The Andersons’ ethanol plant at Denison, Iowa. (AndersonsEthanol.com)

U.S. EPA scraps plan to force refiners to blend more biofuels

Reading Time: 3 minutes New York | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ditched a detailed plan that would have forced refiners to blend more biofuels into their gasoline and diesel in 2019 to compensate for volumes likely to be exempted under the agency’s small refinery hardship waiver program, according to newly released EPA documents. The plan would […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. judge allows Roundup-related suits to go to trial

Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — Hundreds of lawsuits against Monsanto Co. by cancer survivors or families of those who died can proceed to trial, a federal judge ruled on Tuesday, finding there was sufficient evidence for a jury to hear the cases that blame the company’s glyphosate herbicide for the disease. The decision by U.S. District Judge Vince […] Read more

(EPA.gov via Flickr)

U.S. biofuels industry, advocates see hope in Pruitt’s successor

Reading Time: 2 minutes New York | Reuters — Corn growers and biofuel producers cheered the resignation of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt in the hope that his successor may give them more access and fewer threats to reducing domestic requirements. Pruitt led U.S. President Donald Trump’s aggressive efforts to roll back environmental protections. He drew the […] Read more


(Dave Bedard photo)

ICE weekly outlook: Canola to face pressure from northbound U.S. soy

Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — As Friday’s deadline nears for Chinese tariffs to be imposed on imports of U.S. soybeans, so too does the idea that eastern crushers could soon be bringing those unwanted beans into Canada. “Soybeans have become so cheap we’re going to find them leaking across the border, especially into Ontario,” said Mike Jubinville […] Read more

Canola south of Ethelton, Sask. on Aug. 3, 2017. (Dave Bedard photo)

Canola prices vulnerable after StatsCan report

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — The latest acreage report from Statistics Canada failed to surprise most investors in the market, but still could leave canola futures looking overpriced, according to a trader. “It certainly is a negative number,” said Ken Ball of PI Financial in Winnipeg, referring to the agency’s estimate for canola. StatsCan’s report on Friday […] Read more



(Dave Bedard photo)

ICE weekly outlook: Market watching weather, acres, trade

Reading Time: < 1 minute CNS Canada — Canola futures bounced around within a rather narrow range during the week ended Wednesday, but generally trended higher as the market recovered off of the four-month lows hit on June 19. Statistics Canada releases updated acreage estimates on Friday, and any surprises in the data could provide some nearby direction. The U.S. […] Read more


The Big River Resources ethanol plant at West Burlington, Iowa, about 120 km southwest of Davenport. (Steven Vaughn photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

U.S. EPA proposes higher 2019 biofuels mandate

Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed setting a blending mandate of 19.88 billion gallons for 2019 under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), three per cent higher from this year’s and in line with expectations. The agency also said it is considering a number of measures to bring some transparency to the […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

Canadian canola area likely above earlier projection

Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada — Canadian farmers likely seeded more canola in 2018 than initial expectations, but industry participants generally expect to see only minor adjustments when Statistics Canada releases its latest acreage estimates on Friday. “Our idea is that the canola seeded area number is higher than initially reported,” said Jon Driedger of FarmLink Marketing Solutions. […] Read more