An historic alignment of agreement between the oil and ethanol industries is being held hostage by a small number of refiners, threatening the future of nationwide, year-round E15 (15% ethanol fuel). Nebraska Ethanol Board chairman Jan tenBensel shared a graphic on social media last week calling out six refining companies by name with a combined revenue of nearly $172 billion. …
Former Industry Leaders Warn of Farm Crisis
A bipartisan group of former leaders of America’s major agricultural commodity associations and biofuels organizations, farmer leaders, and former senior USDA officials, sent a letter to Congress this week sounding the alarm about the current state of the farm economy and the potential for “widespread collapse of American agriculture.” In a letter released today to the leadership of the House …
Ethanol Report on E15 and NEC
To say that ethanol supporters are disappointed by the inability of Congress to include nationwide, year-round E15 in the must-pass funding bill this past week is an understatement. Corn farmers and ethanol producers are expressing outrage, disillusionment, and even betrayal after weeks of working on compromise wording for a problem the industry has been trying to get fixed for more …
Congress Devastates Supporters as it Punts on E15
Supporters of nationwide, year-round E15 were once again kicked to the curb by Congress, after weeks of negotiations between farm, ethanol, oil and refinery interests to craft wording that would have included it in the funding bill. Instead lawmakers have opted to create a new “Rural Domestic Energy Council” to develop potential legislative proposals on E15. Renewable Fuels Association President …
Iowa Corn and Iowa RFA Release Study Showing Need for Year-round E15
A new corn supply study, commissioned by the Iowa Corn Growers Association and Iowa Renewable Fuels Association (IRFA), shows the urgent need for immediate passage of nationwide, year-round E15 and access to ultra-low carbon ethanol markets to support and sustain the economic drivers in the Cornbelt that are provided by corn production. The two organizations held a press conference Wednesday …
BioLumic Expands Light-Activated Seed Trait Platform to South America
Accelerates Global Reach of BioLumic xTraits™ Platform for Seed Companies CHAMPAIGN, Illinois – December 8, 2025 – BioLumic, the only agricultural biotechnology company that programs heritable seed traits using light, today announced steps to expand its Corn xTraits™ Licensing Program into South America. This includes early-stage evaluations with GDM and a collaboration with Tropical Melhoramento & Genética (TMG), two of …
Sen. Fischer Addresses Farm Crisis on Senate Floor
During a speech on the Senate floor Monday, Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE) addressed the economic crisis facing ag producers across America, stressing the need for long-term solutions for farmers and ranchers. “Producers of corn, soybeans, and other top commodities are under crushing pressure. Rising input costs and uncertainty have driven farm finances to levels reminiscent of the 1980s crisis, which …
Ethanol Report on New E15 Study
A new economic study produced by economists with the National Corn Growers Association and the Renewable Fuels Association shows that expanding year-round, nationwide consumer access to fuels with a 15% ethanol blend would provide a boon to the American economy, benefiting farmers, communities and consumers alike. The study shows that providing consistent access to E15 year-round would provide an additional …
2025 Farm Progress Show
The Nation’s Largest Outdoor Farm Show. The Farm Progress Show is designed for serious growers, producers and agribusinesses. As the largest, most diversified agriculture information business in North America, Farm Progress prides itself on providing a well-rounded show for farmers to connect and do business with a wide variety of exhibitors. This virtual ag newsroom includes links to photos and …
Iowa Awaits Governor Decision on Carbon Pipeline Bill
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds may hold the fate of the state’s ethanol industry in her hands as ethanol advocates and farmers are urging her to veto a bill restricting carbon sequestration pipelines. “It’s happening. Nebraska is doing it. North Dakota is doing it. Indiana is doing it. Illinois projects are moving forward. Brazil is doing it big time. It’s happening,” …
Pivot Bio Unveils PROVEN G3, with Powerful New Modes of Action and Patent-Protected Gene-Editing Technology
Company Continues to Lead the Biologicals Industry with Third-Generation Nitrogen Product Line Product to Be Available to Growers in the United States ST. LOUIS (March 14, 2025) – Pivot Bio, one of the world’s leading innovative agtech companies, announced that it has launched a new product in its line of innovative ag solutions for growers in the U.S. Pivot Bio …
BioLumic Launches World’s First Commercial Light-Activated Seed Traits
First Trait Activation System Installed at Gro Alliance’s Seed Production HQ Field Data Demonstrates Trait Heritability, >20% Hybrid Yield Gain Champaign, IL – March 6, 2025 – BioLumic, the world’s only company programming seed traits with light, has launched its first commercial Trait Activation System at Gro Alliance’s seed production facility in Cuba City, Wisconsin. This milestone brings the BioLumic …
2025 Commodity Classic with Syngenta
Commodity Classic is unlike any other event in agriculture because it’s created by farmers, for farmers. The 2025 event is March 2-5 in Denver, CO – presented by the American Soybean Association and National Corn Growers Association, with the National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers. The show this year kicks off with …
DWFI Podcast 41 – New Nebraska Nitrogen Recommendations for Irrigated Corn
After years of dedicated work from many people and sectors, UNL has released new recommendations for nitrogen fertilization of irrigated corn. In this episode, Nebraska Water Extension Educator Crystal Powers talks to UNL professor of agronomy Richard Ferguson, who has been involved in the project from the start. Listen here or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform: 17:34 The Robert …
USDA Secretary Vilsack Announces Climate-Smart Agriculture Rule
Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack held his last official press conference of his tenure at USDA on Wednesday, announcing the publication of an interim rule on Technical Guidelines for Climate-Smart Agriculture Crops Used as Biofuel Feedstocks. The interim rule establishes guidelines for quantifying, reporting, and verifying the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with the production of biofuel feedstock commodity crops …