EPA Announces E15 Waiver Approval for 8 States in 2025
The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday approval of requests from state governors to remove the 1-psi volatility waiver for gasoline-ethanol blends containing 10 percent ethanol in their states, but delays the effective date to April 28, 2025.
“After review of the emissions modeling results presented by the governors in their requests, EPA is removing the 1-psi waiver in the following states: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin,” EPA states, adding that the delay in implementation is “due to concerns over insufficient fuel supply with an earlier effective date, consistent with statutory provisions.”
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack previewed the announcement earlier this week at the National Ethanol Conference, adding that he believes the approval will ultimately go beyond the eight Midwestern states. “We understand higher blends need to be supported which is why I am confident that 2025 we will have E15 across the country and this summer we will likely see waivers as we have the last couple of summers,” Vilsack said in remarks. Regarding the delay until 2025, he told reporters, “I think it’s important to have the justification for the expansion locked down solid so that if there are any concerns expressed about it as often the oil industry provides, that we’re in a position to defend this as strongly as we can.”
NEC24 Vilsack E15 waiver comments 2:10Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper called the delayed approval a good news, bad news situation. On one hand, the EPA decision finally allows retailers in these eight states to sell E15 year-round. But on the other hand, it delays implementation until 2025, creating uncertainty and confusion about the availability of E15 this coming summer. “Summertime is just around the corner, what’s the marketplace going to do with E15 come June 1?” said Cooper. “Long term we’ve got to resolve this in a way that provides certainty in the marketplace and stability.”
NEC24 Cooper E15 waiver comments 1:08RFA Chairman Erik Huschitt, CEO of Badger State Ethanol, is of the opinion that 2025 is better than never. “If we have to wait until 2025 it’s an embarrassment of our political leadership that they can’t get it done earlier,” said Huschitt. “We’ll take it in 2025…as long as we have a clear path we’ll show a little more patience.”
NEC24 Huschitt E15 waiver comments :21Virtual Newsrooms in Early 2024
2024 has been a busy one for the ZimmComm Team. So far we’ve worked at six conferences and they each have a virtual ag newsroom available for all ag journalists out there. Just in case you have missed any of them and are looking for interviews and photos then look no further than these on a variety of different parts of the overall ag industry. They are all published via our AgNewsWire service and I will provide a link to them below.
- Beltwide Cotton Conferences
- The VISION Conference
- CattleCon
- CIRB Annual Meeting
- Clean Fuels Conference
- National Ethanol Conference
There is more on the schedule coming up soon. These include:
Commodity Classic
Washington, DC Fly-in & Government Affairs Summit
Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit
National Ag Day
National Agri-Marketing Conference
Since this is all about AgNewsWire you can see many press releases we have distributed during this same time. All you have to do it go to AgNewswire.com and scroll through the press releases as well as podcast episodes we produce and publish there. Lots of good fresh content! Let us know how we can help you with your marketing efforts, especially targeted to ag media. Just let me know.
AGOLIN/Alltech Partnership for Eco-Friendly Nutrition Solutions
During the recent CattleCon I visited with Martha Baker, Alltech. She is the AGOLIN Lead for Alltech. The company acquired a majority interest in AGOLIN last year. She says AGOLIN is “foundational to their sustainability and approach to carbon markets.” Martha describes that in more detail in our interview.
AGOLIN products are blends of high-quality plant extracts from traditional herbs and spices. They have a pleasant scent and highly refined physical form, which are well accepted by both the feed industry and producers. All compounds used in AGOLIN products are of food quality and GMO-free. In this situation with CattleCon the focus is on beef and dairy cows nutrition.
Learn more in my interview with Martha.
Interview with Martha Baker, Alltech 5:33Cargill Elevate™ Offers Grain Marketing Solutions
Cargill is offering farmers a new way to enhance profitability with Cargill Elevate™, featuring a mix of market insights, pricing solutions, world-class expertise, and access to robust farm management platforms.
“Our grain representatives actively listen to farmers and understand that no two farmers have the exact same needs. Cargill’s industry-leading portfolio of pricing solutions empowers farmers to take charge and execute their individual grain marketing plans to meet their individual goals,” said Ryan Dwyer, Cargill Elevate program leader.
The Cargill Elevate™ grain marketing solutions portfolio offers farmers free access to condensed updates on market developments, cultivated across the company’s view of global supply chains. Pricing solutions offer growers the opportunity to diversify their grain marketing options to match different market conditions with a unique selection of grain contracts including Price Contracts, Insure Contracts and Enhance Contracts.
Finally, Cargill Elevate+ will offer more in-depth market insights and tailored cash grain recommendations as well as access to leading farm management software, Bushel Farm™ which provides a ground-level and big picture view of their farm’s operational and financial performance. Cargill Elevate+ will be available starting in summer 2024.
For more information about how to grow with Cargill visit CargillAg.com or visit Cargill during the Commodity Classic next week in Houston, Texas.
Precision Ag News 2/21
Virtual & Live Ag Day Activities Scheduled
It is almost time for Virtual & Live Ag Day Activities on March 19. You can be part of the experience as we celebrate the American farmers who work and preserve the land to feed millions. Visit agday.org for more details.
VIRTUAL CELEBRATION – MARCH 19
Virtual Celebration
Tuesday, March 19
Ag Day Virtual Event
9 a.m. Eastern
REGISTER HERE
Event is free but registration is required.
EVENTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. – MARCH 19
Ag Day at USDA
USDA Whitten Patio
14th St. SW (btwn 12th & 14th)
8:30–10 a.m. Eastern
REGISTER HERE
Event is free but registration is required.
Ag Day on the Hill
Capitol Visitor Center
HVC-201
11:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Lunch will be served.
REGISTER HERE
Event is free but registration is required.
OTHER EVENTS IN WASHINGTON, D.C. – MARCH 18
March 18, 2024
2024 Ag & Food Policy Summit:
Revitalizing Rural Revenues
Hosted by Agri-Pulse
Follow Ag Day on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for the latest information! #AgDay24
Secretary Vilsack Addresses Ethanol Producers
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack visited the National Ethanol Conference in San Diego Tuesday addressing a number of critical issues facing the ethanol industry right now, including nationwide approval of year-round E15 sales and the use of the GREET model to determine the ability of ethanol to be used for Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF).
Following his remarks, the Renewable Fuels Association presented its 2024 Industry Award to Secretary Vilsack in recognition of his many years championing renewable fuels both in Washington and at home in Iowa.
Vilsack spoke to attendees at the conference about the opportunities for the ethanol industry in the future with sustainable aviation fuel, and he confirmed a news report out today that E15 will be approved for use nationwide in 2025, while waivers will be once again needed for sales this summer.
Listen to his remarks here:
NEC24 Secretary Tom Vilsack Address 32:19
Vilsack press availability
NEC24 Secretary Tom Vilsack press availability 12:19
2024 National Ethanol Conference Preview Activities Photo Album
Partnerships Move the Ethanol Industry
Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper this week addressed the biggest crowd for the National Ethanol Conference since before 2020, stressing the importance of partnerships and the need for critical questions to be answered soon.
The theme of this year’s NEC is “Powered by Partnerships” and Cooper reflected on the ethanol industry’s many victories and advancements over the past 50 years and noted that “None of those successes would have been possible without the industry’s valuable partnerships and ability to work together with a diverse group of stakeholders.”
However, he noted that several critical policy decisions expected in next three to six months “will shape the future course of the ethanol industry for years—and perhaps decades—to come.”
Specifically, Cooper addressed looming questions about the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and clean fuel production tax credits, year-round E15, light-duty vehicle tailpipe GHG standards, and other important policy issues.
Listen to Cooper’s remarks here:
NEC24 RFA CEO Geoff Cooper address 32:15
Huma® Acquires Gro-Power, Expands Team
Agricultural humic solutions company Huma®, Inc. has acquired global granular fertilizer company Gro-Power, Inc., effective immediately. The acquisition comes as the result of a long term partnership with Huma® supplying high-quality humates for Gro-Power humus-based fertilizer and soil conditioner products.
In addition to Huma® Plant & Soil products encompassing liquid nutrients, plant protection and growth managers, the company now has the ownership rights to a suite of granular, humic-based fertilizers and soil conditioners. Such conditioners increase fertility by adding organic matter and beneficial microorganisms to the soil.
In addition, Huma® has made leadership appointments to bolster a growing regional company focus. Those appointments include:
Executive Vice President, Global Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Fred Nichols
Executive Vice President, Business Development Justin Smith
Midwest Sales Manager Cory Ritter
Director of Huma® Turf & Ornamental Michael Gardner
Through company-owned humate mining rights, along with a proprietary extraction and development process, Huma® provides groundbreaking technology to boost beneficial soil microbial activity, helping lead to premium crops, healthy soils and clean water. Micro Carbon Technology® is the foundational building block of Huma®, resulting in innovative biostimulant products that naturally increase nutrient availability and uptake, improve soil and plant health, and offer zero-residue crop protection against pests and diseases.