Ethanol Industry Fights Back

Attached are an audio report and three sound bites featuring comments from Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen about the continued and increased attacks on ethanol by food and oil companies. Full Release

Support Energy Independence This Summer

JEFFERSON CITY, MO – As Memorial Day kicks off the summer travel season, many Americans may be choosing to stay closer to home rather than the pain of skyrocketing fuel prices at the pump. But as bad as fuel prices may be, they could be much worse if not for domestically produced, renewable biofuels such as biodiesel adding to the nation’s fuel supply. In fact, Merrill Lynch commodity strategist Francisco Blanch says that oil and gasoline prices would be about 15 percent higher now if biofuel producers were not increasing their output. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, some of the major factors contributing to the rising cost of regular petroleum diesel fuel include…

FMC Recommends Growers Use Preemergence Herbicides in Late Planted Soybeans

Philadelphia, May 15, 2008 — From Minnesota to Mississippi, cool temperatures and soggy conditions are keeping soybean farmers out of the fields. As planting dates slip into May and beyond, some soybean growers may consider foregoing a preplant or preemergence herbicide as part of their cultural practice. But experts warn that could be a very costly decision. According to Bob Hooten, Midwest technical support manager with FMC Corporation, planting windows for corn and soybeans are being pushed into a very tight timeframe. Further planting delays mean more pressure on the grower to get both corn and soybeans planted and to apply a postemergence herbicide on both, at just the right time, to optimize yields. Using…

Ethanol Industry Holds Food Price Press Briefing

Attached is an audio report featuring comments from four agriculture and ethanol industry leaders who participated in a press conference on April 30 about the role of biofuels in food price increases. Featured are former Agriculture Secretary John Block, National Corn Growers Association CEO Rick Tolman, National Farmers Union president Tom Buis (buy’-us) and Renewable Fuels Association president and CEO Bob Dinneen. Full Release

EPIC and South Dakota Corn Utilization Council Announce Blender Pump Program

Sioux Falls, SD. (May 1, 2008 – AgNewsWire) – South Dakota is poised to lead the nation in raising public awareness for higher blends of ethanol with a new blender pump initiative announced Thursday. Through a partnership between the Ethanol Promotion and Information Council (EPIC) and the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council (SDCUC), the initiative will help gas station retailers obtain funding and the equipment needed to sell blends of ethanol ranging from 20 to 40 percent to be used in flex-fuel vehicles. According to EPIC Director of Operations Robert White, South Dakota is the perfect place to launch this new program. “South Dakota is where the blender pump movement started and we are happy…