For some students at Eastern Illinois University, the traditional, enclosed classroom will soon be replaced with acres of wind-blown native grasses. Local landowners have agreed to allow Eastern to use nearly 120 acres of their property for research.
The University of Missouri's Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute has published a mid-year update to its baseline agricultural report, which was prepared in January. The update includes revised forecasts for ethanol and corn production.
The U.S. Department of Energy is asking for input on landscape design approaches that sustainably integrate cellulosic feedstock production into existing agricultural and forestry systems. Comments are due Sept. 2.
August is proving to be a month of making new contract lows in nearby corn futures. Soybeans had the same type of trade but the contract lows were for new crop. Mild temperatures and scattered moisture despite a dry July triggered some sell-off.
Despite the focus on potential record corn production this growing season, corn futures are showing an amazing sense of stability at the end of August. This is creating the potential for light to moderate buyer support.
Geringhoff will participate in Poet-DSM's Project Liberty trials, starting with an open house and tours at Poet's facilities in Emmetsburg, Iowa, on Sept. 3. Trials are being performed with the Geringhoff Horizon Elite XL Stover Collection corn head.
Genera Energy recently released a new infographic featuring a visual overview of biomass feedstock and guidelines for choosing the best solution for every biomass project. The four-page infographic highlights key supply chain elements.
In the last couple of weeks I've covered some undeniably good news stories. I have to say, those kinds of stories are a lot more fun to write than stories about bankruptcies, idled plants and tight margins.
Despite challenges surrounding imports, China has accomplished a feat never before seen. According to Chinese and USDA data, China has imported more than 3 million metric tons each of corn, sorghum and DDGS this marketing year, which ends Aug. 31.
While the powerful solvents known as ionic liquids show great promise for liberating fermentable sugars from lignocellulose and improving the economics of advanced biofuels, an even more promising candidate is on the horizon, bionic liquids.
It's important to remind ourselves that ethanol is about revitalizing small towns and farms in rural America, writes Mike Bryan. A 50 MMgy ethanol plant will generate nearly $200 million in yearly revenue in DDGS and ethanol sales alone.
Brazil-based Cosan recently released financial results for the second quarter, reporting a 16 percent increase in EBITDA for its Raizen Energia business unit, which comprises its sugar, ethanol and cogeneration operations.
The cover crop potential for corn production is just one example of the many interesting things to learn about when writing about the ethanol industry.
Calgren Renewable Fuels, Aemetis Inc. and Pacific Ethanol Inc. each received a $3 million matching grant from the California Energy Commission's Alternative and Renewable Fuel and Vehicle Technology Program to support sorghum feedstock development.
The release of a new type of switchgrass specifically designed for bioenergy generation has been announced by USDA researchers and their partners. The cultivar "Liberty" can yield 8 tons of biomass per acre.
Brian Jennings celebrates the success of Quad County Corn Processors, which unveiled a technology for converting corn fiber into cellulosic ethanol. The ethanol plants' engineer is part of ACE's "power by people" campaign.
In response to the need to prevent invasive species, researchers at the University of Illinois have developed both a set of regulatory definitions and provisions and a list of 49 low-risk biofuel plants from which growers can choose.
An annual report on Brazil's biofuel sector has been filed with the USDA Foreign Agriculture Service's Global Agricultural Information Network, predicting Brazilian ethanol production will increase 5 percent next year.
The first corn ethanol plant to be built in more than five years is taking shape in North Dakota.
The USDA recently published a report that provides uniform scientific methods for quantifying the changes in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and carbon storage from various land management and conservation activities.
Corn ethanol producers at the 2014 American Coalition for Ethanol conference spoke on how they are differentiating themselves from the pack through the addition of biodiesel, renewable diesel and cellulosic ethanol production.
Farmers using cover crops as a soil conservation method can remove much more corn stover per acre for biofuels or other uses and at the same time potentially increase their income, Purdue University research shows.
A powerful new tool that can help advance the genetic engineering of "fuel" crops for clean, green and renewable bioenergy, has been developed by researchers with the U.S. Department of Energy's Joint BioEnergy Institute.
July was not a pretty month for the corn producer but end-users of corn benefited with tumbling prices. Nearby corn futures declined nearly 60 cents since July 1 to July 28. Prospects of a bigger yield continue to weigh on prices and the cash market
Michigan State University has been awarded $1 million from a joint U.S. Department of Energy and USDA program to develop hardier switchgrass, a plant native to North America that holds high potential as a biofuel source.
Miscanthus, a perennial grass with vast potential to produce biomass, would deliver even better yields than once thought in Iowa, according to research by agronomists at Iowa State University.
Genera Energy Inc. has announced the deployment of two new proprietary feedstock management systems, Energy Grange and Supply AssureBoth systems were developed through years of R&D and in-the-field testing.
Pacific Ethanol Inc. has announced it was awarded a $3 million matching grant from the California Energy Commission to develop a sorghum feedstock program collaboratively with several other organizations.
The European Union has filed its annual biofuels report with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service's Global Agricultural Information Network, reporting that the European Commission aims to reach an agreement on future biofuel policy by October.
A Purdue Research Park-based company whose one-step, patent-pending technology could improve the efficiency of alternative fuels and the production of fragrance products has received funding from the National Science Foundation.
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