Ethanol Report from 30th NEC

Cindy Zimmerman

The 30th National Ethanol Conference celebrated the industry’s growth over the past three decades and what the opportunities are for the future.

In this edition of the Ethanol Report podcast, we hear some highlights from the conference, including comments from Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper, Congressman Randy Feenstra (R-IA), RFA Chief Economist Scott Richman, RFA Industry Award winner Rick Schwark, farmer and SIRE Chair Karol King, global trade expert Everett Eissenstat, US Grains Council CEO Ryan LeGrand, Tim Hughes with the Commercial Aviation Alternative Fuels Initiative, Andy Koblenz with the National Automobile Dealers Association, and RFA Senior VP, Government & Public Affairs Bredenkamp.

Ethanol Report 2-21-25 19:02

Audio interviews, presentations and photos from the NEC can be found in the conference virtual newsroom.

The Ethanol Report is a podcast about the latest news and information in the ethanol industry that has been sponsored by the Renewable Fuels Association since 2008.

Choose an option to subscribe

Audio, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

Industry Ag News 2/21

Carrie Muehling

  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announced that USDA will release the first tranche of funding that was paused due to the review of funding in the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). In alignment with White House directives, Secretary Rollins will honor contracts that were already made directly to farmers. Specifically, USDA is releasing approximately $20 million in contracts for the Environmental Quality Incentive Program, the Conservation Stewardship Program, and the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program.
  • U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins traveled to Kansas and Missouri, respectively, meeting with farmers, ranchers, and members of the agricultural community to discuss the challenges and opportunities shaping the industry. Conversations focused on expanding market access, strengthening rural economies, and ensuring producers have the tools to remain competitive on a global scale.
  • Be part of the experience as we celebrate the American farmers who work and preserve the land to feed millions. This year National Ag Day celebrates with live AND virtual events. Visit agday.org for more details.
  • A nationwide survey of beekeepers has revealed catastrophic honey bee colony losses across the United States, with commercial operations reporting an average loss of 62 percent between June 2024 and February 2025. These alarming losses, which surpass historical trends, could significantly impact U.S. agriculture, particularly crop pollination for almonds, fruits, vegetables, and other essential food sources.
  • The National Cotton Council directors for 2025 were announced at the NCC’s recent 2025 annual meeting in Dallas, Texas.
  • The National Cotton Council announced the results of its 2025 planting intentions survey.
  • The National Cotton Ginners Association announced the recipients of the Cotton Ginner of the Year and Distinguished Service Award.
  • Cotton Council International announced its officers for 2025, including its chairman, Carlo Bocardo, a cooperative official from California.
  • The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company offers 11 tire lines with soybean oil in the tread compound. USB supported Goodyear research and product development that demonstrated that soybean oil could improve tire flexibility at low temperatures in consumer tires, helping the rubber to remain pliable in cold weather and enhancing traction in rain and snow. Goodyear increased its use of soybean oil by 9.9 percent in 2023 over 2022.
  • Investing in the next generation of agricultural leaders is a point of pride for Culver’s—especially during National FFA Week (Feb. 15-22). To celebrate in 2025, the restaurant chain introduced a new fundraiser on Give FFA Day, Feb. 20, as well as launching the second year of the FFA Ambassador Program.
  • Facing another year of economic uncertainty and market volatility, customers of Farm Credit Mid-America have something to look forward to. The farmer-owned lender will return $260 million in net earnings to eligible customer-owners this March. This significant return, made possible through Farm Credit Mid-America’s patronage program, underscores one of the many benefits of belonging to the farmer-owned cooperative. Over the past nine years, Farm Credit Mid-America’s board of directors has approved more than $1.5 billion in net earnings be returned to eligible customers-owners in its service territory of Arkansas, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio and Tennessee.
  • The agenda for the 2025 Transportation Go! conference has taken shape and features a who’s who of transportation and agricultural luminaries. Hosted by the Specialty Soya and Grains Alliance (SSGA) March 12-13 in Minneapolis, the annual event assembles boots-on-the-ground commodity growers, organizations, traders and shippers of specialty crops, offering in-depth discussions on the global supply chain and how it affects the critical movement of agricultural products domestically and around the world.
    • Zimfo Bytes

    Beef Quality Assurance Update and Awards at CattleCon

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Cindy Valdez NolascoTranslation of Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) materials into Spanish is underway. Veterinarians, producers, and anyone involved with worker training recognize the value of material provided in a language that the employee understands and multiple ways of providing that information, such as written, oral communication, or video. This is a major goal of the BQA program as educational resources expand.

    I met with Cindy Valdez Nolasco, NCBA Associate Director, Producer Education/BQA, and we talked about the work she’s doing translating the materials. Interview with Cindy Valdez Nolasco (3:15)

    During CattleCon 2025, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association announced the winners of the 2025 Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) Awards, sponsored by Cargill, Sam’s Club and Certified Angus Beef. The BQA Awards annually recognize outstanding beef and dairy producers, marketers, and educators that best demonstrate animal care and handling principles as part of day-to-day activities.

    “BQA Award winners not only incorporate BQA best management practices into their operations, but they also share the benefits of the program with their peers,” said Josh White, senior executive director of producer education and sustainability at NCBA. “Their commitment to quality and animal care transcends their physical locations.”

    Here is a list of the winners. Learn more about them here.

    2025 BQA Cow-Calf Award
    Parker Ranch, Hawaii

    2025 BQA Dairy FARM Award
    VanBedaf Dairy, North Dakota

    2025 BQA Feedyard Award
    Grimmius Feeder, California

    2025 BQA Marketer Award
    Producers Livestock Market, Utah

    2025 BQA Educator Award
    Dr. Keith Belk, Colorado

    2025 CattleCon Virtual Newsroom

    Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Beef Checkoff, NCBA

    MyLand Announces Washington State Program for Soil Health

    Cindy Zimmerman

    Soil health innovator MyLand has just announced a new $4.8 million dollar program in Washington State to enhance soil health. The program is funded in combination by the Washington State Department of Agriculture and Washington State Department of Commerce and focuses on supporting sustainable agricultural practices and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

    MyLand’s new program, aiming to cover 9,000 acres in Washington, is supported with funding from Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA). The CCA supports Washington’s climate action efforts by putting cap-and-invest dollars to work reducing climate pollution, creating jobs, and improving public health.

    Growers that qualify to participate in the program will receive the MyLand Service at no cost in the first year. The MyLand Service leverages the power of live, native microalgae to rejuvenate soil health, improving productivity, profitability, and sustainability. MyLand integrates seamlessly into existing farm operations, providing a scalable, farmer-friendly service that delivers measurable improvements across key metrics like crop yields, product quality, water efficiency, and soil vitality.

    Growers interested in participating in the program can reach out to MyLand at sales@myland.ag.

    AgWired Precision, land, Precision Agriculture, Soil, Sustainability

    The NCBA 2024 Advocate of the Year – Emma Coffman

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Emma Coffman, 2024 Advocate of the YearBack in the early days of social media we used the term, agvocate. But it really is advocating and there is a new 2024 Advocate of the Year. She’s Emma Coffman, from Temple, TX. She was selected by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, a contractor to the Beef Checkoff. The award recognizes Coffman for her creative use of storytelling across social media platforms, along with breaking down barriers as a first-generation cattle rancher. The award is part of the NCBA Masters of Beef Advocacy (MBA) program.

    After earning her bachelor’s degree in animal science from Texas A&M University, Coffman pursued diverse opportunities in agriculture, including cattle ranching in Australia, before returning to Texas to begin her professional career. With both classroom and real-world experience, Coffman has a wealth of knowledge to share on her social media platforms where she addresses misconceptions of the beef industry and utilizes her background as a first-generation agriculturist to connect with consumers.

    “As a first-generation agriculturalist, what I initially saw as my biggest disadvantage has turned out to be the greatest blessing the Lord could have given me,” said Coffman. “It has provided me with the unique opportunity to break down complex topics and present them in ways that are more relatable and understandable to everyday consumers.” You can find Emma on her website here.

    I interviewed Emma at the 2025 CattleCon:
    Interview with Emma Coffman (5:24)

    2025 CattleCon Virtual Newsroom

    Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, Beef Checkoff, NCBA, Social Media, Social Networking

    Rep. Feenstra Champions E15 and 45Z to Help Farmers

    Cindy Zimmerman

    One of ethanol’s champions in Congress visited the National Ethanol Conference this week to chat with members of the industry and Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Geoff Cooper about many issues, including his strong support of nationwide, year-round E15.

    Feenstra said it was frustrating to get so close with the inclusion of the provision in the Continuing Resolution in December and then to have it pulled at the last minute. “We said we’re going to do a clean CR until Marsh 15, so now we’re back at the table again,” said Feenstra. “We really want (E15) codified, I really believe within the next several months this is going to happen. There’s just not a lot of push back.”

    In his discussion with Cooper, Feenstra also talked about the Inflation Reduction Act and 45Z tax credits.

    “Trump said we want to be energy independent. So how we start looking at energy independence, right? It starts with growing our own energy, right? Ethanol. How do we do it? Well, that’s where 45Z comes in,” said Feenstra. “Last year we passed a bill for $12 billion to give farmers to help them out. We don’t want that. We want to make sure that we have a place to go with our corn and soy beans and that’s where we have a 45Z and and what it will do to grow our economy.”

    Feenstra also met with reporters at the NEC who asked about SAF, farm bill, cuts at USDA, exports and more. Listen below.

    Rep. Feenstra and Geoff Cooper (22:56)
    Rep. Feenstra and reporters

    2025 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

    Audio, Corn, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA

    Precision Ag News 2/19

    Carrie Muehling

  • The National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD) recognized winners of national service awards at the association’s 79th Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, Utah.
  • Bushel, an independently-owned software technology company focused on digital tools for the agricultural supply chain, announced an integration into MyCHS, the farmer-facing platform from CHS, Inc., the nation’s largest farmer-owned cooperative.
  • Trailed implements are known for drifting off the guidance line even when farmers utilize autosteer. The result is inaccurate placement of inputs and inconsistent guess rows. Ag Leader is introducing RightPath, a passive implement steering solution, to alleviate these problems.
  • The Soil Health Academy announced that Kent Donica has been selected as secretary/treasurer of the non-profit regenerative agriculture education organization. SHA also announced that Doug Voss has been selected as SHA’s first executive director. Donica is a fourth-generation rancher from southern Oklahoma and a consultant for the regenerative agriculture consulting firm Understanding Ag, LLC.
  • According to new data from the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM), U.S. sales of Ag tractors and combines fell during January 2025 compared to the year before. U.S. sales of Ag tractors dropped 15.8 percent, while U.S. sales of combines fell 78.9 percent.
  • Following the General Shareholders’ Meeting held by Syngenta Group on February 14, 2025, the Company announced that Alf Barrios, a Spanish and U.S. citizen, has been unanimously elected as a new independent director of the Company, effective February 14, 2025. He has also been appointed as a member of the Board’s Compensation Committee and Audit Committee.
  • What’s the next wave of sustainable fashion? The answer…soy-based textiles which are on the rise. To spur innovation in this space, U.S. Soy announces Clara Padgham from the University of Wisconsin-Madison as the national winner of the NEXTILE: The Soy in Textile Design Challenge. In its second year, the NEXTILE competition is designed to highlight the creativity and originality of students studying design by encouraging the use of sustainable textiles, namely soy-based products.
  • Each year, the Alabama poultry industry produces two fully loaded Nimitz-class aircraft carriers’ worth of poultry litter, or about 3.6 billion pounds. Poultry litter is rich in nitrogen and phosphorus, and much of the waste product is applied to farmland as a low-cost fertilizer. However, when applied improperly, the resulting runoff can be disastrous for the environment. A team of soil scientists from the Alabama Experiment Station, Cornell University and Oregon State University were awarded $1.3 million by the National Resources Conservation Service to study nutrient runoff from manure fertilizer. The research will guide new best management practices for farmers, as well as provide a detailed database for regulators hoping to lessen the environmental impact of runoff, such as algal blooms, dead zones in waterbodies, poor air quality, and greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Indoor Ag-Con and Sollum Technologies are pleased to announce the recipients of the inaugural Sollum Student Scholarship to Indoor Ag-Con: Erica Hernandez and Brandan Shur. These two outstanding PhD students, both conducting research in controlled environment agriculture (CEA), will receive an all-expense-paid opportunity to attend the March 11-12, 2025, edition of Indoor Ag-Con at the Westgate Las Vegas.
    • AgWired Precision, Precision Ag Bytes, Precision Agriculture

    Nebraska Cattleman is New NCBA President

    Chuck Zimmerman

    Buck Wehrbein

    Buck Wehrbein, a Nebraska cattleman, ascended to the role of NCBA president during CattleCon 2025, held this week in San Antonio, Texas. Wehrbein, with a 45-year career in the cattle feeding sector, brings decades of dedication to the industry and leadership experience to NCBA’s top leadership post.

    He is particularly passionate about fostering opportunity for the next generation of cattle producers, recognizing their ability to drive innovation and industry progress. “They’re ahead of where we were in my time,” he noted. “They understand the issues, and they’re ready to make a difference.” Another important issue is taxes. “The tax issue is critically important for agriculture,” Wehrbein said. “A few years ago, there was talk of doing away with the deduction of expenses, and that would have been devastating. We also have to keep pushing on the Death Tax. With what land values have done, if families are forced to sell or split up land to pay taxes, it would put a lot of people out of business.”

    Here is an interview I did with him prior to the change in officers:
    Interview with Buck Wehrbein (3:08)

    The 2025 NCBA officer team, approved by the NCBA board of directors, took office at the end of this year’s convention. Gene Copenhaver of Virginia was named president-elect and Kim Brackett of Idaho was elected vice president. Skye Krebs of Oregon was elected chair of the NCBA Policy Division and Kenny Rogers of Colorado was elected policy vice chair. Nancy Jackson of Mississippi and Travis Maddock of North Dakota were elected as chair and vice chair of the NCBA Federation Division, respectively. Brad Hastings of Texas will continue to serve in the role of NCBA treasurer.

    2025 CattleCon Virtual Newsroom

    Ag Groups, Audio, Beef, NCBA

    RFA CEO on the State of the Ethanol Industry

    Cindy Zimmerman

    As is tradition, the 30th annual National Ethanol Conference kicked off with the State of the Industry address from Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Geoff Cooper, who highlighted the industry’s pivotal role in American agriculture and outlined how ethanol can once again help the farm sector thrive in the face of current economic challenges.

    Cooper reflected on the industry’s rich history while also looking toward the future under the leadership of President Trump and a new Congress.

    “From the early days of ‘gasohol’ during the Carter administration to the transformative passage of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in 2005, the ethanol industry has evolved into a cornerstone of both U.S. energy security and agricultural prosperity,” Cooper said. “The success of ethanol, driven by the RFS, has had a profound impact on American consumers and farmers alike, helping lower pump prices, enhance energy independence, and bolster rural communities.”

    Click here for Cooper’s remarks as prepared.

    State of the Industry Address – RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper
    RFA CEO Geoff Cooper, Industry Address (35:56)

    2025 National Ethanol Conference Photo Album

    Audio, Ethanol, National Ethanol Conference, RFA