Biofuels

The U.S. economy still has considerable momentum and is not currently on the verge of recession. However, economists have never been more pessimistic and there are very legitimate reasons for concern.

Everyone is feeling the pinch of inflation. Grocery prices have increased 21% from January 2020 to August 2022, and retail fat and oil prices have increased 30% — with soybean oil a key ingredient in frying and baking.

Just blocks from Midway Airport and a few miles from O’Hare International Airport, ag economist Dan Basse, asked the question: “How many of you want to fly in a battery-powered airplane?”

Illinois Soybean Growers was born to advocate for Illinois soybean farmers, providing them platforms to be heard firsthand, and constantly monitors legislative issues, opportunities and threats, providing farmers with information and resources.

The Illinois Soybean Growers recently met to set state and federal policy priorities for fiscal year 2023. Among many issues, the most pressing and largely discussed included biofuels, animal agriculture, farm bill, foreign trade, transportation and climate-smart agriculture.

Next year, Richard Guebert Jr. will turn over the reins of Illinois Farm Bureau to the next president. But as he started his 10th and final year as president of the organization, Guebert offered some food for thought to IFB members on politics and farming.

The Environmental Protection Agency proposed increasing the amount of ethanol and other biofuels that must be blended into the nation’s fuel supplies over the next three years, a move welcomed by renewable fuel and farm groups, but condemned by environmentalists.

By producing fuel using sources with lower carbon intensity than traditional petroleum-based products, the U.S. biofuels sector is well-positioned to play a major role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

ClearFlame Engine Technologies has created technology that modifies diesel engines, from Class 8 semi-trucks to farm equipment, to run on 100% renewable biofuels like ethanol.

It’s rare to find one Midwestern academic publicly questioning the economic and environmental impacts of ethanol.

Incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth spoke of her legislative record and platform going forward if elected during the recent Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable candidate forum.

Questions relating to several high-priority legislative issues were posed to U.S. senatorial candidates at a recent candidate forum. The Illinois Agricultural Legislative Roundtable forum featured incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth and Republican challenger Kathy Salvi.

When it comes to spectator sports, not many events can match the vibrant colors, the unique sounds and the raw power of drag racing. All of that and more was on display at the Shift-S3ctor Indy Airstrip Attack at the Marion Municipal Airport.

Through the supply chain disruptions and pandemic restrictions, 1.22 billion gallons of U.S. ethanol were exported to 110 countries in 2020-2021. This marked the fifth highest export total to date and utilized 433 million bushels of U.S. corn.

POET Bioprocessing has found a way to take a maligned greenhouse gas and recycle it into a usable product.