NCGA to Administration Officials: Use of Higher Ethanol Blends Will Cut Gas Prices (Fri, 15 Oct 2021)
As the White House met this week with executives from the oil and gas industry seeking help with high fuel prices, NCGA reminded administration officials that corn growers offer an immediate solution for lowering fuel prices. NCGA issued a response on social media, saying: “@WhiteHouse Trying to cut gas prices? How about blending more biofuels – homegrown ethanol costs less than gasoline, and even the small step of choosing a 15% ethanol blend at the pump today saves drivers 10 cents or more per gallon while cutting carbon emissions too.” This latest action is part of a larger campaign by NCGA to demonstrate the benefits of ethanol to policymakers. When it comes to fuel price concerns, ethanol currently costs less per gallon than gasoline, so blending more ethanol lowers fuel prices while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions. NCGA has been working closely with Washington policymakers, reminding them that they can address these issues by: Ensuring consumers continue to have full market access to lower-cost and lower-emission 15% ethanol blends. Simply choosing a 15% ethanol blend at the pump today saves drivers up to 10 cents per gallon while cutting carbon emissions too. Increasing ethanol blending from 10% to 15% would lower transportation GHG emissions by 17.6 million metric tons per year, the equivalent of removing 3.8 million vehicles from the road. Issuing timely and strong renewable fuel blending requirements under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The delayed 2022 RFS volume rule is needed now to support renewable fuel blending and replace additional expensive petroleum products with lower-priced and cleaner biofuels. Ensuring policy incentives, pathways and infrastructure support higher blends of ethanol. This includes using the pending revised vehicle standards rule to equitably incentivize low-emission flex-fuel vehicles that run on E85, which currently costs up to 20% less per gallon than gasoline. We should also take full advantage of ethanol’s clean octane value by increasing fuel octane standards and removing barriers to mid-level ethanol blends – such as through the Next Generation Fuels Act – to reduce emissions and improve fuel efficiency to save consumers money. Finally, there is also an opportunity to continue investing in higher ethanol blends deployment through infrastructure funding.

>> Read more

#ICYMI: Cattlemen to Cattlemen Episode Focuses on Sustainable Synergies Between Corn and Beef (Fri, 15 Oct 2021)
Beef and Corn: Working Together in a Sustainable System was the focus of a recent episode on the National Cattlemen Beef Association’s (NCBA) series Cattlemen to Cattlemen on RFD-TV. Panelists discuss sustainability practices on their farms, the benefits of next-generation feed products, how the ethanol industry has impacted corn and beef producers, and more. The episode was filmed at the Certified Angus Beef headquarters in Wooster, Ohio with panelists from the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), NCBA, and Certified Angus Beef (CAB). The episode aired on Tuesday, September 28th on RFD-TV at 8:30 PM ET. “It is important for corn farmers and beef producers to work together so both industries remain sustainable, both environmentally and economically, for the years to come,” said NCGA Chairman John Linder. “Beef cattle is one of our largest customers. One out of four bushels of added corn demand is due to beef and pork exports, with the beef industry providing $5.7 billion in corn value and consuming 1.2 billion bushels of grain. DDGS account for nearly 8 percent of total domestic corn usage.” NCBA's Cattlemen to Cattlemen is a television show for cattlemen created by cattlemen. The episode featuring corn growers is not scheduled yet but will air on RFD-TV. The show is hosted by Colorado cattle producer Kevin Ochsner. Panel participants include Bruce Cobb, Executive Vice President of Production for Certified Angus Beef; NCGA President and Ohio farmer John Linder; Brandon Hunnicutt, a Nebraska farmer and NCGA corn board member; Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association Vice President Ben Klick, who raises both corn and beef; and NCBA President-Elect and Minnesota farmer Don Schiefelbein. NCGA’s Market Development Action Team (MDAT) funded this initiative. You can watch this year’s episode here. You can watch last year’s episode here.

>> Read more