Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday released its proposed rule lifting a summer ban on higher-ethanol blends of gasoline to help farmers, putting the agency on a collision course with Big Oil which has called the move illegal. The proposal to broaden sales of the so-called E15 rule marks the latest flashpoint […] Read more
Tag Archives Ethanol — page 14
Trump’s EPA unveils plan to pump up ethanol as Big Oil cries foul
U.S. EPA changed rules to help refiners get biofuel waivers, suit alleges
Reuters — U.S. environmental regulators quietly changed the way they assess applications from refineries for waivers from the nation’s biofuels law, making it possible for highly profitable plants to secure lucrative exemptions, according to court documents filed by a biofuels trade group on Thursday. The new documents, part of a lawsuit that began last year, […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans inch up on China purchases
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures inched upward on Thursday on news that Chinese state-owned firms bought at least 500,000 tonnes of U.S. soybeans, while wheat futures dropped to their lowest levels in more than a year on pressure from a strengthening dollar, traders said. Chinese state-owned firms bought the U.S. soybeans for shipment […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy, corn, wheat sag as trade news awaited
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures fell roughly one per cent on Wednesday and wheat slipped nearly three per cent on sluggish export demand for U.S. grains and a lack of news on U.S.-Chinese trade negotiations, traders said. “The single biggest potential factor right now that could turn these market dynamics is […] Read more
U.S. EPA sends proposed new E15 rule to White House
Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Monday it had sent a draft of its proposed rule allowing year-round sales of higher ethanol blends of gasoline to the White House Office of Budget for review. The rule expanding sales of so-called E15 was promised by President Donald Trump late last year […] Read more
Scientists discover new ‘architecture’ in corn
Science Notes: Findings may improve biofuel production efficiency
New corn research has revealed a different internal structure of the plant than previously thought, which can help optimize how corn is converted into ethanol. “Our economy relies on ethanol, so it’s fascinating that we haven’t had a full and more precise understanding of the molecular structure of corn until now,” said Louisiana State University […] Read more
Deep discount questions
Ontario farmers took deeper discounts on moldy corn than farmers elsewhere in 2018. The question is, why?
Ontario corn farmers faced deep discounts on corn infected by deoxynivalenol (DON) in 2018, exposing their vulnerability in a market dominated by domestic users. While farmers in this province usually see attractive basis levels due to strong domestic demand for corn from the ethanol processors and livestock sector, neither market is keen on taking diseased […] Read more
Beetles halt U.S. DDGs exports to Thailand
Chicago | Reuters — Exports of U.S. distillers’ dried grains to Thailand have stopped due to new fumigation requirements installed after beetles were discovered in a shipment last year, U.S. traders said on Friday. Thai government officials said U.S. shipments required certificates showing they had been “properly fumigated.” Traders said sales had effectively been halted […] Read more
Cargill’s net earnings down as trade fight bites
Chicago | Reuters — Grains trader Cargill on Thursday reported a 20 per cent drop in its fiscal second-quarter 2019 net earnings, as global trade tensions hit the bottom line along with challenges in the Chinese hog sector and a struggling U.S. dairy business. Three of the company’s four business units reported results that were […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans drop as export sales to China disappoint
Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures dropped to two-week lows on Wednesday as renewed export sales to China following a trade war truce between Washington and Beijing fell short of expectations. Corn futures also declined on a slowdown in production of corn-based ethanol, while wheat dropped nearly two per cent in light trading, pressured […] Read more
Cyber-Savvy Farmer
