A recent FarmDocDaily post shows increased ethanol prices over the past three months has moderated the impact of high corn prices and put the ethanol industry into positive margins again.

On June 19 an American Motorcycle Association-organized group of motorcyclists will descend on Capitol Hill to talk about the dangers of E15 for use in motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. E15, however, isn’t approved for use in those vehicles.

Gevo Inc. has announced that it has resumed commercial production of isobutanol at its Luverne, Minn., plant in single train mode, successfully utilizing its proprietary Gevo Integrated Fermentation Technology (GIFT).

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin, Madison are studying how fungus and bacteria work together to process biomass within fungus gardens of insects. The enzymes found in these fungus gardens may be useful for biofuel production.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration has published data showing that ethanol production has partially recovered since last year's drought. Production is expected to increase after the third quarter, and average 930,000 barrels per day in 2014.

The Renewable Fuels Association and Portland & Western Railroad will co-host a free Ethanol Safety Seminar June 18 and 19 at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore. Certificates will be awarded to attendees at the completion of the course.

It’s my first full day back to work after FEW and my mind is still filled with the many interesting things I learned about.

A group of researchers from Oklahoma State University have published an analysis of a genome they say has great potential for the cost-effective production of biofuel. The team has described multiple unique features within the genome of rumen fungus.

Purified Renewable Energy LLC's 18 MMgy ethanol plant in Buffalo Lake, Minn., will sold at bankruptcy auction on August 8. The plant filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in Marcy. The IR1 Group LLC is handling the sale.

Glacial Lakes Energy recently installed Arisdyne Systems' patented controlled flow cavitation system at its Aberdeen Energy facility. The companies demonstrated that the system increased daily average ethanol production by more than 1.5 percent.

ABF Economics has released a detailed analysis showing no direct correlation between the renewable fuel standard (RFS) and the overall increase in food prices. Another recent report by the World Bank demonstrated oil prices have the largest impact.

The Energy Biosciences Institute was granted its first patent since the public-private research partnership was established in 2007. It focuses on a method to convert C5 and C6 sugars into biofuel.The institute also published its annual report.

The USDA has published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the availability of $98.6 million for payments under the Advanced Biofuel Payment Program. A separate notice announces increased funding for the Rural Energy for America Program.

The USDA has released the June 12 edition of its World Agricultural Supply and Demand Estimates report. The outlook for 2013/14 corn supplies is lowered 135 million bushels to 14 billion with the average yield projected at 156.5 bushels per acre.

The National Association of Convenience Stores has released the results of a survey on E15 and E85 it conducted. The survey reveals that approximately three out of five consumers said they would consider using E15 if priced the same as gas.

The benefits of Enogen trait technology from Syngenta Corp. are piquing the interest of ethanol plants now more than ever. Interest is also expanding among farmers, with nearly 300 growers contracted to grow more than 64,000 acres this season.

The leaders of Growth Energy, the Renewable Fuels Association and the American Coalition for Ethanol, all came together on stage during the June 11 general session of the 29th Annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo in St. Louis, Mo.

Cellulosic ethanol is at the cusp of commercialization, the 1,700-plus attendees learned during the opening session of the 29th Annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, underway this week in St. Louis, Mo.

Construction of Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels' first commercial cellulosic ethanol plant is on schedule to start up in early 2014, Poet-DSM executives said at the 2013 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop today in St. Louis, Mo.

Bryan Bush, an employee at Little Sioux Corn Processors, and Rachel Hayes, a recent high school graduate, are recipients of $2,000 Kathy Bryan Memorial Scholarships for college awarded as part of the 2013 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo.

USDA researcher Kevin Hicks and ICM Inc. employee Dan Schwartzkopf, an advocate for ethanol as a race fuel, were honored with the Award of Excellence and High Octane Award, respectively, at the International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo.

The U.S. Senate passed its version of a new Farm Bill, leaving the ag energy industry satisfied with the inclusion of mandatory funding for energy title programs. The U.S. House of Representatives is expected to vote on its version of the bill soon.

The 29th International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo officially kicked off June 10 with a ribbon cutting ceremony by Jeff Broin, of Poet LLC, and Tim Portz, executive editor of Ethanol Producer Magazine.

Novozymes has announced the launch of new enzyme technology that can increase ethanol yield from corn by up to 5 percent. The technology also increases corn oil extraction by 13 percent, while saving 8 percent energy.

On June 10, the Renewable Fuels Association released a new set of guidelines on rail transportation safety focused on hinged and bolted manway in conjunction with the start of the 2013 International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo.

Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits and Mascoma Corp. have announced the introduction of their next generation advanced yeast product, TransFerm Yield+, a bioengineered drop-in substitute for conventional fermenting yeast.

The California Council on Science and Technology has released the final report associated with its California's Energy Future project, finding that substantial amounts of cellulosic and drop-in biofuels are required to meet the state's GHG goals.

New flex fuel pumps are now open in David City, Neb., at the RB's Corner Stop on Highway 15. This is the state's 83rd retail location with E85/flex fuel pumps that offer ethanol blended fuels such as E85 for flex fuel vehicles.

All chefs know that "you have to break some eggs to make an omelet," and that includes engineers at Iowa State University who are using high-frequency sound waves to break down plant materials in order to cook up a better batch of biofuel.

Starting with the question, "What price of corn will make E85 competitive?" University of Illinois economists Scott Irwin and Darrel Good examined the breakeven prices of E85, ethanol and corn.

At this year's International Fuel Ethanol Workshop, Novozymes will unveil two new enzyme technologies designed to increase ethanol and corn oil yields and improve profits. Two new fermentation solutions will join Avantec.

At the start of the new season, the sugarcane crush in Brazil's south central region is nearly double that of a year ago, though it is still down from the volume processed two years ago. Ethanol production is keeping pace with last year.

California's Fifth District Court of Appeal handed down a provisional ruling in the lawsuit filed by Poet LLC against the California Air Resources Board that states the the state's low carbon fuel standard (LCFS) program will continue to operate.

State legislators in Maine have approved a bill prohibiting the sale of corn-based ethanol. However, the ban only goes in effect if 10 other states or a number of states with the collective population of 30 million pass similar bills.

Poet-DSM Advanced Biofuels' new Business Development Manager will be meeting with ethanol producers to discuss licensing options for commercializing cellulosic ethanol, starting at next week's Fuel Ethanol Workshop in St. Louis, Mo.

On June 5, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care and Entitlements held a hearing on the federal renewable fuel standard (RFS). No members of the biofuel industry were invited to testify.

Less than a year after opening a demonstration facility, Switzerland-based Clariant AG announced that it has expanded the feedstocks successfully converted to cellulosic ethanol beyond wheat straw to include corn stover and sugarcane bagasse.

The 29th annual International Fuel Ethanol Workshop & Expo, the ethanol industry's largest and longest-running conference, will take place June 10-13 in St. Louis. The conference will feature more than 140 speakers and four program tracks.

Iowa's E15 retailers were recently forced to stop selling E15 because oil refiners won't supply the gasoline blendstock required for the summer months. A recent conference call was held to discuss the petroleum distribution monopoly.

Since opening in December 2009, Inbicon's demonstration plant in Kalundborg, Denmark, has operated more than 15,000 hours, turning wheat straw into cellulosic ethanol and other renewable fuels.

The Renewable Fuels Association has spoken out to criticize a study published by Rice University and the University of California-Davis that claims climate change will increase irrigation costs for corn while reducing yields.

The U.S. EPA has published data on renewable identification numbers (RINs) generated in April. More than 1.08 billion D6 renewable fuel RINs were generated during the month, the highest monthly number reported since August 2012.

ICM Inc. has signed a software development and marketing agreement with NCAT Inc. to co-develop and market the Inseo Suite line of software services. ICM has exclusive rights to market the first release of the suite to the biofuel industry.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott has signed legislation into law repealing the state's renewable fuel standard (RFS), calling the program a state mandate on Florida businesses that is duplicative of the federal renewable fuel standard.