Reading Time: 2 minutes New York | Reuters — U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration on Friday denied almost all outstanding petitions from oil refiners asking to be exempted from mandates that require them to mix biofuels into their fuel. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has the authority to issue the exemptions, denied 26 petitions from 15 small refineries […] Read more
U.S. EPA denies nearly all biofuel blending exemption petitions
Refineries didn't prove hardship, agency said
U.S. EPA proposes biofuel mandate cuts
Proposal seen as boost to pandemic-hit refiners
Reading Time: 3 minutes New York | Reuters — The Biden administration proposed on Tuesday a reduction in the amount of biofuels that U.S. oil refiners were required to blend into their fuel mix since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The long-awaited decision offers some relief to the U.S. refining industry after the health crisis slammed domestic demand […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans ease as Midwest’s rains seen boosting crop
CBOT December corn up, wheat down
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures fell for a second straight session on Friday as rains were seen boosting harvest prospects in some dry areas of the Midwest farm belt. Wheat futures fell on profit-taking and spillover pressure from lower soybeans, although concerns about global supplies limited declines. Corn was lower much of the […] Read more
U.S. EPA recommends lowering 2020 biofuel mandates retroactively
Agency not confirming or denying sources' statements
Reading Time: 2 minutes Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recommended retroactively lowering biofuel blending mandates for 2020, two sources familiar with the matter said, after the agency on Thursday sent a proposal on the mandates to the White House for review. The move could provide immediate relief to oil refiners that have to comply with the […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soybeans, wheat gain in commodities rebound
Biofuel worries cap corn
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. soybean futures firmed on Monday in a modest recovery from last week’s two-month low as crude oil markets rebounded and lifted soyoil prices more than three per cent, traders said. Wheat also gained as the U.S. dollar softened and as weekly export inspections topped trade expectations. Corn was flat to […] Read more
U.S. grains: Soy, corn slide on macroeconomic fears, biofuel worries
CBOT, MGEX December wheats also down
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters –– U.S. soybean futures fell to their lowest in nearly two months on Friday and corn set a near one-month low on macroeconomic concerns along with beneficial rains in the western Midwest and Plains, analysts said. Soyoil futures fell more than five per cent on reports that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency […] Read more
U.S. grains: Corn, soy drop; soyoil limit-down
Spring wheat futures guide wheat markets lower
Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn and soybean futures eased and soyoil futures plunged by their daily trading limit on Friday on concerns about demand for renewable fuel feedstocks after news the White House was considering offering fuel refiners relief from biofuel blending mandates. The Reuters report that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was pondering […] Read more
Trump’s EPA sides with farmers over refiners on biofuel waivers
Reading Time: 3 minutes New York | Reuters — The Trump administration said on Monday it rejected scores of requests from U.S. oil refiners for waivers that would have retroactively spared them from their obligation to blend biofuels like ethanol into their fuel, delivering a win for farmers and a blow to the oil industry just ahead of the […] Read more
COVID-19 spurs new clash between Big Oil, Big Corn
Flagging consumption leads to pressures on U.S. fuels, biofuels
Reading Time: 3 minutes New York | Reuters — A fuel demand meltdown caused by the coronavirus outbreak in the United States has started up a new fight between the oil and agriculture industries over the nation’s biofuel policy, this time over whether the policy should be suspended or expanded as a result of the crisis. The issue once […] Read more
White House to stick with 2020 biofuel plan, despite farmer objections
Reading Time: 2 minutes New York | Reuters — The Trump administration plans to stick with its proposed 2020 biofuel blending requirements, the White House said on Wednesday, despite anger among farmers that the plan does too little for corn growers. The decision could undermine President Donald Trump’s support among farmers, an important constituency in the November 2020 election. […] Read more
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
