Senate Transportation Bill Includes Ag Provisions

Cindy Zimmerman

By a vote of 74-22, the Senate has approved a highway transportation re-authorization bill that includes agricultural-related amendments passed Tuesday. The amendments include one by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) which will exempt drivers of farm vehicles from having to acquire a commercial driver’s license, and another by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) which will waive hours of service restrictions during harvest …

Biodiesel, Biofuels, Farming, NCBA

Orange County Choppers Paul Sr. Unveils Biodiesel Bike

Chuck Zimmerman

The big news today at the National Biodiesel Conference was the unveiling of the biodiesel bike built by Paul Teutul, Sr., Orange County Choppers. The bike was built in partnership with CIMA Green. Today the bike debuted on stage driven by former NBB Chairman, Ed Hegland. Then Paul Sr. himself drove it onto the biodiesel vehicle showcase floor where he …

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, National Biodiesel Conference, Video

National Biodiesel Conference Opening Speech

Chuck Zimmerman

Joe Jobe, CEO, National Biodiesel Board, welcomed attendees to the 2012 National Biodiesel Conference this morning. He started out by telling a story about what biodiesel means to him and how he got involved in energy, politics and history. One of the things that really got him interested in the industry was, “I wrote a paper for my high school …

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, National Biodiesel Conference

2012 National Biodiesel Conference

Chuck Zimmerman

It’s hard to believe I’ve been Biodiesel Blogging for seven years now. This is the seventh year of the National Biodiesel Conference Blog, one of the first ones we created when we started agriblogging! The 2012 National Biodiesel Conference is taking place in Orlando, FL. Once again New Holland is sponsoring the media room and the blog and we thank …

Biodiesel

Revived Renewable Fuels

Chuck Zimmerman

While I’m attending IPE Week, Cindy is at today’s Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit. Most of her coverage can be found on Domestic Fuel. Just thought I’d share this first story with you: Today’s 6th Annual Iowa Renewable Fuels Summit kicked off in Des Moines on Tuesday on a very positive note, considering that 2011 was a record year in the …

Ag Groups, Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol

Biodiesel Falls Under Minnesota Ag Marketing & Development

Cindy Zimmerman

Fields of soybeans surround the newly re-opened Renewable Energy Group REG Albert Lea biodiesel plant in southern Minnesota, serving as a reminder of where the renewable fuel is rooted. Christina Connelly with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s Ag Marketing and Development Division attended the grand re-opening Monday of the 30 million gallon a year plant, which was shut down in …

Biodiesel, Biofuels, Soybean

Minnesota Biodiesel Plant Means Jobs

Cindy Zimmerman

The one four-letter word we hear more than any other these days is “JOBS” and that is what the re-opening of a southern Minnesota biodiesel plant this week is all about. At the opening celebration of the Renewable Energy Group (REG) REG Albert Lea facility on Monday, Minnesota state representative Rich Murray (left) and local Chamber of Commerce Executive Director …

Audio, Biodiesel, Soybean

Biodiesel Adds Value to Minnesota Soybeans

Cindy Zimmerman

The Renewable Energy Group (REG) celebrated the official grand opening of REG Albert Lea biodiesel plant in Minnesota on Monday, with representatives of the state and local community and agriculture industry. REG President and COO Dan Oh (right) says the plant was shut down in 2008 when economic woes hit the biodiesel industry, but REG felt it was a significant …

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Soybean, USB, Video

Minnesota Soybean Growers to Celebrate Biodiesel Plant Re-Opening

Cindy Zimmerman

Minnesota soybean growers will be in attendance Monday at the grand re-opening of a soy biodiesel plant in Albert Lea that was shut down in 2008. The Renewable Energy Group (REG) acquired the former SoyMor production facility earlier this year, which is now known as REG Albert Lea, LLC. The company will be celebrating the grand re-opening of the plant …

Biodiesel, Soybean

FAPRI: Farm Incomes Up But Not Biggest Driver in Consumer Price Rise

John Davis

The amount consumers will be paying for food at the grocery store could jump this year, but rising farm incomes won’t be the biggest factor in that increase. The latest report from the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) at the University of Missouri shows there will be good farm incomes in the U.S. this year … a record …

Audio, Biodiesel, Biofuels, Ethanol, Farm Policy