Estimates show up to 8.2 million acres of corn and 5.2 million acres of soybeans were damaged in Iowa alone by the Aug. 10 derecho. The nationwide corn harvest, however, is still expected to be above average, according to the USGC.
On top of the slowdown, the world's No. 2 ethanol nation is holding strong on policies that check robust U.S. imports. In addition to its tariff rate quota, tough feedstock traceability requirements place another roadblock in front of U.S. ethanol.
California Ethanol + Power has announced its intention to enter into a 15-year marketing arrangement with global agribusiness leader CHS Inc. for ethanol produced at its Sugar Valley Energy facility. The plant will also produce biomethane and power.
The Senate Democrats Climate Committee released a new report on Aug. 25 that details how climate action by Congress can create new jobs and grow the U.S. economy. Biofuels and bioenergy are among the topics discussed.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds announced on Aug. 25 that the state is allocating approximately $100 million of federal CARES Act relief funds to seven ag programs to offset the impact of COVID-19. Approximately $22.5 million of that will support biofuels.
Ideal growing conditions and optimal yields should provide a silver lining for the 2020-'21 corn crop following lower than expected planting numbers. It's still early, but as of late August, the crop appears to be in good to excellent shape.
The U.S. EPA is seeking nominations for scientific experts from a diverse range of disciplines to be considered for appointment to the EPA Science Advisory Board and four SAB standing committees. Nominations are due Aug. 31.
UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, has announced overall ethanol sales in July were down. Sales of ethanol for non-fuel uses and exports, however, were up. Corn ethanol production also increased when compared to July 2019.
ACE's 33rd annual conference is being held as a live virtual event on Sept. 16 and will feature a USDA official, fuel retailers and a market analyst. Attendees will have dual access the 2020 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo.
President Trump on Aug. 18 verbally committed to speaking to the U.S. EPA regarding the RFS and SREs during a visit to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to participate in a disaster recovery briefing on the derecho windstorm that devastated the state Aug. 10.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition has released a scientific literature review that confirms biogenic CO2 emissions from annual agriculture crops do not contribute to elevated greenhouse gas levels in the atmosphere.
In a split decision, a federal appeals court on Aug. 14 denied a petition filed by Poet Biorefining last year challenging guidance issued by the U.S. EPA in May 2019 regarding the registration of corn kernel fiber pathways under the RFS.
The push to alter biogenic emissions regulations could boost corn farming and ethanol production while cementing the role of biobased solutions in the fight against climate change. Political inertia, however, remains the primary barrier to change.
The USDA maintained its forecast for 2020-'21 corn use in ethanol in its latest World Agriculture Supply and Demand Estimates report, released on Aug. 12. Projections for corn production and yield were revised up, while corn prices were revised down.
A recent study by researchers in the Energy Systems division at the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory quantified how much farms might reduce emissions by changing their practices and adopting novel technologies.
As businesses of all sizes weather today's tough economy, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is offering its entire portfolio of patented technologies on a research trial basis—at no cost—to spur economic development and create new jobs.
The U.S. Department of Energy on July 31 announced more than $97 million in funding for 33 projects that will support high-impact technology research and development to accelerate the bioeconomy, including biofuels, biopower and bioproducts.
UNICA, the Brazilian sugarcane industry association, has announced ethanol production and sales were down a respective 2 percent and 14 percent during the first half of July despite a 14 percent increase in the volume of sugarcane processed.
The DOE on July 28 announced $68 million in funding over five years for basic research aimed at making bioenergy feedstock crops more productive and resilient. Feedstocks addressed by the research include sorghum, poplar and pennycress.
The USDA recently released its Grain Crushings and Co-Products Production report for July, reporting that corn use for ethanol production was at 300 million bushels in May, up from the previous month, but down from May 2019.
The Biogenic CO2 Coalition has released new video and digital ad campaign asking why the U.S. EPA is the only environmental agency in the world to treat carbon emissions from common agricultural crops the exact same as those from fossil fuels.
The National Corn Growers Association remains hard at work to help improve the economic situation for corn growers amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The organization hosted a virtual fly-in to Capitol Hill July 22-23.
Researchers used the Canadian Light Source at the University of Saskatchewan to improve their technique to convert CO2 into ethanol, a valuable chemical that can be used in industrial applications and as a transportation fuel.
An annual biofuels report filed with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Agricultural Information Network discusses the impact the COVID-19 pandemic is expected to have on biofuel use and production in the European Union.
Members of Congress in key Midwestern states have received over 10,000 individual letters from constituents urging them to press the EPA to address a regulatory barrier preventing growth in the bioeconomy, according to the Biogenic CO2 Coalition.
California Ethanol + Power's Imperial Valley project takes a significant step forward as the company announces it has reached a target price agreement with leading national infrastructure developer MasTec Power Corp.
BBI International has announced that the 2020 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, the ethanol industry's largest conference, has been moved and will be virtual, due to the outbreak of COVID-19. The event will now take place Sept. 15-17.
Ethanol producers have sustained adequate production yields in 2020, despite low-quality corn from last year's harvest. While experts aren't sure why problems haven't arisen, improved enzymes and yeasts have probably helped plants stay 'dialed in.'
For the largest family-owned and operated grain bin manufacturer in the world, success is measured through customer and dealer satisfaction. That responsiveness, coupled with ingenuity, has earned the company a reputation for innovation and safety.
The USDA reduced its estimate for corn use in ethanol during the 2019-'20 marketing year by 50 million bushels in its latest WASDE report, released July 10. The forecast for corn use in ethanol during the 2020-'21 crop year, however, was maintained.
Advertisement