Category: Ethanol

Fuel consulting company addresses ethanol myths with young technicians

Posted on July 14, 2017

In the early days of fuel consulting company MEG Corp, founder Hoon Ge would walk into car dealerships offering ethanol education sessions to the dealer’s technicians. Thinking they would be interested in learning more about the clean, green biofuel, the reception was certainly a surprise to Ge.

“We would really get the cold shoulder,” said Ge, who is a chemical engineer and 25-year veteran of the petroleum industry. “So we had the idea of instead going to the mechanics who are still learning and dispel the myths around ethanol,

Biofuel supply to remain at 15 billion gallons in 2018

Posted on July 6, 2017

As part of the Renewable Fuel Standard, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released proposed 2018 Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) yesterday, calling for maintaining the same level of conventional biofuels as 2017.

The minimum amount of renewable fuels that must be supplied to the market in 2018 was 19.24 billion gallons. Conventional biofuels will remain at 15 billion gallons of that total next year. Advanced and cellulosic biofuels, often made from dried distillers grains (DDGS) and corn residue,

American corn and ethanol find receptive market in Taiwan

Posted on May 10, 2017

Written by Jonathan Eisenthal

The US grain harvest in 2012, which was smaller than expected, forced loyal customers like Taiwan to look elsewhere for the poultry and hog feed previously provided by U.S. farmers, causing U.S. share of Taiwan’s grain market to drop 40 percent.

Not taking the change passively, the U.S. Grains Council developed the Grain Quality Condition report, which informs markets like Taiwan on the quality of U.S.

U.S. Grains Council on 2017 trade during World Trade Month

Posted on May 5, 2017

For World Trade Month, the Minnesota Corn Growers Association spoke with U.S. Grains Council (USGC) President and CEO Tom Sleight on the latest from our nation’s capital and what to expect in what will be a crucial year for the corn export market.

Shortly before the calendar switched over to May, a report came from the White House that wasn’t necessarily in the spirit of the trade appreciation month, as President Donald Trump publicly considered withdrawing from the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) with Canada and Mexico.

MCGA takes comprehensive approach with ethanol investment

Posted on April 27, 2017

Biofuels have long been a focus for the Minnesota Corn Growers Association (MCGA). Investing nearly $23 million since 2008, here are a few highlights of how MCGA has worked to advance and expand the use of ethanol.

ETHANOL/EMISSIONS RESEARCH:

Over the last three years MCGA has worked with the consulting firm DeFour Group to move mid-level blends, specifically E25, into the marketplace. The multi-faceted approach included engine testing through the National Corn Growers Association,

Researchers seek triple win with refinement of DDGS

Posted on April 25, 2017

Written by Jonathan Eisenthal

With a few small changes to improve the nutritional profile of distillers grains, also known as DDGS, research scientists at the University of Minnesota hope to deliver a triple win.

A mid-protein, high-phosphorus animal feed, distillers grains are an ethanol co-product made from corn after fermentation. The enriched distillers grain these researchers hope to produce would deliver more nutrition, offer another co-product to increase profits for ethanol makers,

Next gen green chemicals coming off the line at Little Falls plant

Posted on March 22, 2017

Written by Jonathan Eisenthal

What does firing up a charcoal grill in LA have to do with field corn raised in Minnesota?

A lot, when that corn has gone through the brand new Green Biologics retrofitted facility in Little Falls, Minn. The facility processes corn into butanol, the main ingredient in lighter fluid. And it’s renewable—that’s a plus in many markets, now.

Green Biologics also turns corn into renewable acetone,

Commodity Classic 2017 draws thousands

Posted on March 3, 2017

Commodity Classic 2017 is well underway this week in San Antonio. The annual event, held March 2-4 this year, is America’s largest farmer-led, farmer-focused convention bringing together the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Sorghum Producers and the Association of Equipment Manufacturers for meetings and more.

The show attendance for 2017 is estimated to be at more than 9,000 individuals, with at least 4,000 of those attendees being farmers.

Legislative update: Rural issues remain top of mind

Posted on February 13, 2017

Significant farm and rural issues are receiving considerable attention at the State Capitol and earlier committee deadlines this year are contributing to a faster pace of bill introductions and committee discussions. Here’s a quick update on some of the key issues of interest to corn farmers.

Water Quality

On Friday, Feb. 3, at the Minnesota Environmental Congress, Gov. Dayton announced that he wanted a “25 by 25” plan concerning Minnesota’s water resources – a 25-percent improvement in water quality by the year 2025.

American Lung Association MN continues to promote clean air benefits of ethanol

Posted on February 9, 2017

Written by Nicole Krumrie

Jon Hunter was recently named Director of Clean Air with the American Lung Association in Minnesota (ALAMN). But Hunter is no stranger to the ethanol or its clean air benefits; he’s has been working with ALA since 2010 on grant programs.

“I’m looking forward to seeing markets expand and how we can promote ethanol,” says Hunter. “It will be an interesting year to see how the markets and the ethanol world respond to change.”

This past year,

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