by Keith L. Kline, Siwa Msangi, Virginia H. Dale, Jeremy Woods, Glaucia M. Souza, Patricia Osseweijer, Joy S. Clancy, Jorge A. Hilbert, Francis X. Johnson, Patrick C. McDonnell, Harriet K. Mugera (Global Change Biology Bioenergy) Understanding the complex interactions among food security, bioenergy sustainability, and resource management requires a focus
Agricultural Policy
Back TO HOMEEthanol's Important
by Jay Douthit (Kent County Farm Bureau/My Eastern Shore) To the editor: The Kent County Farm Bureau stands with the Maryland Farm Bureau in support of the National Corn Growers Association’s opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposed reduction of the corn-based ethanol
September 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Union Dicon, Delta Govt Partner over 10,000 Hectares of Cassava Production
by Peter Egwuatu (Vanguard) Delta State Government has agreed to provide enabling environment for the Union Dicon Salt Plc to cultivate 10,000 hectares of cassava production and as well as to sep up a processing plant in the state. In
September 09, 2016 Read Full Article
Biofuels Not Contributing to Decline in Bee Habitat
(WNAX) A new study from the National Academy of Sciences says the expansion of corn and soybean acres to supply feed stock for biofuels is hampering habitat for bees. Renewable Fuels Association President Bob Dinneen says the study findings don’t make
September 09, 2016 Read Full Article
India Will Soon Be Zero Petroleum Import Country: Gadkari
(CNBC MoneyControl) Despite low prices globally, India at present is incurring a massive Rs 4.5 lakh crore on crude imports which was earlier Rs 7.5 lakh crore, Gadkari said addressing a conference on methanol economy organised by Niti Aayog today.
September 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Ag Carbon Credits Go to Market, Just as Cap and Trade Is Questioned
by Barbara Grady (Green Biz) ... Letting the fields temporarily dry has reduced the methane released from that rice field by 50 percent, compared to an adjacent field that was flooded all through the growing season, according to measurements taken by the
August 23, 2016 Read Full Article
What Is to Be Done? Farm Crisis in the Making?
by Bob Krause (Storm Lake Times Letter to Editor) Only 35 years after the 1980s farm crisis, another storm seems to be brewing. Corn production is forecast by USDA to be up 11% from last year. This crop, possibly over
August 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump Announces Farm and Rural Advisory Team
by Sara Wyant and Philip Brasher (Agri-Pulse) Donald Trump's campaign has set up a geographically diverse team of agricultural leaders that includes congressmen, governors, state agriculture commissioners, trade association leaders and producers of grain, livestock, poultry and fruits and vegetables. ... As
August 17, 2016 Read Full Article
Rounds: Market Ethanol to Boost Octane, Ag Economy
by Todd Epp (KELO) Senator Mike Rounds has been traveling all over the state during the summer break. The issues he says he's hearing most about are low commodity prices and the ag economy. He says one partial solution is expanding ethanol
August 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Our View: Ethanol: Politics May Change, but Realities Don’t
(Mankato Free Press) Why It Matters: Ethanol as a clean energy has come under criticism but the pollution caused by fossil fuels remains the reality. -- The politics of green energy have evolved over the last two decades in a
August 03, 2016 Read Full Article
Voters Question Trump-Pence Stance on Ag, #Biofuels
by Joanna Schroeder (Energy.AgWired.com) Our latest ZimmPoll asked the question, “Is the Trump-Pence Republican ticket good for agriculture, energy?” During his campaigning Trump has been supporter of biofuels and has repeatedly said he could “be a farmer.” Indiana Governor Mike Pence
August 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Centre to Soon Initiate Process for Making Ethanol from Biomass: Gadkari
(FirstPost.com) The Centre would soon initiate measures to make ethanol out of biomass that would create "tremendous demand for farm waste", Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said. A Cabinet note on making ethanol out of biomass like wheat, cotton and rice straw will
August 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Doing More (and Better) with Less: 2016 Global Agribusiness Forum Shows the Ways to Provide Food and Bioenergy, with Sustainability, for an Increasing Population
by Lais Thomaz* and Dan Quadros** (Advanced Biofuels USA) With diverse and dynamic programming involving agribusiness, food safety, nutrition, sustainability and bioenergy, the 2016 GAF achieved its mission to gather producers, companies and academia to discuss the importance of agribusiness supply
July 26, 2016 Read Full Article
ABC: Bill Signals Building Support for Nutrient Recycling, Biogas
(American Biogas Council/Biomass Magazine) Last week, Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, and Pat Robert, R-Kan., introduced new bipartisan legislation, the Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act (S 3248). This latest bill is a companion to identical House legislation (HR 5489) introduced on June
July 25, 2016 Read Full Article
Grassley Says Vilsack's Better for Ag Agenda as Secretary, not VP
by Amy Mayer (Iowa Public Radio) U.S. Agriculture Secretary and former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack may be on Hillary Clinton's short-list for a vice presidential running mate. Several national media outlets have reported that while Vilsack has not confirmed he's
July 21, 2016 Read Full Article
Empowering Farmers through Route of Ethanol
by Ajay Jha (Indian Cooperative) Believing that ethanol is a game changer, a group of ministers sat this weekend to deliberate on the production of second generation of ethanol. The meeting was attended by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin
July 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Trump VP Pick Draws Rave Reviews from Agriculture
by Spencer Chase (Agri Pulse) ... On the Renewable Fuel Standard, a policy that Trump supports, Pence voted in favor of the original 2005 legislation that created the program, but voted against the 2007 bill that created the current version of the RFS. ... In April of
July 18, 2016 Read Full Article
ASABE Announces Standard for Sustainable Agriculture Production
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers has completed a standard that establishes a framework for charting progress toward sustainable agriculture production. According to ASABE, the standard is intended for application with all typical farming
July 01, 2016 Read Full Article
More than 100 Nobel Laureates Support GMOs
by Kelly Marshall (Precision.AgWired.com) This morning three Nobel Laureates presented at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. to call on Greenpeace, the United Nations and governments around the world to support GMOs. They are the public face of more
July 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Who Pays for our Renewable Fuel Policy? America's Wildlife
by Collin O'Mara (Fox News/National Wildlife Federation) ... The worst part is that none of this was supposed to happen. In the law, Congress defined acceptable biofuels under the mandate as those coming from crops grown on land that was in agricultural
July 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Crop Insurance Gives Farmers More Planting Flexibility
(US Department of Agriculture) Insurance Changes Expand Farm Safety Net for Double Cropping -- Acting Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse today announced that the federal crop insurance program will provide additional flexibility to farmers. The modifications center on the
June 23, 2016 Read Full Article
North Carolina House Committee Approves Industrial Hemp Research Study
(WXII) North Carolina lawmakers are pushing a proposal to authorize the cultivation of industrial hemp with the goal of allowing researchers to begin planting next spring. The House Agriculture Committee approved a bill Thursday allowing for state land grant universities to
June 21, 2016 Read Full Article
The Problem and Promise of Ethanol
by Art Cullen (Storm Lake Times) ... So how can we produce ethanol sustainably — that is, a scheme under which farmers can make money without releasing nitrate to the river and help power America while emitting less carbon? First, the federal
June 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Solutions from the Land Leaders Bring North American Climate Smart Agriculture Ideas to Global Summit in Rome
(North American Climate Smart Agricultural Alliance) Solutions from the Land (SfL) is taking an active role in the Global Alliance for Climate Smart Agriculture (GACSA) summit underway this week in Rome, pressing business, government, NGO and other leaders there to
June 16, 2016 Read Full Article
Point/Counterpoint: Is It Time for Greens To Reassess Their Opposition to Ethanol?
by Senator Timothy Wirth and C. Boyden Gray (Yale Environment 360) The criticism of ethanol by environmentalists is misguided and just plain wrong. In fact, thanks to improvements in farming techniques, increasing the amount of corn ethanol in U.S. gasoline
May 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Royal Society Calls for Review of European GM Ban
by Pallab Ghosh (BBC) The ban on GM crops by European countries should be reassessed, the president of UK science body the Royal Society says. -- Prof Venki Ramakrishnan said the science of genetic modification had been misunderstood by the public
May 27, 2016 Read Full Article
Report Release Presentation of "Genetically Engineered Crops: Experiences and Prospects"
(National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine) Distinction Between Genetic Engineering and Conventional Plant Breeding Becoming Less Clear, Says New Report on GE Crops -- An extensive study by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine has found that
May 22, 2016 Read Full Article
NAS Reaffirms Safety and Benefits of GMOs
by Kelly Marshall (Precision Ag Wired) The National Academy of Sciences has released (yet another) reportreaffirming the safety and benefits of GMO crops. Not surprisingly this report has lead to a flurry of reactions across multiple social media platforms, both positive
May 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Guest View: For the Farmers, the Biofuel Bubble Has Already Burst
by Isaac Orr (Quad City Times/The Heartland Institute) ... Many of the agriculture-related policy discussions taking place in the nation’s capital focus on how corn farmers will be hurt by the biofuel mandate because RFS requires traditional forms of biofuel,
May 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Jamaica Still Not Producing Ethanol 8 Years On
(Jamaica Observer) ‘We are yet to see that,’ says economist as he outlines vision for sugar sector -- Jamaica is still not producing ethanol for the E10 mix of petrol which the Government introduced into the petroleum sector in 2008,
May 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Limpopo Receives R940m Investment for Renewable Energy from US, Chinese Companies
(African News Agency/Engineering News) American and Chinese companies are set to invest R940-million in Limpopo to pursue renewable energy and ethanol profits, government and investors have announced. The United States’ Bio-Processing Innovation and the Beijing Singling Technology Centre said on
May 12, 2016 Read Full Article
Agriculture Secretary Vilsack Announces Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry Results, Additional $72.3 Million Soil Health Investment to Support Paris Agreement
(U.S. Department of Agriculture) Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack shared the first results of USDA's Building Blocks for Climate Smart Agriculture and Forestry, one year after he unveiled the plan at Michigan State University. In addition to providing specific goals
May 12, 2016 Read Full Article
RFS Central to America’s Manufacturing Strength
by Leif Magnusson (CLAAS Global Sales America Inc./Association of Equipment Manufacturers/Morning Consult) We have heard a lot about the importance of manufacturers during this election season, and as the head of a manufacturing business in Nebraska, I couldn’t agree more.
May 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Future Unclear for $700m Project
by John Andersen (Townsville Bulletin) ... The Pentland Bio-Energy Project has been sidelined by the State Government’s draconian new Vegetation Management Reinstatement Legislation Bill. Land clearing around the State has been stopped pending a vote on the Bill later this year. Stage
April 28, 2016 Read Full Article
Iowa Offers Tax Incentives In Bid To Become An Epicenter For Innovation In Bio-based Materials
by Steven Savage (Forbes) Last week the governor of Iowa, Terry Branstad, signed a bill which came to him with bipartisan support from the legislature. The measure institutes tax incentives designed to accelerate the growth of the emerging biotech industry
April 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Cooper: Don't Reverse Course on Ethanol
by Tom Thoma (Globe Gazette) Alan Guebert’s recent column (“The ethanol trap”) asks, “Where would the nation, its farmers, livestock growers, and rural America be today had ethanol not been given … a role in U.S. farm and energy policy
April 14, 2016 Read Full Article
China's Grain Reforms to Boost Depressed Corn Processing Industry
by Niu Shuping and David Stanway (Reuters/AgWeek) China's plan to let the market set corn prices is bad news for international grain exporters, but should boost the country's struggling corn processors that use the grain in products ranging from food
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Farm Bill Energy Programs Enable New Feedstock Production To Help Fuel the Biobased Economy
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Innovation Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... Congress changed mandatory funding for two key bioenergy programs – despite their tangible successes – through its Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) Omnibus spending bill. USDA’s Section 9003 Loan Guarantee Program and the Biomass
April 06, 2016 Read Full Article
Ethanol Fuels a Primary Challenge in Iowa to Cruz-backer Steve King
by Timothy P. Carney (Washington Examiner) Rick Bertrand, a state senator from Sioux City, Iowa, has announced a primary challenge against GOP Rep. Steve King. What did King do to earn the challenge? In the Iowa caucuses, King supported Ted
March 22, 2016 Read Full Article
A 21st-Century Investment in Productive, Sustainable Agriculture
by Margaret M. Zeigler (The Hill/Global Harvest Initiative) ... Held each year since 1973, National AG Day helps consumers, the administration and Congress understand how farmers grow safe and affordable food, and underscores the essential role of agriculture in maintaining both a
March 22, 2016 Read Full Article
Farmers Try to Make Sense of Presidential Race
by Chris Clayton (DTN/Progressive Farmer/KTIC Radio) ... Kelly Nieuwenhuis, a farmer from Primghar, Iowa, said his take on the election is that “it’s mindboggling who is in the lead in the presidential campaign.” Nieuwenhuis supported Marco Rubio in the Iowa
March 08, 2016 Read Full Article
A Conversation with US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack
(Industrial Biotechnology) ... My current assessment is that there exists an unlimited sense of opportunity in the biobased products and bioenergy sector. I look at the work being done at the USDA, which is extensive and has been helpful in getting
March 08, 2016 Read Full Article
Vislack Defends Biofuels, Bioenergy during House Hearing
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On Feb. 24, the House Committee on Agriculture held a hearing on the state of the rural economy. Biofuels and bioenergy were among the topics discussed during the nearly three-hour event. When asked to characterize the
March 04, 2016 Read Full Article
Implementation of 1st Project of Extraction and Export of Bio-Ethanol
(Agence Tunis Afrique Presse) A contract on the implementation of a project of cane cultivation to extract and export bio-ethanol was signed Friday in Tunis by the Ministry of Development and International Co-operation and the Manager of the Tunisian-Italian joint
March 03, 2016 Read Full Article
AAAS President Seeks Increasing Support for Curiosity-Driven Research
by Earl Lane (Science Magazine) From a childhood fascination with cactus plants, to fieldwork in Brazil tracing the wild progenitor of the cassava plant, to learning the subtleties of rice cultivation from an expert farmer in the highlands of Thailand,
March 01, 2016 Read Full Article
Stimulating Investment To Grow the Biobased Economy
by Brent Erickson (Biofuels Digest/Biotechnology Innovation Organization) ... The challenge our industry faces right now is to continue building investment in the biobased economy. That can be accomplished with both policy and non-policy activities. ... On the policy front a new coordinated federal
February 29, 2016 Read Full Article
India’s HPCL Eyes Bihar Sugar Mills for Captive Ethanol Production
by Ajoy K Das (ICIS News) India’s Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL) is keen to venture into sugar production, making it the first among the country’s oil refiner-marketer to seek captive ethanol capacity through acquisition, a company official said on Friday. The
February 24, 2016 Read Full Article
The Revolution in Biobased Materials: The Digest’s 8-Slide Guide to the USDA BioPreferred Program
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the goal of the BioPreferred program is to increase the purchase and use of biobased products. The BioPreferred program was created by the 2002 Farm Bill and reauthorized and expanded
February 22, 2016 Read Full Article
#RFS Is a Top Issue for Ag Equipment Makers
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) hosted an Ag Executive Outlook panel during the opening day of the 2016 National Farm Machinery Show in Louisville this week and one of the top issues for the organization is
February 15, 2016 Read Full Article
USDA Highlights Benefits of Rural Development Grants with Eye on Bioenergy
by Meghan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the USDA has highlighted the economic impacts on rural communities bioenergy investments have made in a new report looking at the $1.1 billion granted for renewable energy through 15,678 individual awards between 2009
January 29, 2016 Read Full Article
Dealing with India's Sugar Mess
by Prerna Sharma (Nikkei Asian Review) Global commodity markets are going through one of their worst phases, thanks to sluggish demand and supply gluts. Most agricultural commodities have touched all-time price lows -- down 40% to 50% on average from
January 20, 2016 Read Full Article
Florida Treasure Coast Farm-to-Fly Aviation Biofuel Project Starts Feasibility Study
by Robert E. Kozak* (Advanced Biofuels USA) On January 7th, the Florida Treasure Coast Education, Research and Development Authority (TCERDA) held a Kickoff Meeting in Ft. Pierce for their Farm-to-Fly Aviation Biofuel feasibility study. This study is funded by a
January 19, 2016 Read Full Article
Avoiding Common Pitfalls: The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to the USDA Section 9003 Loan Guarantee
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) The Department of Agriculture needs no introduction, but within USDA Rural Development is the Energy Division takes a leading role on biorefinery loan guarantees. How does the process work, what are the deadlines, how are applications scored?
January 13, 2016 Read Full Article
In Santa’s Stocking: 3 Big Wins for Renewable Fuels, Feedstocks
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) $1 biodiesel tax credit extended through 2016, and much more. In Washington, lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate passed legislation for retroactive reinstatement of the $1 per gallon biodiesel mixture excise tax credit from January
December 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Iowa Voters Have Given up on Ethanol; Presidential Candidates Are Following Suit
by Evan Halper (Los Angeles Times) ... Now that fuel, corn-based ethanol, finds itself threatened with a defection that was once unthinkable: Iowa voters. The electorate here in the early voting state often defined by its vast expanses of corn has
December 18, 2015 Read Full Article
Thoughtful Planning Is Essential To Meet The Renewable Fuel Standard
by Ghasideh Pourhashem (Forbes) ... Originally, along with energy security targets and diversifying U.S. fuel mix, the RFS was designed to lower the lifecycle GHG emissions and combustion-related smog from fossil fuel use. In recent years, as domestic energy production
December 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Michigan Corn Growers Disappointed with New Ethanol Limits
by Andy Balaskovitz (MiBiz) ... “Any reduction in the statutory amount is a roadblock to biofuels like ethanol,” said Jim Zook, executive director of the Michigan Corn Growers Association. “By failing to set (blend) levels at the statutory amount, it appears the
December 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Candidates Are Skipping Traditionally Mighty Farm Issues in Iowa
by Scott Canon (Kansas City Star) ... The discussion of ethanol policy puts conservatives in an awkward spot --- ...Yet even in Iowa this year, Grain Belt concerns now draw less attention than in the past. That could mean that expansion
December 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Commercializing Biobased Products: Opportunities, Challenges, Benefits, and Risks (RSC Green Chemistry)
by Seth W Snyder (Editor, Contributor), James H Clark (Editor), George Kraus (Series Editor), Gene Peterson (Contributor), Beth Calabotta (Contributor), Stephen Hughes (Contributor), Robert E. Kozak (Contributor) & 14 more (Royal Society of Chemistry) Biobased products offer substantial economic and
November 24, 2015 Read Full Article
Rubio's Sugar Support Draws Corn, Soybean Questions
by Mackenzie Ryan (Des Moines Register) ... After Republican rival Ted Cruz took aim at sugar subsidies during last week's GOP debate, Iowa agriculture and biofuel leaders began questioning how Rubio’s support for that industry compares with his stance on renewable fuels made from corn
November 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Biorefinery Assistance Program Changes Now in Effect
by John Kirkwood (Faegre Baker Daniels LLP/Ethanol Producer Magazine) A few changes have been implemented in the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased Product Manufacturing Assistance Program, writes John Kirkwood. ... In June, an interim final rule was published in the
November 11, 2015 Read Full Article
Strong RFS Support Offers Low-Risk Opportunity for Democrats to Connect with Voters They Need to Retake Majority
by Ryan Fitzpatrick (Third Way) Although relatively obscure by Washington standards, the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) carries a unique level of importance and visibility in many rural states. The fact that the RFS invariably becomes a priority campaign issue for
November 09, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA's RFS Proposal Risks Ending America's Rural Renaissance
by Jonathan H Harsch (Agri-Pulse) When President George W. Bush signed the law creating the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) in 2005 to support biofuels production, he explained that “Using ethanol and biodiesel will leave our air cleaner. And every time we use
October 23, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuels for Transport: A Viable Alternative?
by Lew Fulton (International Energy Agency (IEA)/ OECD Observer) Can biofuels truly compete with petrol? Recent projections suggest that ethanol could represent up to 5% of the world’s transport fuel by 2010. That figure may seem modest at first glance, but
October 22, 2015 Read Full Article
Liberals Sweep in Canadian Elections: Are Renewables Back?
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In Canada, the Liberal party, under the leadership of 43-year old Justin Trudeau, swept to victory in the Canadian federal elections. ... Incoming Prime Minister Trudeau has pledged that his government will run a short series
October 20, 2015 Read Full Article
Vivergo Chief Urges Government to Enable Greater Biofuels Benefits
by Ben Barnett (Yorkshire Post) East Yorkshire bio-refinery Vivergo is leading calls for the Government to support initiatives that will give farmers an alternative market for their wheat. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) has reported it is expecting a record UK
October 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuels Production Plan already in Action
by Boyd Webb (IOL News) Once home to millions of displaced black South Africans, former homelands are expected to become the heart of the country's biofuels production. Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs Lulama Xingwana said on Tuesday the presidential commercial
October 19, 2015 Read Full Article
FAO and France Urge Including Agriculture in Global Climate Change Debate
(Food and Agriculture Organization/Ag Professional) All countries should strive to ensure an ambitious agreement to tackle climate change, putting food security and agriculture at the centre of debates on the issue, say FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva and
October 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Biofuels, Oil Palm and Agribusiness in Southeast Asia – Planning for Sustainability?
(Stockholm Environment Institute) This brief draws together SEI research done between 2011 and 2014 on agribusiness developments – especially of oil palm – in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines. The brief presents overarching insights from that work, along with recommendations
September 29, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA, TDA Announce Seed Funding to Ignite Agri-Tech Entrepreneurship
(Tennessee Department of Agriculture) The next great business idea just may come from rural Tennessee. USDA Rural Development and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture today announced $220,000 in combined seed funding for a new initiative to help make Tennessee a
August 21, 2015 Read Full Article
Future Farm, Future Crop: Utopia or Dystopia? Parts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 of 5
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As America’s farmers hit retirement age and technology options explode, what comes next? ... The average age of the US farmer reached 58.3 years in the USDA’s 2012 Census of Agriculture. For sure, farmers have been
August 10, 2015 Read Full Article
Food in the Age of Biofuels
by Jose Graziano da Silva (United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization/Project Syndicate) ... But this is a false dichotomy. The choice cannot be between food and fuel. We can make good use of both. Given the right conditions, biofuels can be an effective means
July 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Nearly Half of Senate Writes Urging for Streamlined Support for Forest Bioenergy
by Megan Sapp (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, nearly half of the US Senate has written to the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary of Energy and the EPA administrator strongly urging the agencies to streamline support of biomass for energy across all
July 02, 2015 Read Full Article
House Appropriators Shortchange Rural America on Jobs and Economic Growth, AgEC Says
(Agriculture Energy Coalition/BusinessWire) The House Appropriations Committee’s Fiscal Year 2016 Agriculture Appropriations Bill would reduce mandatory spending levels for important Energy Title programs, including the Renewable Energy for America Program, Biomass Crop Assistance Program, and the Biorefinery, Renewable Chemical and Biobased
June 22, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA Publishes Final Rules on Biobased Products
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) On June 15, the USDA’s Office of Procurement and Property Management published two final rules in the Federal Register related to biobased products. One rule amends regulations concerning the voluntary labeling program for biobased products,
June 19, 2015 Read Full Article
The US Bioeconomy: $369B and 4 Million Jobs Strong, says USDA; Changes to the BioPreferred program
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... In Washington, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the release of a new report that shows the U.S. biobased industry in 2013 contributed four million jobs and $369 billion to the US economy. He also announced changes under
June 19, 2015 Read Full Article
Comment Period Open on Proposed Discretionary Changes to BCAP
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) The USDA has announced its intent to prepare a programmatic environmental impact statement (PEIS) to assess the potential environmental consequences associated with proposed discretionary changes to the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. A public comment
June 17, 2015 Read Full Article
New Report Shows U.S. Biobased Products Industry Contributes $369 Billion, 4 Million Jobs to American Economy
(US Department of Agriculture) 2014 Farm Bill provisions will expand opportunities in the biobased sector by promoting advanced biofuels, renewable chemicals, and biobased product manufacturing efforts Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced the release of a new report that shows the
June 17, 2015 Read Full Article
Op-ed: Biofuels Are Cleaner Energy that Should Be Encouraged
by Kent Bushman (Salt Lake Tribune/Utah Farmers Union) ... And the news just keeps getting better, as new technologies are increasing ethanol yields while improving efficiencies and allowing ethanol biorefineries to make better use of natural resources. In fact, over the past
June 15, 2015 Read Full Article
Sugar Cane to Branch out to Bio-Ethanol, Electricity
by Linda Ensor (Business Day Live) ... The diversification plans included using sugar cane to produce bio-ethanol and to generate renewable electricity. This would also improve the long term viability of the industry, chairman of the South African Sugar Association Rolf Lütge
May 14, 2015 Read Full Article
Argentinian Ethanol Producers Seek 12% Blend in Gasoline
(Platts) Argentinian ethanol producers are pressing the government to boost the blend in gasoline to 12% from 10%, an effort led by the struggling sugarcane sector, an industry source said Thursday. ... With a glut of sugar in the world, it is
May 04, 2015 Read Full Article
R5 Bln Plant to Convert Canola into Diesel Halted by Laws
by Lutho Mtongana (BizNews.com) PhytoEnergy International Holding AG said it will only proceed with a plan to build a 5 billion rand ($418 million) plant to convert canola into diesel in South Africa if the government passes laws needed by the
April 16, 2015 Read Full Article
Risk and Reward for Boardman Biomass Proposal
by George Plaven (Capital Press) One possible biomass fuel for the coal plant is giant cane, known as Arundo donax, which PGE has spent several years growing in small test plots. ... As a potential source of renewable energy, giant cane
April 09, 2015 Read Full Article
US Poised for Biobased Chemicals Breakout, Says National Research Council
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Though challenges remain, particularly in affordable feedstock, the US National Research Council says “Despite impressive recent and projected growth, the manufacturing of chemicals using biological synthesis and engineering could expand even faster.” ... In Washington, the National
April 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Ag Leaders Call On Presidential Hopefuls To Support Clean Energy Future
by Gary Truitt (Hoosier Ag Today/25 x '25) Prominent leaders from agriculture’s diverse value chain issued an open letter to policymakers and presidential hopefuls attending the first ever Iowa Ag Summit, urging them to consider Iowa’s renewable energy record in
March 04, 2015 Read Full Article
USDA Publishes Final BCAP Rule
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) The USDA has released the final rule for the Biomass Crop Assistance Program, and though the general scope of BCAP is not changing with the recently published rule, there are some key changes being made
March 03, 2015 Read Full Article
Brazilian Study Explores Multiple Causes of 2007 Mexico Tortilla Crisis
by Joanne Ivancic (Advanced Biofuels USA) In light of signs of a moderation in the long upward trend in commodity prices, and recurrent assignment of blame for food insecurity and high food prices to the emergence of biofuels markets, particularly
March 02, 2015 Read Full Article
EBA Calls for Bio-Based Product Policies, Addressing of Barriers to Investment in EU Bioeconomy
by Isabel Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Belgium, the European Bioeconomy Alliance (EBA) has called for bioeconomy development to be set as a priority in the European Commission’s new €315 billion investment plan as well as in national and regional measures.
February 09, 2015 Read Full Article
White House: Climate Change Threatens National Security
by Timothy Cama (The Hill) The Obama administration looks at climate change as a threat to national security on par with terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and disease outbreaks. President Obama’s national security strategy released Friday updates the previous plan published
February 08, 2015 Read Full Article
Yes, We Can Live Well and Avoid Climate Disaster, Says UK Government
by Fiona Harvey (The Guardian) We can fly, drive and prosper while avoiding dangerous global warming – but only if billions remain in poverty and huge changes are made in areas such as energy and agriculture, new analysis from Decc’s
February 06, 2015 Read Full Article
Making Indirect Land Use Change Go Away
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) As the specter of falling oil prices spooks the sector, here’s good news from the Land of ILUC — a shocker study pointing a way towards mitigating or eliminating that infamous scourge of carbon-scoring for
January 15, 2015 Read Full Article
EPA Seeks Nominations for New Agricultural Science Committee
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The U.S. EPA has published a notice in the Federal Register inviting the public to nominate scientific experts to be considered for appointment to its Science Advisory Board Agricultural Science Committee. According to the notice, the
January 07, 2015 Read Full Article
Farm Bill Clean Energy Programs Survive “Cromnibus”
(FarmEnergy.org) The big news from our nation’s capital this past week has been the passage of the appropriations bill for fiscal year 2015, which began on October 1st. The federal government had been operating on funding extensions and was facing
December 18, 2014 Read Full Article
U.S, China Making Progress on Biotech Crop talks: USDA's Vilsack
by Tom Polansek (Reuters) The United States and China are making progress in talks over Beijing's acceptance of new biotechnology for crops, U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said on Wednesday. The countries are "moving toward an understanding of how we might
December 18, 2014 Read Full Article
USDA Provides Greater Protection for Specialty Crop Growers
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently announced that greater protection is now available from the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program for crops that traditionally have been ineligible for federal crop insurance. The new options, created
December 16, 2014 Read Full Article
Study: Farmers and Scientists Divided over Climate Change
by Natalie van Hoose (Purdue University) ... Growers can manage the potential risks linked to extreme rain events and soil degradation by using adaptive strategies such as planting cover crops, using no-till techniques, increasing the biodiversity of grasses and forage
November 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Government to Promote Alternative Fuels and Hybrid Engines
(Business Standard) Speaking during the Conference on Biofuel 2014 here today, the Minister for Road Transport & Highways, Shri Nitin Godkari said that his Government would take all efforts to remove hurdles in the increased production and usage of biofuels
November 06, 2014 Read Full Article
The 2014 US Midterm Elections: How the Advanced Bioeconomy Industry Saw It
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Here are the highlights of industry association reaction to the US Midterms, in which US voters turned sharply right and handed control of the Senate and House to the Republican Party. ... Iowa Senator-elect Joni Ernst, South Dakota
November 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuels Remain an Important and Growing Sector for Developing Countries, New UNCTAD Report Says
(United Nations Conference on Trade and Development) The report entitled: "The State of the Biofuels Market: Regulatory, Trade and Development Perspectives" offers a comprehensive snapshot of today's biofuels market and how it contributes to enhancing access to renewable energy sources
November 05, 2014 Read Full Article
The GMO Debate: 5 Things to Stop Arguing
by Tamar Haspel (The Washington Post) ... I’m guessing you’d agree that the public debate about GMOs isn’t playing out in a constructive way. Both sides have dug trenches, and they’re lobbing grenades over the wall while nothing much changes. It’s
October 31, 2014 Read Full Article
What the Candidates Say: Sen. Al Franken, Mike McFadden, Rep. Collin Peterson, etc.
(Minnesota Bio-Fuels Association) With the mid-term elections around the corner, we asked several candidates running for office their views on biofuels. The candidates were selected on their current committee positions at the federal and state level. Considering the fact that
October 30, 2014 Read Full Article
Fuels America Debuts Campaign for RFS Supporters Facing Reelection
by Isabel Lane (Biofuels Digest) In the US, Fuels America has launched a six-figure TV and radio campaign in Minnesota, Michigan, and Nebraska thanking American renewable fuels champions Sen. Al Franken, Rep. Collin Peterson, Rep. Lee Terry and Rep. Gary
October 30, 2014 Read Full Article
$7.9M Raised to Fight Maui GMO Ballot Initiative
(Associated Press/The Maui News/Bellingham Herald) A group backed by biotech companies raised more than $7.9 million to fight a Maui ballot initiative calling for a moratorium on genetically modified organisms. Campaign Spending Commission records for the group called the Citizens Against
October 30, 2014 Read Full Article
Creating a Strong Economy through Biobased Products
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/The Hill) In a recently released report entitled “Why Biobased?” the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) answers the question of why America should invest in a biobased economy. The report explores the economic impacts of
October 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuels Help Boost Sustainable Transport and Support Rural Development in Africa: GRFA
(Renewable Fuels Association) Today, as the first African Sustainable Transport Forum gets under way in Nairobi, Kenya, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) called on forum attendees to adopt biofuels friendly policies and regulations that would kick-start the increased use
October 29, 2014 Read Full Article
Four Freedoms for the 21st Century
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) ... Over the past year we have seen some remarkable developments in the sector, starting right here in Alberta with the completion and opening of the Enerkem advanced biofuels plant in Edmonton. And, in Italy,
October 24, 2014 Read Full Article
Is the Next “Green Revolution” Right Around the Corner?
by Caitlin Kennedy (Biotech NOW) National Geographic’s October issue contains an in-depth article, “The Next Green Revolution” on how plant biotechnology will be one part of a multifaceted solution to feeding a rapidly growing population in the face of climate change. Climate change and population
October 17, 2014 Read Full Article
New Report Sheds Light on the Old "Food Vs. Fuel" Bioenergy Debate
by Jennifer Runyon (RenewableEnergyWorld.com) There was never any conflict between using corn for food or for ethanol since corn growers send most of their product to animal feedlots. That product isn’t even meant for human consumption anyway. It was an abundant year
October 14, 2014 Read Full Article
BIO Welcomes Release of USDA Report on the Economic Benefits of the Bioeconomy
(Biotechnology Industry Organization) USDA’s new report “Why Biobased?” is the first comprehensive federal quantification of the job opportunities and other economic benefits of the growing biobased products and renewable chemical industry. The Biotechnology Industry Organization today thanked Agriculture Secretary Tom
October 10, 2014 Read Full Article
What Progress is the USDA Making on Turning Farm Bill Funding into Program Action?
By Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Well, plenty. We reported on progress with Section 9003 loan guarantees earlier this week - today, we have a recap of the major other activities, including the Biodiesel Fuel Education Program, BioPreferred, Business and Industry
September 08, 2014 Read Full Article
USDA Provides $328 Million to Conserve Wetlands and Farmland, Boost Economy
(US Department of Agriculture) Farm Bill program will benefit wildlife and outdoor recreation activity in California Bay Delta Region, Mississippi, Red River Basins and others Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced today that $328 million in conservation funding is being invested to
September 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Do GMO Crops Foster Monoculture?
by Steve Savage (GMO Answers) Do GMO crops "foster monoculture?" This is a frequent criticism of modern agriculture. I have three with problems it: "Monoculture" isn't the right term to use to describe the relevant issues - it’s really about a
August 29, 2014 Read Full Article
USDA REAP Sinks $3.4 Billion into Rural Economies
by Anna Simet (Biomass Magazine) Though the USDA Rural Energy for America Program has been hugely successful since it was first implemented in the 2002 Farm Bill, numerous changes have been implemented over the years in order to maximize program value. To
August 28, 2014 Read Full Article
White Lists: A Proactive Approach to Risk Reduction for the Bioenergy Industry
by Dr. Doria Gordon (The Nature Conservancy/Biofuels Digest) Cultivation of bioenergy crops is predicted to increase to between 27 and 120 million acres by 2022 in order to meet the renewable energy needs of the U.S. and the Environmental Protection
August 26, 2014 Read Full Article
Greenhouse Gas Report to Assist Producers Facing Climate Challenges
(US Department of Agriculture) For the First Time, USDA Climate Hubs Get New Tools to Gauge Progress in Building Drought-Resistant Healthy Soil The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today (July 31, 2014) released a report that, for the first time, provides
August 12, 2014 Read Full Article
Reaching out in D.C.
by Gene Lucht (Iowa Farmer Today) .... But, when the Iowans visited Washington recently a few of them also spoke with members of Congress and congressional staffers from non-ag regions in an effort to educate them about agriculture and about
August 08, 2014 Read Full Article
Here We Go Again: Huelskamp Draws Ire of Ag Groups because of Ethanol
by Jeff Myrick (HutchNews.com) By now, we’re used to it. U.S. Rep. Tim Huelskamp, R-Fowler/Hutchinson, has drawn criticism from Kansans because of his actions in Washington, D.C. And again it involves agriculture, the state’s leading industry and something Huelskamp, a
August 05, 2014 Read Full Article
OECD-FAO Outlook Report Predicts Growth in Ethanol Production
by Erin Voegele (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A new agricultural outlook report published by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations predicts that the consumption and production of biofuels will increase
July 21, 2014 Read Full Article
Biofuel-Obsessed U.S. Seen Blowing 'Historic Opportunity' in Nascent Green Chemical Market
by Amanda Peterka (E&E reporter/Greenwire) The United States may be losing a major opportunity to be a global leader in the growing market for green chemicals because of its overwhelming policy tilt toward biofuels, industry experts say. There are big profit
June 03, 2014 Read Full Article
Draft Appropriations Bill Aims to Cut Funding for BCAP, REAP
by Erin Voegele (Biomass Magazine) The House Appropriations Committee has released its fiscal year 2015 agricultural appropriations bill, which aims to reduce funding levels for several Farm Bill Energy Title programs. A markup session on the legislation was held May
May 22, 2014 Read Full Article
FDA Responds to Crafter Brewers' Concerns on FSMA
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) ... In mid-April, Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) wrote to the FDA commissioner, urging the agency exempt raw agricultural commodities, distillers grains and other byproducts. In the letter, Johanns wrote, “I am concerned about FDA
May 12, 2014 Read Full Article
NASCAR Leader Testifies for Biofuels
by John Davis (DomesticFuel.com) The Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing this week on advanced biofuels. Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow of Michigan says advanced biofuels are here now, and they are an important part of the energy title in the recently
April 17, 2014 Read Full Article
Vilsack Talks about USDA Efforts to Further Advanced Biofuels
by Holly Jessen (Biomass Magazine) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack testified about the farm bill and the rural economy, during a U.S. House of Representatives Committee hearing. As part of that, he talked about the USDA’s work to create markets
April 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Advanced Biofuels Create Jobs, Lower Prices at the Pump, Says Senate Ag Chair
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) In Washington, the Senate Agriculture Committee yesterday held a hearing on the economic benefits of advanced biofuels in creating jobs and lowering gasoline prices. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture,
April 09, 2014 Read Full Article
Veteran Farmer Says EPA RFS Proposal Will Likely Undermine Conservation Efforts
by Kevin Jeffries (25 x '25) ... Lower demand for renewable fuels means lower prices for corn, soybeans and other crops. Generally, producers account for lower prices by shifting to more profitable crops and by cutting back on investments like conservation
April 04, 2014 Read Full Article
Hawaii Lawmakers Give Unanimous Approval To Studying Hemp
by Johnny Green (The Weed Blog/The Joint Blog) Hawaii’s House Committee on Agriculture, and the state’s House Judiciary Committee, have both voted unanimously in favor of Senate Bill 2175, a proposal to establish a two-year research program to study the effectiveness of using hemp
April 03, 2014 Read Full Article
UFOP: Making the Case for First-Gen Biofuels in EU Policy Future
(UFOP (Union zur Förderung von Oel- und Proteinpflanzen e. V. )/Biodiesel Magazine) The European resolution and discussion situation with respect to European Commission proposals for amendments to the Renewable Energies Directive and the Fuel Quality Directive only permits one conclusion at
April 02, 2014 Read Full Article
Vilsack Outlines 3-Pronged RFS, U.S. Ethanol Strategy
by Jeannine Otto (AgriNews) Defend, expand, export. ... “We need to make sure that people understand this entire standard is under attack. Folks in Congress, some folks in Congress, would like to do away totally with the entire Renewable Fuels Standard and
April 02, 2014 Read Full Article
It’s Up to Farmers to Tell Agriculture’s Story
by James Henry (AgriNews) ... President Don Villwock stressed during Indiana Farm Bureau’s Spring Conference in Indianapolis that weather cannot be farmers’ main topic of conversation. “We need to stay on point. We need to stay on agriculture-only issues,” he said. “For
March 25, 2014 Read Full Article
It’s Not a Sprint: Achieving Biofuel Goals Requires the Effort of a Marathon
(25 x '25) EPA’s release this week of the latest rule governing vehicle emissions and fuel standards is a reminder that while regulations can raise the profile of biofuels, there are no “silver” policy bullets that absolutely assure the growth of biofuels
March 07, 2014 Read Full Article
Benjamins for Biofuels in the 2015 Obama Budget: The Digest’s 7-Minute Guide
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Vitally interested in President Obama’s proposed 2015 budget and the 411 on grants, incentives, tax credits, loan guarantees and R&D support — but haven’t got the time to read all 1653 glorious pages? Try the
March 06, 2014 Read Full Article
White House Proposes Cuts to 2015 USDA Budget
by Christopher Doering (Des Moines Register) The White House proposed Tuesday nearly $24 billion in discretionary spending for the U.S. Agriculture Department in its fiscal year 2015 budget proposal, a decline of close to $2.5 billion from the prior year. ... The
March 05, 2014 Read Full Article
Vilsack Renews Endorsement of Ethanol in Phoenix
by Susanne Retka Schill (Ethanol Producer Magazine) Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack left no one in doubt regarding his commitment to the ethanol industry in Phoenix on Thursday, Feb. 27. The ethanol producers, farmers and industry representatives at Growth Energy's annual
February 28, 2014 Read Full Article
2014 Farm Bill Provides New and Expanded Funding for Section 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program
by Chris Groobey and Taite McDonald (Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati) ... Since the changes surrounding the Section 9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program of Title IX (9003 Biorefinery Assistance Program or the program) are the most substantive and have been the most difficult for industry
February 24, 2014 Read Full Article
Some Good News for a Change: Why The Farm Bill Is a Big Win for Biofuels and Biorefineries
by Brent Erickson (Biotechnology Industry Organization/Biofuels Digest) ... The true good news is that the Senate conferees prevailed in getting $881 million in mandatory funding over the next ten years to renewable energy and biofuels initiatives and extending incentives for the
February 20, 2014 Read Full Article
Soapbox: Ethanol Reduces Emissions, Reduces Costs
by Jim Hendrix (The Coloradoan) ... First and foremost, ethanol does not receive federal subsidies. The oil and gas industry receives nearly $17 billion per year in subsidies, which flow from direct and indirect tax preferences embedded in the federal tax
February 19, 2014 Read Full Article
Corn Growers Worry about Price Decline if RFS Is Reduced
by Mikkel Pates (Agweek) Crop farmers in the northern corn belt who have benefited from ethanol targets are putting on a push to save the current renewable fuel standard (RFS) from proposed cuts by the Environmental Protection Agency. The proposal would cut the
February 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Mother Nature Ethanol’s Friend and Nemesis
by Mike Bryan (BBI International/Ethanol Producer Magazine) Much of the consternation over corn ethanol, including the current debate on the renewable fuel standard, is rooted in America’s ability to produce sufficient corn to meet the needs of food and fuel. This, of
February 14, 2014 Read Full Article
Farm Bill Biofuel Benefits
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) ... “Renewable chemicals are now defined in the farm bill, an important and long overdue change,” said Matt Carr, BIO Industrial and Environmental Director about that inclusion in the Biorefinery Assistance Program and Biomass Research and Development
February 13, 2014 Read Full Article
XTRM Announces Mobile Cannabis/Hemp To Biodiesel Unit
(Baystreet.CA/AccessWire) Extreme Biodiesel, Inc. (PINK:XTRM) today announced that the Company wholly owned subsidiary XTRM Cannabis Ventures has just completed assembly of its first Mobile Hemp To Biodiesel Production Unit. XTRM Cannabis Ventures will begin marketing and posting specs for the Mobile
February 07, 2014 Read Full Article
US Senate Approves Farm Bill – Heads to Obama for OK
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) Following House passage, the five-year Farm Bill and its Energy Title head to the White House for assent. In Washington, the U.S. Senate voted 68-32 to approve the bipartisan Farm Bill coauthored by Sen. Debbie
February 06, 2014 Read Full Article
Castor Production in Bahia Will Grow 560% in 2013/2014
by alana Fraga (RevistaGlobalRural) Petrobras and the state government invested over £ 10 million in cultivation for biodiesel production The castor production in Bahia should have an increase of over 560% in the 2013/2014 harvest in the previous season, according to
January 02, 2014 Read Full Article
Scientific Results Presented at 2013 ASA Annual Meeting Indicated: The Environmental Benefits of Biofuels Are Much More than We Had Thought
by Danilo Gusmão de Quadros* (Advanced Biofuels USA) The substitution of fossil fuels by advanced biofuels per se has a huge impact on the environment through the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, consequently mitigating global warming effects by the transportation
December 31, 2013 Read Full Article
Brazil Considers Corn Ethanol as Grain Prices Decline
by Lucia Kassai (Bloomberg) Brazil, the world’s largest producer of ethanol from sugarcane, may start producing the biofuel from corn after a record crop prompted domestic prices to slump below costs, the country’s agriculture policy secretary said. “We’re studying to provide
December 04, 2013 Read Full Article
EPA Ethanol Decision Pushes Farm Bill toward Finish Line
by Erik Wasson (The Hill) The Environmental Protection Agency’s preliminary decision to reduce renewable fuels blending requirements has increased momentum to get a farm bill done this year, the top House negotiator on the measure said Tuesday. Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) argued
November 20, 2013 Read Full Article
Stakeholders Tell Congressional Leaders To Reauthorize and Fully Fund Farm Bill Energy Title That Supports American Ag, Benefits Entire Nation
(25 x'25) The 25x'25 Alliance has joined more than 130 other national, regional and state stakeholder groups devoted to farm, ranch and forest-based energy solutions in a letter to congressional agricultural leaders urging them to quickly adopted a five-year farm
November 05, 2013 Read Full Article
Farm Bill Conferees Urge Energy Funding
by Cindy Zimmerman (DomesticFuel.com) The Senate version of the farm bill includes $800 million in mandatory funding for energy programs while the House version contains zero – one of the relatively minor differences in the two bills that could get
November 01, 2013 Read Full Article
HLPE Refuses to Release Sources of Funding for Report: GRFA
(Global Renewable Fuels Alliance) As the Committee on World Food Security’s (CFS) annual Plenary gets underway in Rome, the Global Renewable Fuels Alliance (GRFA) is demanding the High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition (HLPE) withdraw their
October 30, 2013 Read Full Article
Biomass Organizations Write Support Letter for Bioenergy Programs
by Chris Hanson (Ethanol Producer Magazine) A group of 30 biomass companies and organizations recently wrote to four congressmen supporting mandatory funding for Farm Bill Energy Title programs. Addressed to Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich.; Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.; Rep. Frank Lucas,
October 23, 2013 Read Full Article
Sugar Industry for Direct Manufacture of Ethanol
by Dilip Kumar Jha (Business Standard) A practice prevalent globally, to reduce fuel needs Sugar mills have urged the government to allow direct manufacturing of ethanol from cane. A practice prevalent globally, to reduce fuel needs, it is currently banned in India
October 22, 2013 Read Full Article
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