Missouri Corn CEO: Ethanol Market Well-Positioned Exerting 202

Jan 10, 2022

By Will Robinson

The CEO of Missouri Corn Growers says the outlook for U.S. ethanol sales is mostly positive despite recent market setbacks.

Bradley Schad tells Brownfield the EPA’s 2022 Renewable Volume Obligation level will set the tone for a favorable market this year.

“We are energized about that rule, that it is 15 billion gallons; it was supposed to be all the way back in 2015,” he said. “So, that will require some of the oil industry to use some of the RINs (renewable identification numbers) that they have banked over the years.”

Schad said while EPA’s lowering of the 2020 obligation was disappointing, he’s seeing positive momentum for exports, strong production levels and state led support with Governor Parson pushing for a waiver to sell E15 year-round…

“Which, they already do for St. Louis and Kansas City,” he said. “But they would have to make that available statewide.”

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.