The College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) at the University of Missouri held its annual Celebration of Excellence Award ceremony on April 10 to honor outstanding faculty, staff, students, alumni and friends of the College.
During a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on Tuesday, Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) wondered aloud whether the renewable fuel standard (RFS2) would pass today if it were voted by Congress. According to an informal survey conducted by OPIS, most observers don’t believe the RFS would be approved, at least not in its current form.
While the basketball national championship might have been decided on the court, it could be the courts that decide the future of advanced biofuels in this country. The National Biodiesel Board (NBB) joined forces with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Justice to fight an attempt to dismantle the Renewable Fuel Standard (NBB).
Creating a new industry doesn’t happen overnight, yet soybean producers have been part of a movement to develop a new domestic fuel resource that can offset imports and add value for soybeans and other oilseed crops. Biodiesel holds promise for both additional farm income and greater energy independence, yet it could be cut off at the knees before the industry can even get going.
A measure that would renew the federal $1-per-gallon biodiesel tax incentive has cleared a congressional committee. The credit, which expired at the end of 2013, passed the Senate Finance Committee as part of a package of tax provisions. The news was welcomed by the National Biodiesel Board, which still appeared miffed it expired in the first place, as Congress let happen in 2010 and 2012.
The Senate Finance Committee is expected to take up tax extenders today and included in Chairman Ron Wyden’s mark is the Biodiesel Tax Credit. National Biodiesel Board’s Ben Evans says it involves a two year extension of the dollar per gallon tax credit. He’s encouraged it’s part of the Chairman’s priorities and bodes well for its passage.
The Senate Finance Committee passed a tax extenders package April 3 that includes a two-year extension of the $1-per-gallon biodiesel credit through 2015, retroactive back to Jan. 1 after its expiration Dec. 31. The National Biodiesel Board called on Congress to act quickly on tax legislation.
Recent balloting efforts to change ASTM D396 to include higher blends of biodiesel, from B6 to B20, are creating the need for further education regarding proper handling and use of blends above 5 percent. To provide much-needed education for some, and a refresher course for others, a comprehensive webinar, “Getting the Most from Your National Supply Chain from Production to Consumption,” has been developed by Paul Nazzaro, the principal at Nazzaro Group and petroleum liaison to the National Biodiesel Board, and Jeff Fetkenhour, president of Gorge Analytical.
A manufacturer of fueling components receives certification that its equipment is ok to use with biodiesel.
The American Soybean Association (ASA) recognized David Womack Sr. from Shelbyville with its Lifetime Achievement Award for Association Focus at its annual awards banquet at the 2014 Commodity Classic in San Antonio, Texas.
