ACE Conference 2026

Discovery Channel Documentary Spotlights Biodiesel

Cindy Zimmerman

The biodiesel industry is spotlighted in a new Discovery Impact documentary “HOT GREASE” which makes its on-air debut this week, November 16 at 9:00 Eastern.

“Set in Houston, Texas in the shadow of the nation’s oil industry, HOT GREASE tells the surprising story of how the biodiesel industry is turning an ostensibly worthless raw material—spent kitchen grease—into a renewable energy source capable of fueling cars, buses and fleets of trucks throughout the country. But, powerful forces are working to stop that from happening. Featuring innovators, entrepreneurs, grease collectors and supporters like Senator Al Franken (D-MN) and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), HOT GREASE follows the battle for biodiesel’s future and its very survival.”

The film features footage from National Biodiesel Board events, as well as interviews with NBB Director of Communications Jessica Robinson; former Senator Byron Dorgan (D-N.D.) and Gene Gebolys, founder and CEO of World Energy.

HOT GREASE debuts tomorrow on Discovery, following its premiere at the prestigious DOC NYC festival. The film will be available on Discovery Go and Discovery On Demand on November 17.

Biodiesel, NBB

ACE Optimistic About E15 Parity

Cindy Zimmerman

Last month’s concession letter to ethanol state senators from EPA administrator Scott Pruitt is providing some hope that 15% ethanol might soon be treated the same as E10 when it comes to Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP), which would allow the fuel to be sold year round in all parts of the country.

“We believe they have the statutory authority today to extend RVP relief to E15,” said American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) executive vice president Brian Jennings during an interview at the NAFB convention. “Now we have an administrator who has an interest in the topic himself.”

Pruitt’s letter to the lawmakers concerned that EPA was looking at changing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) to the detriment of biofuels, said that the agency will “actively explore” whether it has the legal authority to approve year-round access to E15. The ethanol industry has been trying to get the rule glitch fixed since E15 was first approved for use, either by legislation or regulation. “I’m sort of at the point now that I just want it to get done,” said Jennings.

Listen to the interview with Jennings here: Interview with Brian Jennings, ACE

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
ACE, Audio, E15, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NAFB

E15 Retailer Video Series Debuts

Cindy Zimmerman

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) has debuted the first two in a series of fuel marketer-focused videos on the flexfuelforward.com website as part of a campaign to feature real world E15 and flex fuel retailer success stories.

All episodes are hosted by ACE Senior Vice President Ron Lamberty with the first video introducing the series and some of the people who will be featured. “The Flex Fuel Forward campaign recognizes marketers trust the experience and opinions of other marketers,” Lamberty said. “Thousands of stations across the country are now selling E15 and flex fuels, and they aren’t doing it as a favor to anybody, they’re doing it because they make more money.”

The second video features Bob O’Connor, who became the first E15 and flex fuel retailer in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, last November when he added the fuels at one of his Jetz Convenience Centers. O’Connor accompanied a “sneak preview” of the videos at ACE’s booth at the National Association of Convenience Stores’ (NACS) trade show in Chicago last month and provided “live and in person” answers to other retailers’ E15 and flex fuel questions.


ACE, E15, E85, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Retailers

LBDS Announces 6th Edition of The Alcohol Textbook.

Cindy Zimmerman

LBDS (Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits) is pleased to announce the 6th Edition of The Alcohol Textbook, produced by the Ethanol Technology Institute, LBDS’s educational arm.

The textbook is an outgrowth of the Alcohol School and has become the industry standard and reference guide in the industry. First published after the School’s introduction in 1981, it has grown from 100 pages to 602 in the current, all new, edition.

“We have been honored to collaborate with the many accomplished experts who have written chapters in their respective fields. This book has become the “gold standard” in alcohol processing information in the market today.” said Angus Ballard, President of Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Processing, Production

FarmLead Adds Price Discovery to Online Grain Marketplace

Online grain marketplace FarmLead has announced the launch of its newest feature, Price Discovery, which provides a comprehensive view of historical and future grain price trends specific to the user’s geography, helping farmers make better decisions when selling their grain.

“This isn’t just a simple price transparency tool. It is a price education tool,” says FarmLead CEO and President Brennan Turner. “FarmLead Price Discovery is the first of its kind to give farmers historical AND future grain price data points without any cost. We want farmers to be able to make smarter decisions when it comes to selling their grain.”

FarmLead’s Price Discovery feature saves farmers time and money by providing the data in an appealing and easy-to-use format — with no upfront or subscription costs. When coupled with access to thousands of verified buyers on the FarmLead Marketplace, Price Discovery allows grain farmers to close deals faster. On average, the total process adds six percent more value to the final selling price of a farmer’s grain.

For more information, or to register for your free account, please go to: www.FarmLead.com.

AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Farming

Get Ready for the Census of Agriculture

chuck zimmerman

It’s that time farmers. The 2017 Census of Agriculture is coming in December. The survey is conducted by the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. It has been conducted since 1840 and is a complete count of U.S. farms and ranches and the people who operate them. It takes place every five years.

During the NAFB Trade Talk session I visited with Barbara Rater, USDA-NASS, about the new survey. She says there will be new questions that include veteran status, farm decision-making and food marketing practices. There is also a much improved online questionnaire designed to make it easier to fill out. There will also be versions for mobile phone, tablet and desk/laptop computer.

Barbara also talks about the importance of filling out the survey which includes being able to show the country the importance and value of U.S. agriculture. The information will also be useful for influencing decision makers on topics like transportation/marketing locations, farm services, production practices and new technologies and farm policy. I can vouch for the importance of the survey even to those of us in agricultural marketing and ag media. You can watch a message about the Census from our U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Sonny Perdue, here.

And congratulations to Barbara for becoming a member of the #GoldenMic Club!

Learn more about the new census here: Interview with Barbara Rater, USDA-NASS

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, Government, NAFB, USDA

Propane Can Do That

Carrie Muehling

The Propane Education and Research Council (PERC) has launched a new website dedicated to agricultural applications of propane.

“It’s a really good site. I think if you’re excited about saving money and having reliable, powerful, clean equipment, it will be a great site for you,” said Cinch Munson with PERC.

The site also offers details about the Farm Incentive Program to help people make the initial investment into propane equipment, offering up to $5,000 towards that type of purchase. Munson said about 10 percent of propane sales go into agriculture applications, from drying grain to heating livestock facilities.

Learn more about propane in agriculture here: Interview with Cinch Munson, PERC

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
Agribusiness, AgWired Animal, AgWired Energy, AgWired Precision, Audio, NAFB, PERC

Growth Energy Podcast from NAFB

Cindy Zimmerman

The Growth Energy Driving Ethanol podcast this week comes from the National Association of Farm Broadcasting 74th annual convention in Kansas City last week.

It was the first time that Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor had the opportunity to experience the one and only NAFB Trade Talk, a six-hour interview marathon between reporters and agribusiness company and organization representatives about industry news. There is probably not another event like it in any industry.

Skor spoke with dozens of broadcasters at the event, commenting on a variety of issues, including the hold up of Bill Northey’s nomination, the upcoming release of EPA’s final RVO numbers for next year, and China’s removal of the 11% VAT tax on DDGs imports.

Listen to the podcast here: Growth Energy Podcast 11-13-17

Subscribe to the Driving Ethanol podcast

2017 NAFB Convention Photos

Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by
Coverage of the NAFB Convention is sponsored by FMC
Driving Ethanol podcast, Ethanol, Growth Energy, Podcasting

CoBank: Cautious Optimism for Ethanol Exports

Cindy Zimmerman

A new report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division is cautiously optimistic about opportunities for US exports in grains, oilseeds and ethanol over the next three years.

“In the absence of major weather disruptions, global grain surpluses are expected to persist over the next three years. Acreage expansions and improvements to yields in competing export hubs will be headwinds for U.S. exports,” said Tanner Ehmke, manager of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division. “The bright spot will be the continual growth in demand. As the global middle class grows, so will the opportunities for US exports.”

The report predicts solid growth in short term demand for corn will continue while the ethanol sector will struggle to grow demand “due to changing market dynamics in Brazil, and remaining challenges related to higher blend levels in the US.”

Ehmke says both Brazil and China are determined to reduce their dependence on U.S. ethanol. “The US will shift focus to emerging markets like Mexico, Thailand, India and Indonesia in the medium term,” said Ehmke.

corn, Ethanol, Ethanol News

Ethanol Industry Asks USTR to Suspend Brazil GSP Status

Cindy Zimmerman

The U.S. ethanol industry is asking U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to suspend Brazil’s designated country status under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) due to “protectionist and market distorting actions in implementing a Tariff Rate Quota (TRQ) that affects imports of U.S. ethanol.”

A letter was sent to Lighthizer this week, signed by the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA), Growth Energy, and the US Grains Council.

“They’ve imposed a trade quota of only about 150 million gallons a year, when we’ve been shipping close to 500 million, and imposed a 20 percent tariff on every gallon over the quota,” said RFA president and CEO Bob Dinneen. “That’s particularly galling because Brazil is …the third largest beneficiary of GSP eligible trade at more than 2.2 billion dollars a year.”

Dinneen says that has driven a $2.76 billion dollar trade deficit for agricultural products and ethanol. “They obviously no longer qualify for GSP treatment,” said Dinneen.

The industry will submit a formal petition soon.

Dinneen explains more in this Ethanol Report – Ethanol Report on Brazil GSP status

Audio, Brazil, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Ethanol Report, Growth Energy, USGC