America’s Renewable Future (ARF) is less than one year old, but has already made an impact when it comes to educating presidential candidates about the importance of agriculture and renewable fuels. Eric Branstad, son of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad, was one of the main organizers of the coalition which just launched in January of this year. “Since then we’ve been …
Biodiesel 2015 and Beyond
The Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council is conducting a first ever event today in Mankato, MN. The event, “Biodiesel 2015 & Beyond: A Biodiesel/Bioheat Forum,” brings together biodiesel industry market developers, researchers and a number of representatives of east coast oil heat and fuel companies. The open forum is providing an educational look at what’s going on in the …
#Ag Not on Republican Soapbox Agenda
Apparently agriculture is not a main agenda item during the Iowa State Fair for many Republicans. During the Des Moines Register’s Soapbox series speeches, Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina and Senator from South Carolina Lindsey Graham failed to discuss any ag issues in detail and only Walker and Fiorina made comments but only when answering crowd questions. I …
Join the Biodiesel & Bioheat Forum
Next week I’ll be attending the Biodiesel and Bioheat Forum, sponsored by the Minnesota Soybean Research and Promotion Council. Want to join me? Get registered now. Home heating oil and biodiesel leaders will discuss a biodiesel blend with significant environmental and economic benefits and the role Minnesota soybean farmers can play in meeting the demand of this market. “The Midwest …
Free Fuel Happy Hours at Sturgis Buffalo Chip
The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) has been providing free E10 fuel fill-ups for bikers at the Buffalo Chip Campground during the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally for the past four years, and every year Chip owner Rod “Woody” Woodruff is first in line. Cindy borrowed my new Golden ZimmComm Microphone to interview Woody during her first trip to the annual event. “RFA …
Biobased Industry Boosts US Economy
A new report that shows the U.S. biobased industry adds $369 billion and 4 million jobs to the American economy. This news release from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) says that number is poised to grow under changes in the 2014 Farm Bill. “This report is the first to examine and quantify the effect of the U.S. biobased products …
EPA Sets Timeline for Biofuels Volumes
Under a court settlement with the oil industry, the Environmental Protection Agency will now release the 2015 Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) renewable volume obligations (RVOs) for biofuels by June 1, 2015, and issue the final 2014 and 2015 RFS blending targets by November 30, 2015. In addition, EPA will also release and finalize 2016 numbers this year. The agency failed …
Presidential Possibles Take on Ag Issues
Nine potential Republican presidential candidates were asked their opinions on various agricultural issues at the Iowa Ag Summit in Des Moines on Saturday. Each taking a seat on a stage with agribusiness entrepreneur Bruce Rastetter for 20-30 minutes were former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, South Carolina …
Bob Dinneen Live Stream of State of Ethanol Industry
This morning at 8am central we will live stream the session from the National Ethanol Conference featuring Renewable Fuels Association CEO Bob Dinneen. Bob will deliver this annual state of the industry address a few minutes after 8am and we’ll be recording it so that you can watch and listen later if you miss the broadcast or want to review …
FAPRI Analyst Provides Crop Outlook at AFBF
The bumper corn crop this year means lower prices for the grain, but feed demand will continue to be strong… while demand to turn grains into biofuels will stagnate. That’s the mixed bag of information attendees of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 96th Annual Convention and IDEAg Trade Show heard from Patrick Westhoff, director of the Food and Agricultural Policy …