Agricultural News
2013 Crop Means More Than Enough for Renewable Fuel Standard, NCGA Says
Thu, 10 Oct 2013 15:57:30 CDT
When the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency releases the 2014 volume requirements for the Renewable Fuel Standard, the statute currently calls for corn starch ethanol to account for 14.4 billion gallons, an amount that corn farmers and the ethanol industry can easily provide, the National Corn Growers Association noted.
"Across the country right now, our nation's corn farmers are harvesting what the USDA and others are estimating to be the largest corn crop ever," said NCGA President Martin Barbre. "We're looking forward to not only meeting all needs for food, feed and fuel, but to ensure ending stocks, or surplus, of nearly 2 billion bushels. Those who want to reduce how much corn ethanol is in the RFS for 2014 need to realize the tremendous productive capacity of the American farmer to meet all needs."
In its most recent estimate of the 2013 corn crop, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated that 13.8 billion bushels of corn will be harvested this fall, for a total available corn supply of 14.5 billion bushels - more than 2.5 billion bushels more than the corn available last year.
While this week's supply and demand report is delayed because of the partial government shutdown, as of last month USDA was estimating increased amounts of corn to be available for feed, ethanol and export uses - and 1.9 billion bushels in ending stocks.
"The fact is, while we are doing our part to grow the corn needed for the RFS, others have not been doing their part to expand the infrastructure to meet the standard," Barbre said. "We know consumers want a choice of fuels that include domestic and renewable. Big Oil and others have been fighting the RFS and causing needless delays that have been holding back true fuel freedom in our country."
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI
Top Agricultural News
More Headlines...