Ethanol By-Product Officially Non-Hazardous

Cindy Zimmerman

The ethanol by-product and livestock feed known as distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) is now officially recognized as a non-hazardous cargo by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

bargesThe official IMO classification became final and mandatory under the code of the International Maritime Organization on Jan. 1, 2013, after action by the U.S. Grains Council on behalf of its member organizations like the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).

“While DDGS have effectively been shipped as a non-hazardous cargo for years now, the final classification by the IMO is an important success which will benefit corn farmers across the country,” said NCGA President Pam Johnson. “This status provides additional assurance that DDGS buyers and producers can access the lower freight rates assessed for non-hazardous cargo. U.S. farmers work diligently to ensure at every point in the process that we continue to provide the stable, consistent, quality product that our export markets expect.”

The classification provides savings in the form of lower freight costs which, in turn, increase the return to ethanol plants producing the high quality feed ingredient. Exports of DDGS from the United States have increased tremendously in recent years.

corn, Distillers Grains, Ethanol, Ethanol News, NCGA

Latest HSUS Poll Hacked

Talia Goes

Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Should we sit down with HSUS in ‘common cause’?”

The results of this poll are skewed due to the hacking by HSUS. In the end, the poll read that eighty one percent voted Definitely, fifteen percent said Never, and four percent thought we Should in some cases. The attempt to affect our poll results has the HSUS/PETA goal of an end to animal agriculture. They are working to get the livestock industry to make concessions that drastically change production methods. When that happens it becomes a very slippery slope very quickly. It will only be a short matter of time before allowing chickens more room in cages becomes allowing all animals the right to life. Treating animals humanely is not the same as treating them like they are humans – but many activists see no difference.

The hacking we are referring to was having almost 400 poll responses to the Definitely answer come in during a few hours one night last week and none since. If you take them out, the answer Never would have been the highest result by far.

1.23.12graph

Our new ZimmPoll is now live and asks the question, “How many machines (tractors, etc.) does your farm own?” Some of the urban folk believe that if you own more than 1-2 pieces of machinery, that would classify you as a large farmer. We disagree with that. So let’s see how many pieces of equipment most farmers/ranchers own. Let us know!

ZimmPoll is sponsored by New Holland Agriculture.

Miscellaneous

Book Review – Demystifying Food From Farm to Fork

Joanna Schroeder

This week I read, “Demystifying Food from Farm to Fork,” by Maurice J. Hladik. Many of you may be familiar with Hladik, an agricultural expert who has spoken at events all around the world including Commodity Classic. The goal of the book is to take a look at food production from “farm to fork”.

demystifying-food-from-farm-to-forkAs with many concepts, farm to fork can be defined in many ways. Hladik defines it as, “Pertaining to the human food chain from agricultural production to consumption. In other words, from our readers farm to my table.”

As Hladik takes the reader through the varying stages in between the planting, growing and harvesting of food through manufacturing and eventually to the table, he explained the pros and cons, addressed any surrounding controversies and presented both sides of each argument. For this I was very impressed, as many writers take the view of “it’s my way or no way”.

Hladik also points out certain areas that he says are portrayed in the media as myths. One area he addressed was that of ethanol production and food prices. He writes, “There is a widespread conviction that the use of massive quantities of corn for the production of ethanol, and to a lesser extent soy beans for biodiesel, substantially contributes to hunger throughout the world….In reality, there is enough food in the world to go around, but getting it to all those who need it is a challenge.”

He continues by writing that the world does not need all the corn and other grains that are dedicated to biofuel production, and thus corn might as well be used for this purpose (he also rightly points out that a diet solely of corn does not constitute a balanced diet). In addition, he explains during his examination of “food versus fuel” that because of the increased need for corn for ethanol, along with the fact that growers are harvesting more bushels per acre than ever before, that should the unforeseen happen, the corn can be diverted to other areas – in essence, ethanol production is “money in the bank”.

This book is very well suited to those of us who are not very familiar with agriculture, and gives the reader a good, brief introduction into all the steps it takes to deliver our food to the table.

biofuels, book reviews, food and fuel

Bioenergy Bytes

Joanna Schroeder

Bioenergy Bytes

Iberdrola Renewables Completes 3 Wind Farms

Joanna Schroeder

IRI_Groton-3336Iberdrola Renewables has completed three new wind energy projects in the U.S. The wind farms were all commissioned in December 2012, representing a total investment of approximately $700 million, and most of the power has already been purchased via long-term contracts. The three projects include:

  • The Manzana Wind Power Project located in Kern County, California includes 126 GE 1.5MW wind turbines, with the capacity to produce 189 MW of wind energy each year. Lease payments to landowners are estimated to be more than $30 million over the life of the wind farm.
  • The Hoosac Wind Power Project is located in Monroe, Massachusetts and expands into Florida, Massachusetts. The wind farm consists of 19 GE 1.5 MW wind turbines with the ability to generate 28.5 MW annually. Lease payments to landowners are estimated to be $3 million over the life of the wind farm.
  • The Groton Wind Farm is situated along two ridge features in the town of Groton, New Hampshire. The wind farm consists of 24 Gamesa G87, 2.0 MW wind turbines and has the capacity to produce 48MW per year.

“These projects have begun delivering the environmental benefits of clean, renewable energy, but they also create significant economic impacts resulting from hiring numerous local workers and companies, and making long-term tax and lease payments to the local communities,” said Martín Mugíca, president and CEO of Iberdrola Renewables, LLC. “Each project represents the culmination of years of hard work, and we could not do it without the vision and support of our shareholders, customers and employees.”

Earlier in 2012, Iberdrola Renewables completed a 46-MW project in Pennsylvania, a 100-MW project in Iowa and a 304-MW project in Ohio.

Alternative energy, Electricity, Energy, Wind

Register Now for Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

Cindy Zimmerman

irfa-lucy-nortonIf you want to spend a day next week with Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad, author and energy security expert Anne Korin, Growth Energy President Tom Buis and USDA Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager – today is the last day of pre-registration for the 7th Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit on January 30 in Altoona.

Registration is free and you can register on site, but Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Managing Director Lucy Norton says it’s good to know about how many people will be attending. “It’s open to the general public,” said Norton. “We encourage everyone to come out and hear more and learn more about renewable fuels.”

Much of the summit is focused on the importance of renewable fuels to Iowa, one of the leading states in the production of both ethanol and biodiesel. “The summit is the way that the renewable fuels industry gets the word out on renewable fuels and what it means to the state economy, for the federal economy,” Norton said, noting that both Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds will be at the event this year.

Norton says the Iowa RFA will be encouraging attendees to sign a letter to Chrysler. “We are asking Chrysler to follow suit with General Motors and Ford and approve their vehicles for the use of E15,” she said.

Find out more about what is in store at the 2013 Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit in this interview: Lucy Norton with Iowa RFA

Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit information and registration.

Audio, Biodiesel, Ethanol, Ethanol News, Iowa RFA

Coalition Urges New Farm Bill for Energy

Cindy Zimmerman

The Agriculture Energy Coalition (AgEC) today urged Congress to begin work on a new five-year Farm Bill with strong mandatory funding for energy programs.

The coalition notes that programs included in the farm bill Energy Title including the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP), Biorefinery Assistance Program (BAP) and Biobased Markets Program (Biopreferred) have helped create jobs and economic growth in rural America, develop new agricultural markets, and improve farmers’ and ranchers’ energy self-sufficiency.

“Farm energy programs have paid a tremendous return for rural Americans, in terms of new jobs, investments in new energy efficiency and bioenergy technology, and new biobased products,” said Lloyd Ritter, Agriculture Energy Coalition co-director. “Economic growth and job opportunities in rural America are at risk without a renewal of funding for these effective programs.”

The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 extended the 2008 Farm Bill without funding for energy title programs. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) re-introduced the five-year farm bill passed by the Senate last year, calling it a “revolutionary piece of legislation.” The House failed to pass a farm bill last year.

Biodiesel, biofuels, biomass, Ethanol, Ethanol News, farm bill

Are You Ready for 2013 National Biodiesel Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

National Biodiesel Conference 2013For the first time ever the National Biodiesel Conference will be held in Las Vegas. The Domestic Fuel team will be there. Here’s where you can find registration information.

To get a preview of what’s to come listen in on an interview with Jessica Robinson, Director of Communications for the National Biodiesel Board. The conference theme is Momentum. Jessica says the theme fits on several levels. To start with, the National Biodiesel Board and biodiesel is celebrating its 20th anniversary. Then you have to look at the challenging year the industry had in 2012. Now NBB feels like it is poised for new growth in 2013. It is the first time the conference has been held in Las Vegas.

You can listen to my preview interview with Jessica here: Preview Interview with Jessica Robinson

Audio, Biodiesel, Biodiesel Conference, NBB

American Farm Bureau Supports RFS

Cindy Zimmerman

AFBF President Bob Stallman Press ConferenceDelegates for the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) last week voted overwhelmingly to support continuation of the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), despite the fact that membership in the organization includes a substantial percentage of livestock producers.

“The livestock guys still have concerns about high feed costs, and I’m one of them, I’m a beef producer,” said AFBF president Bob Stallman. “On the other hand, we have this renewable fuels infrastructure that’s in place, a very large industry that employs lots of people and provides a market for a lot of products, so we need to be very careful not to have policies trying to dismantle that.”

There were 362 voting delegates at the 94th AFBF Annual meeting in Nashville last week representing every crop and livestock sector in the 50 states and Puerto Rico. The policies approved at the annual meeting will guide the nation’s largest general farm organization in its legislative and regulatory efforts throughout 2013.

Ethanol, Ethanol News, Farm Bureau, livestock, livestock feed, RFS

E15 Hot Topic at Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit

Joanna Schroeder

Giving consumers more choice at the pump with an E15 ethanol fuel blend will be a feature presentation during the 7th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit and Trade Show being held in Altoona, Iowa on January 30, 2013.

IowaRFA logo“E15 and Beyond – The Future of Consumer Fuel Choice” panel will include Scott Zaremba, President of Zarco 66, the nation’s first fuel retailer to offer E15 as a registered fuel to 2001 and newer vehicles. Mr. Zaremba will discuss his experience in becoming the nation’s first E15 retailer. Joining Zaremba will be Jim Becthold, Service Manager for Linn Co-op Oil Company. Becthold will discuss his role in becoming the first retailer in Iowa to offer E15 to 2001 and newer vehicles, as well as the benefits of the fuel. The final panelist and moderator, Lucy Norton, Managing Director, Iowa Renewable Fuels Association, will highlight the impact of E15 on consumer fuel choice and how ethanol fits into future engine concepts.

“This panel will provide the Summit audience with a glimpse of what to expect in the future regarding E15 and consumer fuel choice,” said Iowa Renewable Fuels Association Managing Director Lucy Norton. “This panel will be an excellent compliment to an already great lineup of announced speakers like Gov. Terry Branstad, Author and Energy Security Expert Anne Korin, Growth Energy President Tom Buis and USDA Under Secretary Dallas Tonsager.”

Norton says the FREE Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit provides a great opportunity to hear experts address state and national issues facing the future of renewable fuels. Also discussed will be opportunities for the biofuels industry.

Although the Summit is free, pre-registration is required by January 23, 2013. The event is taking place at The Meadows Conference Center in Altoona, Iowa.

Biodiesel, biofuels, E15, Ethanol, Iowa RFA