Growth Energy Helping Expand E15 Availability

Cindy Zimmerman

The availability and use of E15, or 15 percent ethanol blended fuel, has been growing steadily since it was approved by EPA in 2011 for use in model year 2001 and newer vehicles but challenges remain for retailers who want to sell it and consumers who want to use it. Even President Trump has voiced his support for E15 over the past year. Recently, Growth Energy welcomed the fuel industry’s leading independent E15 retailers at their fourth annual Prime the Pump retreat in Brainerd, MN.

The three-day Prime the Pump retreat allowed attendees to share best practices for tackling industry challenges. “This ongoing collaboration with retailers ensures that we’re not only continuing to expand the E15 footprint to give more Americans access to a cleaner burning fuel, but that we’re also delivering the best marketing tools and practices for our partners to be successful,” said Growth Energy Vice President of Market Development Mike O’Brien.

In this Driving Ethanol podcast, Mike O’Brien discusses how they are working with retailers to continue to grow the availability of the fuel and educate consumers about the benefits.

Growth Energy Driving Ethanol Podcast 9-5-18

Subscribe to the Driving Ethanol podcast

Audio, Driving Ethanol podcast, E15, Ethanol, Growth Energy, Retailers

GROWMARK Embraces Change in Agriculture

GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin (left) and Chairman of the Board John Reifsteck (right) address those gathered for the company’s annual meeting in Chicago.

GROWMARK CEO Jim Spradlin said the company’s new strategy – based on the acronym ‘GROW’ – is not just focused on getting bigger. It’s focused on getting better.

During a shared address at the company’s annual meeting in Chicago, Spradlin and Board Chairman John Reifsteck reflected back on the past 30 years or more in agriculture, sharing both personal experiences as well as changes that have come to the GROWMARK system.

“We thrive on change,” said Spradlin. “We thrive on it primarily because where we can get better and we can utilize the skills of our people to lend advice and support and help to our customers, and help them be more successful, we think that’s our spot in this world.”

Spradlin recognized farmer members are dealing with a very difficult agriculture economy right now, with trade issues only adding to the seriousness of the situation. But he believes farmers are resilient and will continue to adjust. He said great attitudes prevail across the organization at the farm level, even though it is more challenging than it has been in recent years.

GROWMARK began a new fiscal year on Sept. 1, and Spradlin shared that this was a solid year fiscally for the cooperative, especially in the agronomy and grain divisions.

Listen to Carrie’s interview with Jim here: Interview with Jim Spradlin, GROWMARK CEO

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Farm Bill Conference Committee Meets This Week

Cindy Zimmerman

The 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee will hold its first public meeting this week on Wednesday, September 5 at 9:30 am Eastern.

Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Members Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., announced the meeting last month, saying that they are “committed to working together on a Farm Bill that delivers certainty and predictability to our farmers and families as quickly as possible.”

The Farm Bill Conference Committee is composed of 56 members, including nine Senators and 47 Representatives. The hearing will be webcast live on ag.senate.gov.

Faced with the lowest farm income in 12 years, the presidents of the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union are asking Senate and House conferees to move quickly.

AFBF and NFU, together with more than 150 other organizations, including Growth Energy and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB), sent a letter to the Senate and House Agriculture committees asking the farm bill conference committee to pass an on time, five-year farm bill before the September 30 expiration of the 2014 farm bill.

In addition, NBB sent a separate letter to the committee leadership specifically asking for reauthorization and funding of the Bioenergy Program for Advanced Biofuels, the Biodiesel Education Program, and the National Oilheat Research Alliance. “Given the industry’s agricultural roots and benefits provided to U.S. farmers and rural communities, programs supporting biodiesel are an appropriate and important piece of the Farm Bill,” wrote Kurt Kovarik, vice president of federal affairs for NBB.

advanced biofuels, Biodiesel, biofuels, farm bill, Government, Growth Energy

ACE Makes 5th Mexico Trip for Ethanol Education

Cindy Zimmerman

American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty recently returned from the fifth of seven technical ethanol workshops for Mexican petroleum equipment installers and retailers organized by the U.S. Grains Council to address questions and concerns of local station owners about sourcing, marketing, and profiting from ethanol-blended gasoline. This time it was Xalapa, the capital of the state of Veracruz located about 70 miles inland from the city of Veracruz, a major port city located along the coast in the central part of the state through which most of Mexico City’s imports come.

“In the near future, ethanol in Mexico will be shipped by rail, but ocean-going shipping could quickly become a reality if volumes justify it,” Lamberty added. “There is an increasing amount of ethanol already being sold in Mexico, with reports of some fairly large deals done in the past few weeks. We may see significant volume sooner than I thought.”

At the recent 2018 ACE Conference, Lamberty talked about the challenges and opportunities in the Mexico market for ethanol. Listen to that interview here –
ACE18 Interview with Ron Lamberty, ACE Senior VP

Lamberty and Kristy Moore, Principal Scientist at KMoore Consulting Inc., will provide details of their efforts on the ground in Mexico helping ethanol enter the nation’s fuel marketplace during an ACE webinar coming up on Tuesday, September 18 at 2 p.m. central. The presentation will include updates on UL listings for E25 and E40, ASTM spec changes affecting ethanol, weights and measures, higher-blend labeling challenges, and retailer feedback and advice for promoting ethanol to consumers. Registration is available at ethanol.org/events/webinar.

2018 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Exports

Ethanol Groups File New Lawsuit Over Exemptions

Cindy Zimmerman

Two major ethanol advocacy organizations are demanding transparency from the Environmental Protection Agency on the granting of small refinery exemptions from Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) obligations.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) and Growth Energy filed a joint lawsuit in federal district court, alleging that EPA and Department of Energy have “improperly denied agency records requested …. under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)”

“Because EPA and DOE both ignored our repeated requests for basic information on the exemptions, we had no choice but to take this legal action,” said RFA President and CEO Bob Dinneen. “America’s ethanol producers, who are experiencing economic hardship because of EPA’s mishandling of the small refiner exemptions, deserve to know what was happening behind the curtain at EPA.”

“EPA should come clean and provide the public with what it deserves – a full accounting of the stark increase in the number of small refinery exemptions it has granted in recent years,” said Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor. “We deserve to know why EPA has supercharged its approvals of these exemptions without reallocating lost gallons and making sure that RFS volumes are met each year.”

Both organizations have submitted several records requests dating back to April 2018 seeking information related to exemptions from the RFS that EPA has granted to small refineries in complete secrecy. EPA and DOE have failed to act within the timeframes required by FOIA and have improperly withheld the requested documents.

EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Growth Energy, RFA, RFS

RFA Past President Preaches for Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

The preacher in Randy Doyal came out at a rally for E15 and the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) this week at the Farm Progress Show.

Doyal, who is past president of the Renewable Fuels Association and CEO of Al-Corn Clean Energy in Minnesota, proclaimed to the crowd gathered at the rally that corn ethanol is actually created by solar power. “Farmers are out there planting a renewable solar collector every year – the best solar collector ever – those leaves collect sunlight and convert it into energy,” said Doyal in an interview after the rally.

Doyal was pleased that Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue showed up at the rally so farmers and other ethanol supporters could thank him for what he is doing for them in the Trump Administration.

Listen to my interview with Doyal here: Randy Doyal, Al-Corn Clean Fuel, at FPS18 rally

2018 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Farm Progress Show, RFA, RFS

Secretary Perdue Comments on Current Issues

Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue visited the Farm Progress Show this week, making an appearance for everyone at the show to enjoy with Max Armstrong and Orion Samuelson in the VIP tent, followed by a press gaggle where trade was the number one topic, along with WOTUS and the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Asked about Canada and its dairy policy – “The president’s been pretty firm on this…We’re not asking Canada to do away totally with their supply-management system, but if they’re going to continue we want them to manage their supply.”

Regarding trade assistance to farmers – “It’s based on what is the tariff damage actually calculated. That’s why you see the difference between the soybean award and the corn award, because of the tariff damage.”

WOTUS court decision – “Administrator Wheeler now is working on a renewed WOTUS rule that will be affirmed in the courts to give our farmers certainty.”

E15 year round – “President called me this morning said let’s get it done.”

Listen here – FPS 18 Secretary Perdue press gaggle

2018 Farm Progress Show

Content Creation at the Farm Progress Show brought to you by Farm Progress Show content creation courtesy of John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
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Secretary Sonny Shows Ethanol Support

A rally organized by corn and ethanol producers at the Farm Progress Show got the attention of USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue and Under Secretary for Farm Production and Conservation Bill Northey who stopped by to show their support. It was a last minute decision by the secretary, who brought greetings and another promise from President Trump, who called Perdue as he was driving on to the show grounds.

“He said…we need to get this RFS straightened out and get E15 twelve months,” said Perdue. “He wants something done quickly. He said, ‘you get with that EPA Administrator and bring me something next week that I can announce.’”

Organized by the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association and state corn growers, the rally included a number of other speakers, including:

IRFA Executive Director Monte Shaw; Iowa corn grower Jim Greif; Iowa farmer Jerry Calease; NCGA president Kevin Skunes from North Dakota; RFA past president Randy Doyal of Al-Corn Clean Fuel; Iowa Biodiesel Board member Ron Heck; and Rep. Steve King (R-IA)

Listen to it here: #FPS18 RFS Rally

Watch it here:


2018 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

AgWired Energy, Audio, corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Farm Progress Show, RFS, USDA, Video

Helping Motorcyclists Fuel Their Knowledge of Ethanol

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) had more help than ever before pumping E10 fuel and educating motorcyclists about ethanol at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip for the recent 2018 motorcycle rally. It was the tenth year that RFA has brought the ethanol message to nearly a half million bikers and those on hand to help included RFA board members, industry volunteers, and former interns.

RFA president Mick Henderson with Commonwealth Energy in Kentucky was there last year and had enjoyed it so much he made a return visit. “This is a wonderful place to make direct contact with people who use ethanol fuels, E10, in a motorcycle,” said Henderson. “We’re all here to support the same initiative and good story to tell.”

Audio – Interview with RFA president Mick Henderson, Commonwealth Energy

Brothers Austin and Evan Ludowese each attended Sturgis during internships with RFA, one in 2015 and one in 2014, and they have seen some big changes since that time.

“I think the attitude towards ethanol being here has changed dramatically,” said Austin.

“The biggest thing from when it started until now is that there just was no information about it before,” added Evan.

Audio – Interview with former RFA interns Austin and Evan Ludowese

Doug Brandmahl is a general contractor from Virginia who met RFA’s Robert White by chance in 2009, the first year that RFA had a presence at Sturgis. “So I helped him out that week and this is the tenth year so I came back to help him celebrate,” said Brandmahl. “It’s really grown, he’s done a great job.”

RFA’s presence has grown from just having some signs and giving away t-shirts to now having a permanent pump location that is open year round and being a major sponsor at the Buffalo Chip and for the annual Legends Ride.

Audio – Interview with RFA volunteer Doug Brandmahl

2018 Sturgis Rally Ethanol Promotions Photo Album

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Motorcycle, Renewable Fuels Association, RFA, Sturgis

Weather Causes Early End to FPS18 Day One

There’s always something new at Farm Progress Show and this year a big storm caused something that has never happened before – an evacuation and shut down of the show before noon.

Rain had been in the forecast for the day, but everyone was hoping it would either miss us or not be too bad. However, when the storm was within minutes of hitting, reports of hail, strong winds, and lightning in the area forced organizers to shut everything down and and try the get people out as quickly and safely as possible. Unfortunately, the downpour created muddy conditions in the parking areas almost immediately and dozens of vehicles become stuck in the mud, which made leaving a lot more difficult.

Day two is like day one all over again, since everyone is now a half day behind and struggling to reschedule activities scheduled for yesterday afternoon, plus we have Secretary Sonny on the grounds starting at noon.

Watch this video from the Bayer tent as Pam Fretwell was moderating the farmer panel and got the word to tell everyone to evacuate.

2018 Farm Progress Show Photo Album

Content Creation at the Farm Progress Show brought to you by Farm Progress Show content creation courtesy of John DeereCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by GrowmarkCoverage of the Farm Progress Show is sponsored by Bayer CropScience
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