More in Biodiesel

Two years’ worth of attempts by the soybean checkoff to convince Europeans of the sustainability of biodiesel made from U.S. soybean oil recently culminated in several “frustrating” meetings in Brussels between United Soybean Board (USB) Chairman Marc Curtis and several European Union (EU) officials....More

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA is seeking applications to increase the production and use of renewable energy sources. Funding is available from three USDA Rural Development renewable energy programs authorized by the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Farm Bill)....More

Last week, corn futures prices approached levels not seen since June and July 2008, when nearby futures settled above $7.50/bu. With corn prices again approaching record highs, attacks on corn ethanol are soon to follow, as they did in 2008, when critics argued corn should be reserved to meet food demand, rather than fuel demands....More

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA will soon seek proposals to study the feasibility of providing crop insurance to producers of biofuel feedstocks, including corn stover, straw and woody biomass. These feasibility studies, funded by the Risk Management Agency (RMA) will join research efforts already underway for energy cane, switchgrass and camelina....More

Pat Breen doesn’t believe in fall fertilizing – ever. He doesn’t believe in any unnecessary trips across a field, either. It’s all about being fast and efficient on his 6,000-acre Seneca, SD, operation....More

As the 2011 NASCAR season launches with a new, greener fuel, the nation’s corn growers are joining forces with NASCAR to promote the use of corn-based American ethanol. As an official partner of NASCAR, the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) will leverage its relationship to spread the message to NASCAR fans around the country about the role American farmers play in the development of ethanol....More

In any industry, profits swing up and down in the short term, but for the ethanol industry the major long-term profitability trend continues to be quite favorable. Growth from this point will not likely be as fast and furious as it was in the previous five years, but growth nonetheless is continuing....More

The EPA has announced E15 blends (15% ethanol/85% gasoline) to be safe for use in all cars and pickups built from 2001 on. This decision builds upon an October 2010 EPA decision that limited E15 use to just 2007 and newer vehicles. With 2001 and newer cars and pickups included, EPA has approved the use of E15 for 62% of vehicles on the road today according to car industry data....More

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA Rural Development has selected for funding 68 study grants nationwide to determine the feasibility of renewable energy projects. The regions include the Northeast, Central/East, Southeast (including Hawaii), West and Pacific Northwest (including Alaska). In all, studies will be funded in 27 states and the Western Pacific. Funding is made available through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) under the 2008 Farm Bill....More

The U.S.Environmental Protection Agency’s(EPA) has announcement it is deferring greenhouse gas (GHG) permitting requirements for carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from biomass combustion and other biogenic emissions....More

On Dec. 17, 2010, Congress passed and President Obama signed legislation extending for another year the 45¢/gal. ethanol and $1/gal. biodiesel tax credits, as well as the 54¢/gal. ethanol import tariff. The biodiesel tax credit terminated almost a year ago, and the ethanol tax credit and tariff were scheduled to cease at the end of this year....More