File photo of a combine at work during a harvest in Germany. (Abadonian/iStock/Getty Images)

Germany considering withdrawal from crop-based biofuels by 2030

Lawmakers seek to boost biofuel made from wastes

Hamburg | Reuters — Germany’s government is considering proposals to phase out the use of biofuels produced from food or animal feed crops by 2030, the German biofuels industry association (VDB) said on Tuesday, adding the measure could increase carbon emissions. German environment minister Steffi Lemke said Jan. 17 she will soon send proposals to […] Read more

(Scharfsinn86/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. EPA proposes revamp of biofuel program to include EVs

Mandated biofuel levels to rise through 2025

New York | Reuters — U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration on Thursday unveiled a three-year proposal to expand the U.S. biofuels policy with bigger volume mandates and — for the first time — to include a pathway for electric vehicle manufacturers to generate lucrative credits. Biden wants to fight climate change by reducing fossil fuel […] Read more


CBOT January 2023 soybeans (candlesticks, right column) with 20- and 100-day moving averages and CBOt January 2023 soyoil (blue line, left column). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Soy snaps win streak on disappointing biofuel mandates

Wheat falls on export sale data; soy weakness weighs on corn

Winnipeg | Reuters — Chicago soybeans fell on Thursday, snapping five days of gains as soybean oil sold off sharply after the U.S. government proposed smaller-than-expected biofuels blending requirements. Wheat slid on disappointing export sales, while soybean weakness dragged corn lower. The most-active soybean contract on the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT) settled down 39-3/4 […] Read more



CBOT July 2022 wheat (candlesticks) with 20-day moving average (light green line) and MGEX and K.C. July 2022 wheats (yellow and orange lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Wheat firms after earlier slide

Corn struggles to regain; soy firm

Chicago | Reuters — Chicago wheat futures gained on Thursday after reaching two-month lows as liquidation by investment funds abated and supply tensions remained despite talks to reopen Ukrainian ports that have been blocked since Russia’s invasion. A large wheat purchase by Egypt and a report that the U.S. government may retroactively raise an ethanol […] Read more

(ThamKC/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. EPA allows temporary summer sales of higher-ethanol fuel

Waiver seen as score for corn growers

New York | Reuters — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued an emergency waiver for a higher-ethanol gasoline blend on Friday, allowing summertime sales of the fuel in an attempt to help lower gasoline prices at the pump. The move represents a temporary win for the biofuels industry and corn farmers, as it will likely […] Read more


CBOT May 2022 corn (candlesticks) with Bollinger bands (20,2). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn, wheat climb on Ukraine woes, U.S. biofuel plan

May soybeans also close higher

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn, wheat and soybean futures rose on Tuesday on worries about the Russia-Ukraine conflict persisting and disrupting Black Sea grain exports, and optimism about increased demand for biofuels, analysts said. U.S. President Joe Biden will unveil plans to extend the availability of higher biofuel blends of gasoline during the summer […] Read more

CBOT March 2022 corn (candlesticks) with 20-, 50- and 100-day moving averages (yellow, orange and dark green lines). (Barchart)

U.S. grains: Corn sags on export worries

Soy ends lower after volatile session

Chicago | Reuters — U.S. corn futures fell on Thursday on profit-taking after this week’s multi-month highs and worries about export demand after China canceled a purchase of U.S. supplies, traders said. Wheat sagged on poor weekly export data and a lack of fresh supportive news while soybean futures posted modest losses after a volatile, […] Read more


(ThamKC/iStock/Getty Images)

U.S. EPA proposes biofuel mandate cuts

Proposal seen as boost to pandemic-hit refiners

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

The Co-op Ethanol Complex at Belle Plaine, Sask. (FCL.crs)

Co-op to capture carbon at ethanol plant, refinery

FCL, Whitecap sign agreement to sequester fuel plants' CO2

A major Prairie ethanol and fuel producer is posed to spend just over half a billion dollars on a system to capture and sequester carbon dioxide from its operations in Saskatchewan. Federated Co-operatives announced Thursday it had signed a memo of understanding with Calgary-based ‘clean energy’ company Whitecap Resources, in which the latter company will […] Read more