can’t lay claim to being chairman of House Ag unless you’ve done a farm bill. For me personally, it’s a sense of accomplishment,” said Conaway. “…it is a big deal and a good Christmas present for each and every person in rural America, and that’s who I have been fighting for.”

Conaway held a press conference Thursday morning to talk about the new legislation – Rep. Conaway press conference remarks on farm bill


Audio, farm bill, Government

MN Biofuels Names 2018 Distinguished Retailer

Cindy Zimmerman

The Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association has named Plymouth Station Holiday as its 2018 Distinguished Retailer.

“Plymouth Station Holiday was one of the first stations in Minnesota to offer E15 back in 2015. Since then they have added E15 at their other station in Plymouth and will soon begin offering it at a new station in New Hope,” said Tim Rudnicki, executive director at MN Biofuels.

Besides E15, Plymouth Station Holiday also offers E30 and E85.

Liz Nalezny, owner of Plymouth Station Holiday, is pictured here receiving honor from MN Biofuels president Brian Kletscher and executive director Tim Rudnicki.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Retailers

Export Exchange Generates $400 Million in Sales

Cindy Zimmerman

The recent 2018 Export Exchange in October has generated $403 million in sales of U.S. coarse grains and co-products, including distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) and feed grains, according to the organizers.

Grain buyers from 35 countries attended the conference in Minneapolis, sponsored by the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy to offer an opportunity for education and introductions to members of the U.S. grains production and export industries.

Buyers and end-users were polled while at the conference and immediately after regarding purchase agreements with sellers and how much volume (tonnage) they bought. In total, attendees reported sales of approximately 2.1 million metric tons of grains and co-products traded either at the conference or immediately before or after.

The top grain traded during the two-day conference was DDGS, with more than 1.3 million metric tons collectively exchanged. This number translates to just over 11 percent of last year’s total U.S. DDGS exports. In addition, buyers reported contracting 619,000 metric tons of U.S. corn and 4,050 metric tons of U.S. sorghum.

The Export Exchange is held every other year so the next event will be in 2020.

Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Export Exchange, Exports, Growth Energy, RFA, USGC

More Comments on House Fuels Act

Cindy Zimmerman

Many industry organizations provided feedback yesterday to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment on the discussion draft “21st Century Transportation Fuels Act,” both in person and in writing. The legislation proposes an exchange of a national (95 RON) octane fuel requirement for repeal of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) CEO Brian Jennings says the bill draws attention to why higher octane fuel is needed but fails to chart a sufficient course for how to get there. “Requiring automakers to warranty their vehicles to operate on a minimum 95 RON fuel (about the same as today’s premium) in exchange for effective repeal of the RFS will not improve fuel quality by increasing ethanol use, rather, it is a mechanism to undo the competition-forcing core of the RFS and limit ethanol use to current volumes.”

National Farmers Union President Roger Johnson submitted a statement to the committee.

“NFU agrees that fuel and vehicle regulation can and should work hand-in-hand to promote clean-burning, alternative renewable fuels,” said Johnson. “High octane fuels through higher blends of ethanol should be the fuel for today and the future.”

National Biodiesel Board Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik testified at the hearing on Tuesday saying that while the bill addresses the industry’s frustrations with the EPA setting biomass-based diesel volumes well below the ability to produce, “improvements to the discussion draft are needed to incentivize further investments and support predictable year-over-year growth.” Kovarik also notes that changes to the octane standard will have no impact on biodiesel.

ACE, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NBB, NFU

Farm Bill Poised for Passage

The Senate voted 87-13 yesterday to pass the 2018 Farm Bill approved by the conference committee this week and the House is expected to do so soon.

“We think the farm bill’s in very good shape,” said President Trump as he sat down with Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), just before getting into a spat with them over border wall funding. “That will be quite bipartisan and it will happen pretty soon.”

Audio – President Trump comments on farm bill

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway (TX-11) released a video yesterday highlighting the wins in the 2018 Farm Bill conference report for rural America and calling on his colleagues to pass the legislation.

“Over five months of negotiations—now is the time to do it, and I hope to persuade my Republican colleagues that that’s the case,” says Conaway. “Once this is all said and done, I will be one happy camper.”

AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, farm bill, Government, Video

Ethanol Interests Testify on Proposed Fuels Act

Cindy Zimmerman

Ethanol stakeholder groups were among those testifying Tuesday at a House Energy and Commerce Environment Subcommittee hearing to review a discussion draft of the 21st Century Transportation Fuels Act, which would effectively repeal the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper said that while the draft legislation is “an important first step in the debate about future fuels policy and the role of high octane fuels,” they cannot support the proposal because it “does not provide the long-term certainty and growth path” that America’s ethanol producers need.

By eliminating the RFS for conventional biofuels, “…the draft bill would destabilize the considerable progress our nation has made toward greater energy security, economic vitality, and environmental health,” Cooper testified. “We simply cannot support eliminating the RFS program, as the draft envisions, without a much stronger signal to the market that ethanol’s role in our fuel supply will continue to grow.”

Listen here – House committee hearing testimony of RFA CEO Geoff Cooper

Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor testified on the success of the RFS in creating ethanol demand over the past decade. “Only by coupling a stable RFS with a significant boost in octane from a mid-level ethanol blend, can consumers realize significant cost savings, increased engine efficiency, and substantial environmental benefits,” Skor said in her testimony. “Unfortunately, this draft as proposed will lead to reduced blending of cleaner biofuel and it will raise costs significantly for American drivers.”

Listen here – House committee hearing testimony of Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor

Texas farmer and National Corn Growers Association past president and chairman Wesley Spurlock noted farmers’ increased productivity since 2007, as well as the benefits of value-added co-products like distillers grains for feed and corn oil for biodiesel.

“As use of homegrown renewable fuels has grown and as farmers have become more productive using fewer resources, the benefits of the RFS have exceeded those Congress projected,” Spurlock said. “NCGA believes we should build on the success of the RFS when moving a future fuel policy forward.”

Listen here – House committee hearing testimony of NCGA past president Wesley Spurlock

Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, Growth Energy, NCGA

Congress Urged to Extend Biodiesel Tax Incentive

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) and more than 50 industry stakeholders delivered a letter to Congressional leaders Monday, urging them to enact a multiyear extension of the biodiesel and renewable diesel tax incentive before Congress adjourns for the year.

In February 2018, Congress retroactively extended the tax incentive for 2017, leaving it expired for this year and beyond. The letter welcomes a recent proposal for a seven-year extension of the tax incentive.

In the letter, the biodiesel industry stakeholders state, “We believe that a multiyear extension of the tax incentive would help the biodiesel industry achieve substantial growth over the next several years, creating significant new employment opportunities, an important market for agricultural products and renewable feedstocks, as well as opportunities for rural economic growth.”

“The biodiesel industry has long advocated for a multiyear extension of the tax incentive,” said NBB Vice President of Federal Affairs Kurt Kovarik. “Congress can provide the certainty and predictability for producers and feedstock providers that will help us achieve our potential. Because the incentive is currently expired, it is urgent that Congress act before the end of the year.”

The U.S. biodiesel and renewable diesel market has grown from about 100 million gallons in 2005, when the incentive was first implemented, to nearly 2.9 billion gallons in 2016.

Biodiesel, NBB

Ethanol Exports Exceeding Expectations

Cindy Zimmerman

U.S. ethanol exports are on a roll.

For the third time this year, American ethanol exports have reached record numbers, with the total hitting 1.69 billion gallons (bg) on a rolling 12-month basis, according to Growth Energy. As of October this calendar year, exports totaled 1.41 billion gallons, already more than the total for 2017 with an additional two months yet to report.

U.S. ethanol exports totaled 175.4 million gallons (mg) in October, according to the latest government data released last week and analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA). This is nearly double (up 95%) September exports and the third highest monthly total on record, only surpassed by February (218.7 mg) and March (215.1 mg) of this year. Shipments were bolstered by the strongest demand for American ethanol in six months by Brazil.

A widespread shuffling of customers occurred in October with Brazil bumping Canada to capture the position of top U.S. customer. Brazil imported 54.5 mg—up 49.1 mg and representing 31% of U.S. export sales—as the sugarcane harvest began to wind down. Canada decreased its offtake by 12%, importing 30.7 mg or 18% of U.S. ethanol shipments in October. India boosted its purchases of U.S. ethanol to a record 29.1 mg for a 17% hold on American ethanol exports. Sales to these three countries represent two-thirds of all shipments in October.

Growth Energy notes that Canada is likely to increase exports in the coming years with the recent announcement by Ontario to move to a 15 percent ethanol-blended fuel mandate by 2025. “Developments such as Canada’s commitment to higher blends of ethanol and the growing popularity of ethanol in Brazil should give optimism for the future of the global ethanol outlook in the coming years. President Trump recently signaled there could be a possible resolution to the current trade tensions with China soon, meaning a market for potentially hundreds of millions of gallons could reopen to American producers, which closed in March of this year.”

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports, Growth Energy, RFA