“The Corn Growers will be out there talking to the fans and promoting ethanol,” said Chad Willis, who farms near Willmar and serves as treasurer for the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council. “We’ll have volunteers from local corn organizations in Kandiyohi, Pope, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle and Yellow Medicine Counties who will come to the events to sell commemorative t-shirts. We’ll also have MCGA regional representatives and folks from the American Lung Association of Minnesota out to help talk about the economic and environmental benefits of ethanol.” The event will also feature an ethanol trivia contest with commemorative t-shirts for prizes.
The four races will draw together a score of “Midwest Modified” class drivers and vehicles running on E-98, a performance fuel with octane topping 105.
The races will be held July 8 at Viking Speedway in Alexandria; July 9 at Madison Speedway in Madison; July 10 at KRA Speedway in Willmar; and July 11 at Fiesta City Speedway, Montevideo.
It was an all-American victory Sunday as Team Ethanol scored its first IndyCar Series win on Independence Day weekend at the Camping World Grand Prix in Watkins Glen, NY.
For Rahal Letterman team driver Ryan Hunter-Reay, it was a dream come true.
“American kid winning with ethanol on the side of the car,” Ryan said after the race. “It’s an American team – Bobby Rahal gave me the job and now we’re in Victory Circle.”
It was also an all-American dream come true for corn growers and the ethanol industry, since this is the second year the IndyCar Series has run on 100 percent ethanol.
By producing a few billion gallons more ethanol and using a little bit less fuel on the road, America could be energy independent through the Fourth of July every year.
Over 35 biofuels, agricultural and environmental organizations are calling attention to the idea that America is on the road to energy independence. A joint statement from the groups points out that America could effectively supply its own transportation fuel needs for 186 days in 2009 — equivalent to January 1 through July 4 — meaning that imports would be needed for less than half the year. That can be achieved if each person would conserve just 21 gallons of fuel in the coming year and if we would increase ethanol production by about five billion more gallons.
The groups are calling for unity to achieve this goal. “To find true and long-lasting sustainable solutions, corporate self interests, political polarization, and agendas must be set aside. We must band together in the fight for Energy Independence here in the United States and around the globe.”
Among the many groups supporting Energy Independence Day are the National Corn Growers Association, Ethanol Promotion and Information Council, Renewable Fuels Association, Renewable Fuels Now, National Farmers Union, National Sorghum Producers, National Wheat Growers Association, and the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition.
During the recent Corn Utilization and Technology Conference some of the superstars in the industry made presentations during a session chaired by POET’s Vice President of R&D, Mark Stowers. Mark said that he hoped attendees took away a “broader concept.” His session was titled, “Dry Grind Evolution: How new technologies will continue to change the landscape for the dry grind platform.”
Mark says that the integration of biology and engineering has only been around for 30 years. He says that if you go back 20 years the application of that in human health led to a revolution in that industry and that 10 years ago that application led to stacked genes and a revolution in agriculture. Now he says we’re seeing the cumulative effect of those technologies in what he calls industrial biotechnology. This third wave says will affect fuels and materials and every part of our lives. Mark was very excited to see the level of interest in new technologies. Judging by the fact that the room was packed for his session I’d say he has reason to be.
A Houston Chronicle articles traces Texas Governor Rick Perry’s request for a waiver of the Renewable Fuels Standard back to a March 25 meeting with Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, owner of Pilgrim’s Pride, the country’s largest chicken producer.
Shortly after that meeting, Pilgrim donated $100,000 to the Republican Governors Association, which is chaired by Perry. Pilgrim’s Pride also generously donated its lobbyists and public relations firm to help Perry’s staff finalize the details of waiver request, which was submitted on April 25.
Pilgrim’s Pride, which owns 25 percent of the US poultry market, had net sales of nearly $7.6 billion last year, with a gross profit of about $600 million. According to their last annual report, the company still managed to make a significant profit despite higher feed costs. In fact, their gross profit for fiscal 2007 increased $293.9 million, or 98.8%, over fiscal 2006.
Doesn’t sound like they are suffering too much from higher feed costs.
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry’s request for a waiver of federal corn-based ethanol production mandates was prompted by a March meeting he had with East Texas poultry producer Lonnie “Bo” Pilgrim, who six days later gave $100,000 to the Republican Governors Association chaired by Perry.
(snip)
Perry pressed for the waiver despite an April 10 Texas A&M study that showed a waiver of federal mandates on ethanol production would have little or no effect in driving down the price of feed corn for poultry and livestock. The A&M study blamed rising corn prices on the cost of oil, global demands for corn and commodities speculation.
(snip)
Perry’s staff coordinated preparation of the waiver request with Pilgrim’s Pride lobbyist Gaylor Hughey of Tyler and Cliff Angelo with Public Strategies, the firm handling a public relations campaign against ethanol for Pilgrim’s Pride and a coalition of meat producers.
“The Corn Growers will be out there talking to the fans and promoting ethanol,” said Chad Willis, who farms near Willmar and serves as treasurer for the Minnesota Corn Research & Promotion Council. “We’ll have volunteers from local corn organizations in Kandiyohi, Pope, Chippewa, Lac Qui Parle and Yellow Medicine Counties who will come to the events to sell commemorative t-shirts. We’ll also have MCGA regional representatives and folks from the American Lung Association of Minnesota out to help talk about the economic and environmental benefits of ethanol.” The event will also feature an ethanol trivia contest with commemorative t-shirts for prizes.
It was an all-American victory Sunday as Team Ethanol scored its 
Over 35 biofuels, agricultural and environmental organizations are calling attention to the idea that America is on the road to energy independence. A joint statement from the groups points out that America could effectively supply its own transportation fuel needs for 186 days in 2009 — equivalent to January 1 through July 4 — meaning that imports would be needed for less than half the year. That can be achieved if each person would conserve just 21 gallons of fuel in the coming year and if we would increase ethanol production by about five billion more gallons. 
During the recent Corn Utilization and Technology Conference some of the superstars in the industry made presentations during a session chaired by POET’s Vice President of R&D, Mark Stowers. Mark said that he hoped attendees took away a “broader concept.” His session was titled, “Dry Grind Evolution: How new technologies will continue to change the landscape for the dry grind platform.”
Shortly after that meeting, Pilgrim donated $100,000 to the Republican Governors Association, which is chaired by Perry. Pilgrim’s Pride also generously donated its lobbyists and public relations firm to help Perry’s staff finalize the details of waiver request, which was submitted on April 25.
Pilgrim’s Pride, which owns 25 percent of the US poultry market, had net sales of nearly $7.6 billion last year, with a gross profit of about $600 million. According to 
Great reporting by the Houston Chronicle: