Valero Energy’s ethanol plant at Aurora, S.D., about 90 km north of Sioux Falls. (Valero.com)

U.S. EPA lifts 2019 biofuels mandate

Washington | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Friday lifted its annual blending mandate for advanced biofuels, drawing praise from the U.S. biofuels industry, but disappointment that the government had not done more to protect the agricultural market. Under the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard, oil refiners must blend increasing amounts of biofuels into […] Read more

Ripe corn plants with a dusting of snow

DON-infected corn storage and ethanol trials proposed

A meeting of the grain sector last week has yielded some guidance for farmers

Here’s the latest news on the managing of the DON-infected corn crop. Get the good corn off: Minister Hardeman Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Ernie Hardeman said the main message from his recent meeting of the industry is to get the good quality corn harvested. Leave the DON-infected corn in the field […] Read more

CBOT December 2018 corn, with Decmeber 2018 wheat in purple. (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, wheat follow broad commodities weakness

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell more than one per cent on Tuesday, following broad declines in commodities led by sagging crude oil futures, analysts said. Wheat futures fell about two per cent, retreating after Monday’s short-covering rally, and soybeans were also lower. Chicago Board of Trade December corn settled down 4-3/4 cents […] Read more

A double rainbow over a Manitoba soybean field. (ImagineGolf/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. grains: Soybeans firm on fund-driven buying

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures firmed modestly on Wednesday in largely technical trade along with fund-driven buying and strength in allied soymeal futures, analysts said. Corn futures declined and wheat fell on technical selling. Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) November soybean futures settled up one cent at $8.85-3/4 per bushel but stayed below […] Read more



World crop briefs: China seeks cuts to soy in feed

CNS Canada — The China Feed Industry Association is proposing soybean meal in hog rations be reduced, to offset rising costs and reduced supplies caused by the U.S.-China trade war. China imported about 87 per cent of its soybean needs last year and one-third of that came from the U.S., according to a report in […] Read more

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a rally in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Oct. 9, 2018. (Photo: Reuters/Leah Millis)

Trump raises ethanol use in gasoline, appeases farmers ahead of elections

Washington | Reuters — U.S. President Donald Trump launched an effort on Tuesday to increase ethanol use in the nation’s gasoline pool, delivering a long-sought political victory to the nation’s Farm Belt and angering oil refiners ahead of November’s congressional elections. Trump announced the lifting of a ban on summer sales of gasoline blended with […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

ADM ramps up ethanol sales in Chicago, irking rivals

New York/Chicago | Reuters — Archer Daniels Midland has sold unusually high volumes of ethanol into the Chicago market since late last year as export markets dried up, driving down prices in the U.S. Midwest and angering the company’s rivals, according to traders and regulatory data. The Illinois-based global commodities powerhouse, a major ethanol producer, […] Read more

The Andersons’ ethanol plant at Denison, Iowa. (AndersonsEthanol.com)

U.S. EPA scraps plan to force refiners to blend more biofuels

New York | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ditched a detailed plan that would have forced refiners to blend more biofuels into their gasoline and diesel in 2019 to compensate for volumes likely to be exempted under the agency’s small refinery hardship waiver program, according to newly released EPA documents. The plan would […] Read more