LANSING, Mich. — The Corn Marketing Program of Michigan (CMPM) is tasked with education, research and marketing programs aimed at strengthening Michigan’s corn industry and growing the businesses of the farmers we represent. In this article, CMPM is highlighting one key area of market development – the ethanol industry.

 

In Michigan, around 25 percent of our annual corn crop goes to make ethanol; that’s a substantial piece of the market. The co-products of that process are also valuable in the form of corn oil and DDGs, a high-protein animal feed that goes back into the food system. There is still a lot of room for growth in the ethanol industry, which ultimately means more demand for corn and a stronger corn industry in Michigan. CMPM is working heavily on expanding this market through initiatives aimed at growing demand domestically, expanding existing foreign markets and developing new and emerging markets. Domestic markets: One way that CMPM is working toward expanding domestic ethanol markets is participating in the Ag Auto Ethanol workgroup. This group is made up of auto manufacturers, equipment manufacturers, chemical  companies, seed companies, ethanolcompanies and corn checkoff groups from various states. It serves as a forum for building relationships, identifying barriers to the expansion of ethanol use and determining what is needed to move beyond those barriers.

 

The group has successfully identified a series of barriers to wider adoptionof higher blends of ethanol fuels and identified a timeline of activities to overcome those barriers. The group has also passed High Octane Low Carbon Fuel, which is an ethanol blend, through  the American Society for Testing andMaterials International (ASTM) so that it can be used by EPA as a test fuel when certifying engine mileage and emissions. Moving forward, the group is working to define these ASTM standards.

 

The workgroup is also working on expanding a current waiver on Reid Vapor Pressure to include E15. Currently, 10 percent ethanol fuel has this waiver, which allows it to be sold year-round as regular fuel. Without the waiver, E15 can only be sold as regular fuel for half the year, and it has to be sold as flex fuel for the other half. This is a significant barrier to selling the fuel.

 

The workgroup identified the availability of fueling station infrastructure as another key barrier. To help overcome this barrier, CMPM used checkoff dollars to secure a grant from USDA that will allow us to install additional E85 pumps, flex fuel pumps and underground storage tanks for ethanol across Michigan. International markets: CMPM is also heavily involved in expanding markets for ethanol and DDGS in foreign countries. Primarily, this work takes place through the U.S. Grains Council (USGC), to which CMPM contributes funding. USGC builds the relationships on the groundthat help increase our exports to foreign trading partners.

 

In addition to existing markets, USGC is working in emerging markets to educate them about the benefits of ethanol for cleaning up air pollution. They have also worked with livestock farmers in foreign countries to show them how to properly feed DDGS and the benefits of using this high-protein feed in their operations.

 

 

INDIANAPOLIS — Indiana corn farmers with an interest in buildingstronger markets for their corn while strengthening their leadership skills are encouraged to run for a seat on the state corn checkoff board of directors. Five seats on ICMC’s board of directors are up for election in 2017.

 

Farmers interested in running should submit a petition to the ICMC office before June 30. Download the forms at www.incorn.org/elections or by calling Chris Weldon at the ICMC office at 1-800-735-0195.

 

Forms are also available at all Purdue County Extension offices. Newly elected directors will begin a three-year term Oct. 1, 2017.

 

 

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — Farmers who would like to run for a three-year-term on the Illinois Corn Marketing Board (ICMB) the Illinois Soybean Program Operating Board (ISPOB) or the Illinois Sheep and Wool Marketing Board (ISWMB) can now start circulating nomination petitions.

 

Petitions are available through the commodity organizations and at the Illinois Department of Agriculture in Springfield. The deadline to complete and return these petitions is May 15 for Corn Marketing Board and Soybean Program Operating Board candidates and May 31 for Sheep and Wool Marketing Board candidates.

 

To be eligible, each candidate must be at least 18 years old, have produced and marketed the pertinent commodity, reside in the district to be represented, and have submitted a valid petition by the filing deadline.

 

Elections for the boards will be held on July 6. Ballots can be cast at your local county extension office. Some offices will be closed that day including Edwards, Gallatin, Perry and Jersey (closing at noon). If you live in one of these counties, you may request an absentee ballot.

 

For more information, call the Illinois Department of Agriculture at 217-524-9130 or visit www.agr.state.il.us

 

 

LANSING, Mich. — The Michigan Corn Growers Assoc. (MCGA) elected a new slate of officers to lead the organization at its March board meeting.The 2017 MCGA officers are: President: Jason McConnachie - Deckerville

 

Vice President: Dan Cable - Maybee Secretary/Treasurer: Janna Fritz - Bad Axe Outgoing president Alvin Ferguson will continue to serve as an ex-officio member of the board in the position of chairman