EVEN THOUGH CONGRESS HASN’T YET APPROVED YEAR-ROUND USE OF E-15 FUEL, IOWA’S TOP AGRICULTURE LEADER SAYS HE’S HOPEFUL A DEAL WILL BE REACHED.
IOWA SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE MIKE NAIG SAYS HE REMAINS OPTIMISTIC, EVEN THOUGH HE AND FARMERS ARE CONCERNED:
NAIG E15A OC…….ACROSS THE GOAL LINE. :10
NAIG STRESSED THE IMPORTANCE OF E-15 ON THE FARM ECONOMY, ESTIMATING IT WOULD INCREASE CORN DEMAND BY 2 BILLION BUSHELS AND HELP CORN PRICES.
HE SAYS NOT ONLY CORN PRODUCERS WOULD BENEFIT, BUT DRIVERS AS WELL, SINCE E15 IS 10 TO 15 CENTS PER GALLON CHEAPER THAN E10 FUEL:
NAIG E15B OC……..NEEDS TO BE. :13
LAWMAKERS WANTED TO REACH A DEAL BY FEBRUARY 15TH TO MAKE SURE THE ETHANOL-BASED FUEL WOULD BE AVAILABLE THIS SUMMER.
A TASK FORCE ALSO MISSED LAST WEDNESDAY’S DEADLINE TO SEND LEGISLATION TO THE U.S. HOUSE.
ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE CORN GROWN IN THE U.S. IS USED TO MAKE ETHANOL. HOWEVER, FEDERAL AIR QUALITY RULES STILL BLOCK YEAR-ROUND E15 SALES IN MANY PARTS OF THE COUNTRY.
Sheila Brummer IPB
