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Global production of biofuels increased 17% in 2010 to reach an all-time high of 105 billion liters, up from 90 billion liters in 2009. High oil prices, a global economic rebound and new laws and mandates in Argentina, Brazil, Canada, China and the U.S., among other countries, are all factors behind the surge in production, according to research conducted by the Worldwatch Institute's climate and energy program for the website Vital Signs Online....More

President Obama has announced that the U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Energy and Navy will invest up to $510 million during the next three years in partnership with the private sector to produce advanced drop-in aviation and marine biofuels to power military and commercial transportation. The initiative responds to a directive from President Obama issued in March as part of his Blueprint for A Secure Energy Future, the Administration’s framework for reducing dependence on foreign oil....More

Brandon Diedrich draws a step-by-step diagram of his farm’s corn-handling process for his energy auditor, Dave Warrington. In two hours, they’ll tally every fan, pipe, auger, electric motor and bin as they “follow the grain” from unloading to final storage....More

There is no statistical evidence to support the argument that growth in ethanol production is driving consumer food prices higher, according to a comprehensive study (pdf) released recently by Informa Economics. Rather, the report concludes that retail food prices are determined by a complex set of inter-related factors, including supply chain costs for energy, labor, transportation, packaging and other marketing-related expenses....More

Extending the current ethanol tax credit and tariff would boost corn-based fuel production – and corn prices – report University of Missouri economists....More

The National Corn Growers Association today thanked the many senators who stood up against Sen.Tom Coburn’s amendment to immediately repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit. The amendment, which needed 60 votes to pass, failed on the Senate floor with 59 votes against and only 40 votes in favor....More

Drivers have something worth honking their horns over: Summer gasoline prices likely will remain below $4/gal., says Wally Tyner, a Purdue University agricultural economist. Market conditions that caused oil prices to shoot past $110/barrel have improved in recent weeks, pushing oil back under $100 a barrel, says Tyner, an energy policy specialist....More

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the establishment of the first Biomass Crop Assistance Program (BCAP) Project Area to promote the production of dedicated feedstocks for bioenergy. This project will help spur the development of next-generation biofuels and is part of Obama Administration efforts to protect Americans from rising gas prices by breaking the nation’s dependence on foreign oil....More

Here is a quiz: Raise your hand if you think subsidies are responsible for high ethanol prices and that ethanol is responsible for high corn prices. OK. Now, raise your hand if you think there is no correlation among subsidies, ethanol prices and corn prices. All right. Now remember your answer and follow along with the latest research about subsidies, corn prices and ethanol prices and whether or not they are linked....More

Farms with above-ground, oil/fuel storage exceeding 1,320 gal. have until Nov. 10, 2011 to develop and implement Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Oil Spill Prevention, Control and Countermeasures, or SPCC plans. Producers with less than 1,320 gal. in aboveground storage are not subject to SPCC....More

An updated, independent study funded by the United Soybean Board (USB) and soybean checkoff shows production of biodiesel continues to positively impact U.S. soybean farmers’ on-farm profitability as well as the bottom lines of poultry and livestock farmers....More