Biodiesel Import Decision Delay Called Routine

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. Department of Commerce posted an announcement in the Federal Register this week announcing the postponement of issuing preliminary determinations on alleged dumping of Argentine and Indonesian biodiesel on the U.S. market.

National Biodiesel Board (NBB) Chief Operating Officer Doug Whitehead says the postponement is routine and was expected.

“In nearly all unfair trade cases investigated by the Department of Commerce, the agency extends deadlines for issuing decisions,” says Whitehead. “Our original timelines assumed cases would be postponed, with preliminary determinations in the anti-dumping cases in October and in the subsidy cases in August.”

Whitehead continued, “This in no way impacts the schedule or the fact that unfairly traded imports are hurting American companies and the employees who serve this industry. We remain confident that both the DOC and ITC will find in American biodiesel producers’ favor.”

NBB notes that the subsidy case announcement continues to be expected by August 22 (which was a previously extended deadline) and was not impacted by the most recent DOC notice in the Federal Register. The anti-dumping case announcement is expected, as it has been since the case was first filed, by October 20.

Biodiesel, NBB

NE Gov Highlights Value-Added Ag and Ethanol

Duane Kristensen, Chief Ethanol; NE Gov. Ricketts; NDA Director Greg Ibach; Energy Office Director David Bracht

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts highlighted Nebraska value-added agriculture efforts during a press conference at the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) annual conference held in Omaha.

“The ethanol industry is a prime example of how we can add value to the agriculture commodities that we grow right here in Nebraska,” said Governor Ricketts. “Through the process of turning corn into ethanol, several other co-products are produced, including distillers grains, corn oil, corn syrup, and dry starch. This is the type of value-added agriculture that helps create jobs, increase demand of locally-grown commodities and attract new businesses which is all part of growing Nebraska.”

Governor Ricketts, chairman of the Governor’s Biofuels Coalition, is a strong advocate of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) to help provide stability and certainty for partners in the ethanol industry.

Joining the governor were Duane Kristensen with Chief Ethanol Fuels, NE Agriculture Director Greg Ibach and Energy Office Director David Bracht. Watch the full press conference below.

2017 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, AgWired Energy, biofuels, corn, Ethanol, Video

Nebraska Governor Shows Ethanol Support

Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts has been a strong supporter of ethanol and he honored the industry meeting in Omaha this week by visiting the American Coalition for Ethanol annual conference in Omaha.

“Ethanol is a big part of value-added agriculture here in Nebraska,” said the governor, who held a press conference prior to his address to talk about the importance of the industry to the state.

Ricketts talked about his optimism about the future for ethanol under the new administration. “This administration has been a night and day difference from the last administration,” said Ricketts.

Audio file: Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts at 30th ACE annual conference

2017 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, AgWired Energy, Audio, corn, Ethanol, Government

30th Annual ACE Conference Underway

Members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) have gathered in Omaha for the organization’s 30th annual conference this week, with the theme “Tested. Proven. Driven.”

Executive Vice President Brian Jennings says the industry has a lot to celebrate. “We are on the precipice of opportunity in a lot of areas,” he said. “We’ve made as much progress as this industry ever has.”

This morning, Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts, who is a strong supporter of ethanol, is addressing the group, and Jennings says they are very happy to have him. “Governor Ricketts is so articulate, so passionate, so energetic, and he has a great rapport with the White House.”

Listen to the interview with Jennings here and stay tuned for more coverage.

Audio file: Interview with Brian Jennings, 30th ACE annual conference

2017 ACE Conference Photo Album

ACE, AgWired Energy, Audio, corn, Ethanol

Ethanol and Motorcycles Mix at Sturgis Rally

Cindy Zimmerman

At the 2017 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally last week, the Renewable Fuels Association stepped up its efforts to provide motorcycle owners with the facts about the use of ethanol their engines – mainly that ten percent ethanol is approved by every major motorcycle manufacturer.

This was ninth year for the ethanol sponsorship at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip Campground and it just keeps getting better. This edition of the Ethanol Report includes comments from RFA VP of Industry Relations Robert White, Buffalo Chip Campground owner Rod Woodruff, RFA chairman Mick Henderson and some bikers who filled up during Free Fuel Happy Hours.

Learn what was new at the Ethanol Report from 2017 Sturgis Rally

2017 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally photo album

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Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Motorcycle, RFA, Sturgis

Miss South Dakota Pumps Ethanol

Probably no other contestant at the 2017 Miss America pageant September 10 can say that they have pumped 10 percent ethanol fuel for bikers at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. But Miss South Dakota can.

Miranda Mack is from Redfield, home to Redfield Energy and the South Dakota Ethanol Producers Association, (SDEPA) which is a big sponsor of Miss South Dakota. “They sponsor my fuel costs as I travel all over the state this year,” she said, as she helped pump fuel and hand out t-shirts, looking only slightly out of place in her heels and tiara!

SDEPA president and Redfield Chief Administrative Officer Dana Siefkes-Lewis arranged for Miranda’s appearance at the Free Fuel Happy Hours sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip Campground.

Audio file: Interview with Miss South Dakota Miranda Mack

2017 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally photo album

AgWired Energy, Audio, Ethanol, RFA

Iowa Farmer is 1st Woman to Chair USGC

Iowa farmer Deb Keller was elected as U.S. Grains Council (USGC) chairman at the organization’s 57th Annual Board of Delegates Meeting in Vancouver, Washington earlier this month. She is the first female selected for the role in the organization’s nearly 60 year history.

Keller’s experience as a strong advocate for trade will amplify the Council’s mission of developing markets, enabling trade and improving lives. “Thinking ahead, I see so many areas for growth, but I also see challenges that will take much time and patience to see through,” Keller said in her incoming chairman’s remarks. “After working with our delegates, the board and our staff both internationally and domestically, I know we can be successful together.”

Keller has a bachelor’s degree in agronomy from Purdue University and has farmed in Wright County, Iowa, for more than 25 years with her husband, Gary, whom she met while working in a corn field.

Learn more about the new chair in this interview from Tony St. James – All Ag, All Day. Thanks Tony!

Interview with USGC chair Deb Keller

AgWired AgNewsWire, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, corn, Ethanol, USGC

ACE Helps POET-Big Stone Celebrate 15 Years

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) helped member plant POET Biorefining – Big Stone celebrate its 15-year anniversary this week at the Speedway Event Center in Milbank, South Dakota.

ACE executive vice president Brian Jennings spoke at POET Big Stone’s annual meeting along with Northern Growers LLC CFO Bob Narem and POET representatives Seth Artz and Blaine Gomer. POET Biorefining – Big Stone is majority owned by Northern Growers of Milbank with Broin Investments of Sioux Falls also an investor. After becoming fully operational in June of 2002, the 79 million-gallon-per-year (MGPY) plant will produce its billionth ethanol gallon later this fall.

ACE, Ethanol

RFA Chairman Pumps Fuel for Bikers

Cindy Zimmerman

Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) chairman Mick Henderson was a long way from his old Kentucky home this week, pumping 93 octane 10 percent ethanol fuel for bikers at the Buffalo Chip Campground for the 77th Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in Sturgis, SD.

“Back in Kentucky you might say that bourbon is the place to put your corn, but we drink the best and burn the rest,” said Henderson, who is general manager of Commonwealth Agri Energy in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. “And we have a real opportunity here to educate the motorcycle riding public about ethanol.”

It was Henderson’s first time attending the legendary motorcycle rally that RFA has been helping to sponsor for nine years now and he had a great time pumping fuel, giving away free t-shirts and beach balls with fuel cards, but he especially enjoyed just talking with the bikers. “You just talk to them about where they are from, what they do, why they are there,” said Henderson. “There’s still a lot of misinformation here and it’s fun to share that knowledge.”

Audio file: Interview with RFA Chairman Mick Henderson

2017 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally photo album

Audio, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Motorcycle, RFA, Sturgis

USDA Forecast Optimistic Despite Conditions

U.S. farmers are expected to produce a record-high soybean crop this year, according to USDA’s August Crop Production report released Thursday. Soybean production is forecast at 4.38 billion bushels, up two percent from last year, while corn growers are expected to decrease their production by seven percent from last year, forecast at 14.2 billion bushels.

Soybean yields are expected to average 49.4 bushels per acre, down 2.7 bushels from last year, while the average corn yield is forecast at 169.5 bushels per acre, down 5.1 bushels from last year. Yields for both crops are expected to be lower or the same in the major producing areas, but record high in non-traditional states like Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina.

But with corn condition ratings the lowest they have been since the 2012 drought, some analysts believe the yields will be lower than USDA is saying now. “It seems like they’re being very conservative with this,” said Doug Werling of Bower Trading during the MGEX crop call following release of the report. “You can’t have a crop condition rating that continues to fall and a yield that improves or only falls marginally two months in a row. It just doesn’t really add up.”

Werling also comments on the wheat production forecast, which is down 25 percent overall.

Audio file: Crop commentary from Doug Werling of Bower Trading

The August report also includes the first production forecast for U.S. cotton, at 20.5 million 480-pound bales, up 20 percent from last year.

AgWired AgNewsWire, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, corn, Soybean, USDA