2018 ACE Conference Kicks Off

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) kicked off its 31st annual conference at the Renaissance Depot Hotel in Minneapolis discussing some of the challenges and opportunities facing the industry.

The theme of the 2018 conference is “Grit Wins” and ACE CEO Brian Jennings commended attendees for staying strong in the face of attacks oil refiners have launched on ethanol this year. “Wrangling over market share with the most profitable companies in the world has always required our industry to be resourceful — to punch above our weight,” Jennings said. “But we have leverage before the midterm election. Candidates need your vote. Rural America needs to speak out about the fact that farmers are losing money while refiners have the best of both worlds — fat profit margins and minimal RFS compliance costs.”

“Enlisting the help of our allies in the Senate, the many Governors who support us, and through candidates who need our vote this fall, we must keep grassroots pressure on the White House and EPA to make good on President Trump’s promises to maintain 15 billion gallons in the RFS, which means reallocating the small refinery exemptions, and to issue a clean RVP rulemaking for E15 and higher blends,” Jennings added.

Listen to Jennings’ comments here: ACE18 Opening remarks from CEO Brian Jennings

You can also watch this morning’s opening general session in this video:


2018 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Video

Grassley Has “Good Discussion” with EPA’s Wheeler

Cindy Zimmerman

Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) had a chance to sit down with EPA Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler while he was in Iowa this week.

“There seems to be a real message from the White House to Wheeler to do something for E15 twelve months a year,” said Grassley. “But there has to be something also done for refineries so I think Wheeler is trying to find some balance.”

Grassley says Wheeler is “working very hard to find a solution but hasn’t come up with one yet” and the senator hopes he will do it anyway before next summer. Wheeler also assured Grassley that the idea of applying RINS to exports is off the table at this point.

Listen to Sen. Grassley’s comments to reporters this week – Sen. Grassley press call 8-15-18

Audio, E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government

Iowa RFA Giving Away Biodiesel at Farm Progress Show

Cindy Zimmerman

The Iowa Renewable Fuels Association is partnering with the Iowa Soybean Association to offer farmers attending the 2018 Farm Progress Show eight chances to win $500 worth of biodiesel-blended fuel.

“Biodiesel adds so much value to Iowa’s farmers,” said Cassidy Walter, IRFA biodiesel lead. “Farm Progress Show is the perfect venue to showcase these benefits and this contest is an excellent opportunity for farmers who haven’t used biodiesel before to try it risk free.”

Farmers interested in the contest should stop by the Iowa Soybean Association tent (#740) and enter to win. The 2018 Farm Progress Show takes place in Boone, Iowa August 28 – 30. Eight winners from around the state will be selected and contacted after the conclusion of the three-day event.

Biodiesel, Farm Progress Show, Iowa RFA

Record Corn and Soybean Forecasts

Cindy Zimmerman

A record high soybean crop and overall corn yield are expected this year, according to the latest Crop Production report from USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Up 4 percent from 2017, soybean production is forecast at a record 4.59 billion bushels, while corn growers are expected to decrease their production slightly from last year, forecast at 14.6 billion bushels. Average corn yield is forecast to be the highest on record at 178.4 bushels per acre, up 1.8 bushels from last year.

Wheat production is forecast at 1.88 billion bushels, up 8 percent from 2017. Growers are expected to produce 1.19 billion bushels of winter wheat this year, down 6 percent from last year.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Soybeans, USDA

EPA’s Wheeler Talks RFS with Farmers in Iowa

Cindy Zimmerman

Acting EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler got a taste of the famous Iowa State Fair Monday as the guest of Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and while he had some fun, Wheeler was there to meet with farmers about critical issues.

“I enjoyed the round table we just had with different ag groups in the state…hearing what their concerns and problems are,” Wheeler told reporters as he left the meeting with Gov. Reynolds.

One of the main topics of discussion was the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), but Wheeler had little to say about how EPA is addressing the biggest concerns of corn farmers and ethanol producers.

“We’re looking at the small refinery exemptions…trying to provide more certainty around that….and looking at the RVP, E15 year round, what we can do and how we can go about doing something,” said Wheeler.

The audio is hard to hear because of background noise, but you can also see the video from the Des Moines Register.

Audio file – EPA Acting Admin Wheeler in Iowa

Audio, E15, EPA, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Government, RFS

Ads for E15 Greet EPA Boss in Iowa

Cindy Zimmerman

Radio and print advertising urging EPA to “make good on the President’s promise and approve E15 fuel use year-round” are greeting Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler this week during his visit to Iowa.

The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is running an ad campaign this week on two top Des Moines radio stations, WHO-AM and KIOA-FM. One of the ads notes that while President Trump just said they were “very close” to approving year-round E15, “The EPA is dragging its feet. Tell Administrator Wheeler: It’s time to deliver on E15.”

Audio file: RFA Iowa radio spot

“If Administrator Wheeler is truly interested in reaching out to farmers harmed by Scott Pruitt’s small refiner waiver fire sale, he’s got to do more than come to the Midwest and talk. He’s got to take action,” said RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen.

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is featuring Iowa retailer Charlie Good to exemplify the need for year-round approval of E15 with a paid print advertisement in the Des Moines Register.

“President Trump has promised to allow retailers like Charlie Good to sell E15 year-round,” said ACE CEO Brian Jennings. “EPA needs to make good on his promises.”

ACE will be discussing this topic at its annual conference later this week in Minneapolis.

ACE, ACE Ethanol Conference, Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, RFA, RFS

Biodiesel at the Ag Media Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) was in Scottsdale, Arizona last week to help the Ag Media Summit celebrate 20 years.

NBB is one of a number of companies and organizations that provide support for the Ag Media Summit making it more affordable for journalists to attend. They also participate in the Info Expo to meet with editors and share their latest news.

Director of Communications Kaleb Little was on hand to talk about biodiesel in general, as well as the latest developments in the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and how that impacts the industry.

In this interview, Little busts some biodiesel myths, and says while the latest proposal from EPA for biodiesel volumes under the RFS is an improvement, they would like to see the 2020 Biomass-based Diesel volume set at 2.8 billion gallons.

Interview with Kaleb Little, National Biodiesel Board

2018 Ag Media Summit photo album

Content creation at Ag Media Summit is sponsored by
Coverage of the Ag Media Summit is sponsored by FMC
Audio, Biodiesel, NBB, RFS

Acting EPA Administrator in Iowa This Week

Cindy Zimmerman

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, along with Congressman David Young and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, are hosting Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Acting Administrator Andrew Wheeler at the Iowa State Fair today (Monday) to talk biofuels and farming. Wheeler was invited to visit Iowa and hear from those impacted by attacks on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“I look forward to introducing Acting Administrator Wheeler to our hardworking Iowa farmers and showcasing the potential of Iowa agriculture when we expand markets for renewable fuels,” Gov. Reynolds said. “We will discuss issues affecting Iowa farmers, with the importance of the RFS being at the top.”

The governor, congressman, secretary and acting administrator will meet with Iowans at the fair on Monday and hold a roundtable with farmers, agribusinesses and those who benefit from a strong RFS.

Ethanol, Ethanol News

Novozymes Sees 14% Increase in Bioenergy Segment

Cindy Zimmerman

So far this year, organic sales for Novozymes are up four percent with the bioenergy segment of the company leading the way, up 14 percent, according to the company’s second quarter financial report.

“Enzyme sales for conventional biofuels continue to benefit from our broad technology base and innovative product portfolio,” said Tina Sejersgård Fanø, Executive Vice President, Agriculture & Bioenergy. “Novozymes’ newly launched yeast product, Innova® Drive, also contributed to growth in the second quarter.”

Novozymes has had strong performance this year in Latin America, where Brazilian producers are expanding more into corn-based ethanol production. “We continue to follow the recent debate on U.S. biofuel policies where current conditions for ethanol producers look set to support our expectations for the full year,” she added.

In addition, sales in Novozymes’ Agriculture & Feed business picked up and posted 13% organic sales growth in the second quarter.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Novozymes

Sneller to Retire from Nebraska Ethanol Board

Cindy Zimmerman

Todd Sneller is retiring as administrator of the Nebraska Ethanol Board after more than 40 years of service with the state of Nebraska, effective September 14.

Sneller started his career in 1976 as a staff assistant with the Agriculture Products Industrial Utilization Committee, now the Nebraska Ethanol Board. He left for a brief period from 1978 to spring 1979 to work as a business development consultant for the Nebraska Department of Economic Development. In May 1979, the Nebraska Ethanol Board recruited him to serve as their administrator, a role he has held ever since.

Sarah Thornton Caswell of Omaha has been selected as the next administrator for the board. She has extensive experience in the bio-industry sector and recently served as vice president of Government and Regulatory Affairs for Edeniq, a technology firm serving the biofuels industry. Caswell earned her juris doctor from American University’s Washington College of Law in Washington, D.C., and is a member of the Illinois Bar. She will assume the role of board administrator Sept. 17.

“Todd’s contributions to ethanol development extend beyond Nebraska, but his dedicated efforts in the state have helped create a new economic sector,” said Jan tenBensel, Nebraska Ethanol Board chairman. “We are pleased to have Sarah Caswell take the reins as the Board continues to advance into bio-products created from the ethanol platform.”

Nebraska Ethanol Board press release.

Ethanol, Ethanol News