Representatives for farmer and rancher organizations were present for a meeting with President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Abe in New York City as the two signed a trade deal Wednesday worth billions for U.S. agricultural producers. Under the market access agreement, Japan will open the market to approximately $7 billion in American agricultural exports, eliminating or significantly lowering …
Ethanol Report DC Update
When will that “giant package” of help for corn farmers and biofuel producers impacted by small refinery exemptions be announced by President Trump? The industry is still waiting on that word. Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) president and CEO Geoff Cooper was in Washington DC last week and in this edition of The Ethanol Report he gives an update on what …
NCGA Tackles Waivers, Trade
While celebrating announcements about E-15, National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) 1st Vice President Kevin Ross had the opportunity to share a pointed message with President Trump last spring regarding small refinery exemptions. But recent news out of Washington, D.C. about Renewable Fuels Standard waivers has Ross declaring there is still work to do. “There’s time for them to do things …
Managing Costs During Tight Margins
Margins are tight in the ethanol industry, and for a number of reasons from political to regulatory to economic. John Christianson, Principal, Christianson PLLP, told those attending the 2019 American Coalition for Ethanol Conference that successful plants have to be strategic and focused. “It really comes down to leadership and it comes down to a laser focus,” said Christianson. “The …
Ethanol Industry Has What It Takes
It was a somber yet determined group of ethanol industry representatives that met last week in Omaha for the American Coalition for Ethanol 32nd annual conference, in the wake of the EPA granting another 1.43 billion gallons of refinery waivers. ACE CEO Brian Jennings says they had a tough and honest board meeting prior to the start of the conference. …
Ethanol is Number One Priority for Grains Council
Ethanol is the number one priority for the U.S. Grains Council today, according to USGC CEO Ryan LeGrand, who spoke at the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) conference last week in Omaha. “There’s nothing more important to us right now than ethanol,” said LeGrand. The council has seven priority markets, with Mexico being one of the most significant. While the …
Nebraska Governor Thanks Ethanol Industry
Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts welcomed members of the American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) meeting in Omaha this week by thanking them for what they do. “Ethanol is a very important industry, on a national and on a state level,” said Gov. Ricketts, noting that Nebraska is the second largest ethanol producing state in the nation with 25 plants employing 1400 …
Farm and Biofuel Groups Dismayed by EPA Refinery Waivers
Small refinery waivers will continue to take a chunk out of the gallons of biofuel that should be blended into our nation’s transportation fuel supply under the Renewable Fuel Standard, thanks to the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement late Friday that granted 31 more exemptions, representing 1.43 billion gallons of additional lost RFS demand. Only six of the requests for 2018 …
Twisted Sister’s Dee Snider Appreciates Ethanol
Dee Snider, lead singer for Twisted Sister, known for the popular bikers song “Ride To Live, Live To Ride”, served as Captain for the 12th annual Legends Ride at the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association and the Sturgis Buffalo Chip Campground. The “We’re Not Gonna Take It” singer had some nice things to say about ethanol …
Educating #SturgisRally Bikers about E10 Once Again
From the Ag Media Summit and IFAJ Congress to the Sturgis Rally at the Sturgis Buffalo Chip. There is quite a difference in the local flora and fauna if you know what I mean. Here’s the Renewable Fuels Association team with Rusty Wallace of racing fame and Rod Woodruff, owner of the Buffalo Chip. We’ll be doing on-stage promotions and …