Monday April 2 Ag News

Except for Iron and Zinc, Application of Micronutrients Often Not Warranted
Charles Wortmann, UNL Extension Nutrient Management Specialist

Plants require seven micronutrients: boron (B), chlorine (Cl), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), and zinc (Zn). In Nebraska, deficiencies of iron and zinc can be common, depending on soil properties, but deficiencies of the other five micronutrients are rare.

One case each of boron deficiency has been reported on alfalfa and sugar beets, both on sandy soils. We do not know of any other confirmed micronutrient deficiencies on agronomic crops in Nebraska. With the exception of iron and zinc, the probability of profitable yield response to micronutrients is very low.

However, toxicity associated with misuse of micronutrients is a risk and has been confirmed in Nebraska.

With relatively high crop prices this year, there has been increased interest in products, including micronutrient fertilizers, that are marketed to promote crop growth. Some dealers have even gone to the extreme of mixing such products with commonly used fertilizers, often without informing producers before the invoice is sent.

Do high yield crops need exceptionally high soil availability of micronutrients? More yield means more nutrient removal. However, high yield crops have the potential to be highly efficient in nutrient uptake and utilization. High yield crops are freed from much stress, such as soil water deficits, that low yield crops encounter. High yield crops typically have healthy and extensive root systems capable of efficient nutrient uptake and healthy plants capable of efficiently converting nutrients and carbohydrates to yield. This high efficiency has been repeatedly shown for high yield corn, especially for nitrogen, but also for phosphorus and potassium. There is no evidence to the contrary for micronutrients.

Zinc
Zinc deficiency is most likely to occur on low organic matter, calcareous soils, but can occur on other soils. Corn is relatively sensitive to zinc deficiency, and the zinc soil test is a reliable indicator of the probability of profitable response to zinc application. When selecting between inorganic (e.g., zinc sulfate) and chelated (Zn EDTA) zinc products, consider the rates and relative costs. Inorganic zinc (not the product) is applied at two to four times the rate of chelated zinc. The chelated form should be considered for deficiency correction only. If soil test zinc is above 0.8 ppm and application is to build or maintain a high level of availability, use an inorganic form.

Iron
Iron deficiency is most common on calcareous soils. Soybean, dry bean, and sorghum are especially sensitive. Planting tolerant crops and varieties is important to management of iron deficiency. Seed dressing with iron EDDHA at 0.2 lb/ac iron has been as effective as applying 50 lb/ac iron as iron sulfate. Use this as a guideline in comparing costs.

Boron
Boron application is much promoted; however, the probability of profitable response is extremely low. Applying boron in the seed furrow can be toxic at germination and emergence. Building soil test boron levels is not feasible as it is easily leached from the soil. Irrigation typically supplies enough boron to meet crop needs.

Manganese
In some parts of the Corn Belt, glyphosate-tolerant soybean often respond to soil and foliar application of manganese. In trials conducted in southeast and south central Nebraska soybean did not respond to manganese application. In Kansas there was a response to both soil- and foliar-applied manganese at one of four locations. A case of very serious manganese toxicity due to misapplication by a dealership has been verified in Nebraska.

Chloride
Crop response to chloride application has occurred in Kansas. There were no yield increases with chloride application in trials conducted with corn in southeast to south central Nebraska and with winter wheat in western Nebraska.

Copper and Molybdenum
There is no evidence of crop response to copper and molybdenum in Nebraska.



Thurston County Implements Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP) for Missouri River Flooding Damages

The 2011 Missouri River Flood caused extensive damage in the eastern portion of Thurston County.  Nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners suffering severe damage may be eligible for assistance under the Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP).  Thurston County has been approved for the EFRP to help landowners rehabilitate NIPF land damaged by the flooding.  An EFRP signup for a period of up to 60 calendar days will be held from April 16, 2012 through June 14, 2012.

NIPF land damaged by the natural disaster must:
·    have existing tree cover (or had tree cover immediately before the disaster and is suitable for growing trees)
·    have damage to natural resources caused by a natural disaster that, if not treated, would impair or endanger the natural resources on the land and would materially affect future use of the land
·    be physically located in a county in which EFRP has been implemented

A producer qualifying for EFRP assistance may receive financial assistance levels not to exceed 75 percent of the eligible cost of restoration measures.  The emergency measures must restore forest health and forest-related resources.  The following types of measures may be eligible:
·    removing debris from NIPF
·    site preparation on NIPF
·    seeding establishing on NIPF
·    restoring conservation structures and other similar installations

To be eligible for assistance, practices must not be started until all of the following are met:
·    an application for financial assistance (FSA-848) has been filed
·    the local FSA County Committee or its representative has conducted an onsite inspection of the damaged area
·    the Agency responsible for technical assistance, such as the State forestry agency has made a needs determination, which may include cubic yards of earthmoving, etc., required for rehabilitation

Producers who have suffered a loss from a natural disaster may contact the Thurston County Farm Service Agency at (402) 846-5655 for more information and to schedule an appointment. 



URBAN YOUTH TO EXPERIENCE LIFE ON THE FARM
Youth, even those from Nebraska, can be three to four generations removed from the family farm.  That is exactly the reason why the members of the Nebraska Agricultural Youth Council (NAYC) have invited urban youth to visit area farms for a day.

The annual NAYC Urban Youth Farm Tour will take place on Tuesday, April 3.  The NAYC will be joined by more than 280 elementary students and their teachers from St. Wenceslaus in Wahoo, St. Vincent in Seward, Raymond Central in Ceresco and Washington Elementary in Fremont, as they visit operating beef, dairy, swine, sheep, and grain farms near Wahoo.

“The Urban Youth Farm Tour is a great way for the younger students to discover agriculture and learn where their food comes from, and who is producing it,” said NAYC Head Counselor Ethan Smith.

“For the Council members, it provides yet another opportunity for us to share our passion for the agriculture industry with a younger generation,” said NAYC Head Counselor Melissa Keyes.

The NAYC consists of 18 college-age men and women who have been selected by the Nebraska Department of Agriculture to promote agriculture to Nebraska youth.  Council members are chosen based on their enthusiasm, interest, and leadership in agriculture.  For the past 41 years, NAYC has promoted agriculture to Nebraska youth, from preschoolers to high school students.



Agriculture Apps for your Mobile Devices
Wayne Ohnesorg, UNL Extension Educator

These days it seems that everyone is coming out with apps for smartphones and tablets. Just recently, CropLife published an article listing its top 10 mobile apps for agriculture. Following is information about some of these apps that you might want to explore for your operation. The rank given by CropLife is indicated in parentheses.

Insect Management App
Aphid Speed Scout is from UNL Extension. CropLife gave it the #1 spot on its list. This app is designed for scouting soybean fields for soybean aphids. Speed scouting is one method for determining whether soybean aphids have reached the treatment threshold of 250 aphids per plant. It relies on the number of "infested" plants rather than estimating the number of aphids on each plant. Plants are considered "infested" if there are 40 or more aphids on the plant. The app can store your scouting history and add reminders to your calendar for treatment or scouting the field again. One of the best parts about this app is that once you download it, you will NOT need Internet access to operate it in the field.

Farm Record Apps
Many of the apps are for keeping farm records. These include Optimizer 2.0 (2), iCropTrak (4), Farm Manager (5), and MyTraps.com (honorable mention). They all take slightly different approaches to handling the information. For example, Optimizer 2.0 is web based and has a free version and a subscription version. With the subscription version, someone will input all of your information for you. Both versions will send you text messages about the status of your crop. On the other hand you have iCropTrak, Farm Manager, and MyTraps.com. These all require you to input your information.

Nutrient Management Apps
Both Nutrient Removal (6) and Precision Earth (7) aid nutrient management. Nutrient Removal gives you a ballpark idea of which nutrients a crop will remove and how much of each nutrient will be removed. Precision Earth keeps track of soil sampling records and requires a GPS chip in your mobile device for it to work properly.

Corn Apps
Two of the apps are strictly for use with corn. At the start of the season, the Corn Planting Calculator (8) is a convenient way to calculate how much seed you will need and the cost per acre for that seed. For those who like to plan the end to the growing season there is YieldCheck (3). By using YieldCheck you can sample 1/1,000th of an acre to estimate your corn yield.



April 15th is the Deadline for Filing a Candidacy Petition For the NSB District Elections

There are three district seats on the Nebraska Soybean Board (NSB) eligible for election this year. Soybean producers in Districts 1, 3 and 6 are invited to run for election to the Nebraska Soybean Board by filing a candidacy petition by the April 15, 2012 deadline. The election of board members will be conducted via direct-mail ballots and candidate information will be provided to all producers residing within the district in which an election is to be held.

NSB Board Members receive no salary but are reimbursed for expenses incurred while carrying out Board business and will serve a three-year term that would begin October 1, 2012.
District seats open are:
District 1: Counties of Antelope, Boyd, Cedar, Holt, Knox, Madison and Pierce.
District 3: Counties of Butler, Colfax, Dodge, Douglas, Sarpy, Saunders and Washington.
District 6: Counties of Fillmore, Jefferson, Gage, Saline, Seward and Thayer.

Candidates for the NSB seats must be:
• A Resident of Nebraska
• 21 years of age or older
• Soybean producer in Nebraska for at least five previous years

Prospective candidates must collect the signatures of 50 soybean producers in their district using an official Nebraska Soybean Board Candidacy Petition and return such petition to the Nebraska Soybean Board office on or before April 15, 2012, to be eligible for placement on the ballot. To obtain a candidacy petition, contact Victor Bohuslavsky at the Nebraska Soybean Board by calling 402-432-5720.

The nine-member Nebraska Soybean Board collects and disburses the Nebraska share of funds generated by the one half of one percent times the net sales price per bushel of soybeans sold. Nebraska soybean checkoff funds are invested in research, education, domestic and foreign markets, including new uses for soybeans and soybean products.



Nebraska’s Top Ten Best Burger Finalists Named

Online voting for the second annual Nebraska’s Best Burger contest has closed resulting in the following top ten nominees (in alphabetical order):
Big Red Sports Bar & Restaurant – Omaha, Lincoln, Norfolk, Fremont
Blanc Burgers & Bottles – Omaha, NE
Fred & Ruby’s Parkway Lanes – Lincoln, NE
Gourmet Butcher Block – Gretna, NE
Greenfield’s – Lincoln, NE
Mookie’s – Minden, NE
Runza Restaurants – Various locations across Nebraska
Sinful Burger Sports Bar & Grill – Bellevue
Stella’s – Bellevue, NE
Tommy Colina’s Kitchen – Omaha, NE

Over 100 Nebraska restaurants received nominations through the online voting system on the Nebraska Beef Council website during the month of March. A panel of anonymous judges will evaluate the top nominated burger at each restaurant based on taste, proper cooking and appearance. The winning restaurant will be named the end of April and will be recognized by the beef industry as part of Nebraska Beef Month in May.

“We had great participation again this year through the online voting” said Adam Wegner, Director of Marketing for the Nebraska Beef Council. “Large or small, each restaurant nominated has shown a strong commitment to serving great tasting, quality beef.”

For more information on the finalists and contest results, visit www.nebeef.org.



Heineman Signs Budget Bills & Supports University Funding

Gov. Dave Heineman today signed the mid-biennium budget bills, LB 968, LB 969 and LB 131, into law. The Governor highlighted his support of funding for University of Nebraska projects throughout the state.  In the following statement, Gov. Heineman outlines the $71 million state investment in three projects important to Nebraska’s future successes in education and job creation:

“Today, I signed into law the budget bills, and I want to emphasize my support for University of Nebraska proposals. When the University first announced its program, the Building a Healthier Nebraska initiative, I appreciated the potential of the project, but I was concerned about the timing, the use of the cash reserve and that my highest priority was tax relief for Nebraskans. I indicated that the use of the cash reserve should be tied to measurable university fundraising milestones.

“Since my initial comments, I have had several conversations with University officials, including President Milliken, and many conversations with members of the Legislature. Additionally, Nebraska’s economy is experiencing steady growth and Nebraska’s unemployment rate is now 4.0%. Furthermore, the Appropriations Committee changes to the University’s proposal, including fund raising milestones, have made this a better initiative. Therefore, I have decided that we need to continue to boldly invest in Nebraska’s future. Last year, we invested $25 million in Innovation Campus and we passed the Talent and Innovation Initiative.

“Now, we need to invest in the UNMC cancer research center because it will create 1,200 high-paying, high-quality jobs and further cancer research. Second, we need to invest in a new Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln because agriculture is the number one industry in our state and this facility is important to the future success of agriculture, especially the livestock industry. Finally, we need to invest in a new nursing and allied health professions college at the University of Nebraska at Kearney. Currently, we have a shortage of nurses and health professionals, particularly in rural Nebraska. The nursing college at Kearney is vital to solving this issue because when our future health care professionals are educated in rural Nebraska, they are more likely to stay in rural Nebraska.

“As Governor, I am focused on two key priorities – education and jobs. In order to continue to be successful, we must continue to invest in these two key priorities. These University projects will help retain and recruit young people and middle class families to our state as we continue our efforts to make Nebraska the best place to live, to work and to raise a family.”

The University of Nebraska Medical Center cancer research tower will receive a $50 million transfer from cash reserve fund in FY 2012-13, provided $60 million is met in private funding. The University of Nebraska-Kearney’s College of Nursing and Allied Health will receive a $15 million transfer from cash reserve fund in FY 2012-13, provided $3 million is met in private funding. The Veterinary Diagnostic Center at University of Nebraska-Lincoln will receive a general fund appropriation of approximately $6.1 million in FY 2012-13, provided $5 million is met in private funding.



Fuel Up to Play 60 in Nebraska

Midwest Dairy hosted 26 Nebraska schools at Memorial Stadium March 15 to celebrate their success with Fuel Up to Play 60. This reward celebration included an opening welcome and inspirational message from Tom Osborne congratulating the schools on their accomplishments and encouraging students to practice a healthy lifestyle and do well in school.

Husker sports dietitian Lindsey Rimmers explained how the Husker athletes aim to perform at their best by following a specific nutrition plan including chocolate milk every day to refuel their muscles. Students participated in breakout sessions, getting up and moving, and listening to four Husker athletes discuss how they eat and stay active.

Adult school program advisors shared their Fuel Up to Play 60 school success stories and made plans for next year. The afternoon included a tour of Memorial stadium, including a walk through the tunnel that leads to the field.

Dairy producers Lowell Mueller and David Crook spoke to the students about milk production and safety on their farm, and how it leads to quality, wholesome milk. The day concluded with Alex Henery, former Husker and current kicker for the Philadelphia Eagles, encouraging the students to get active and choose healthy foods for a bright future. Each school received a trophy and a photograph with Alex, the dairy farmers and our dairy princess. The day was a huge success.

More Research on Dairy and Weight Loss
The conclusion of a study published this month in the Nutrition and Metabolism journal says that a multitude of factors, rather than just calcium, could be the reason why dairy products can impact weight loss. Researchers found that a high-calcium diet containing nonfat dry milk reduced weight gain in obese mice better than high calcium alone. In fact, high calcium by itself didn’t really help, and may have made matters worse. Greg Miller, president of the Dairy Research Institute, which was established by the checkoff, says there are many different factors in dairy products, such as whey protein or branched chain amino acids, which might explain the weight-loss advantages.



Johanns Sponsors Domestic Fuels Acts
Sen Mike Johanns 

As Americans continue to struggle with skyrocketing gas prices, it’s more important than ever that we find real energy solutions to bring down costs. That is why I support a comprehensive energy policy that increases our domestic energy production in places like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR), the Rocky Mountain West and the Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). I also support increasing the supply of energy we receive from nuclear power.

As part of the effort to increase our American energy production, I’m pleased to be an original cosponsor of the Domestic Fuels Act, which would establish uniform standards for tanks and pumps of all fuels, and bring use of E-15 and higher blends of ethanol one step closer to reality. This bill would streamline the process so that higher blends of renewable and traditional fuels can be delivered to consumers in the same EPA-approved equipment.

Making it easier to market all fuels and giving consumers more choices will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and hopefully bring down the cost at the pump. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues in Congress on legislation that will spur development of all our energy sources.




Branstad Seeks Probe on 'Pink Slime'

Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad called Monday for a congressional investigation into how what he called "a smear campaign" against the meat product commonly called "pink slime" got started.

The company that makes the product, South Dakota-based Beef Products Inc., announced last week that it would stop production at plants in Iowa, Kansas and Texas amid public outcry. There are no precise numbers on how prevalent the product known in the industry as lean, finely textured beef is, but past estimates have ranged as high as 70 percent; one industry official estimated it was in at least half of the ground meat and burgers in the United States.

The phrase "pink slime," coined by a federal microbiologist, has appeared in the media at least since a critical 2009 New York Times report. Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has railed against it, and it made headlines after McDonald's and other major chains discontinued their use last year.

But a recent piece by The Daily on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's purchase of meat that included "pink slime" for school lunches touched a nerve with Houston resident Bettina Siegel, whose blog "The Lunch Tray" focuses on kids' food. She started an online petition asking Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to halt use of "pink slime" in school food, and the USDA announced last month that starting in the fall it would give schools the option of choosing ground beef that doesn't contain it.

"We have a smear campaign going on against a product that is healthy and safe," Branstad said at his weekly news conference. "If they get by with this, what other food products are they going to attack next?"

The governor said he suggested an inquiry to U.S. Reps. Steve King and Leonard Boswell and raised the issue with Vilsack, a former Iowa governor. King and Boswell did not immediately return messages left Monday requesting comment.

Lean, finely textured beef is made by heating fatty bits of meat left over from other cuts to about 100 F and spinning it to remove most of the fat. The lean mix is then compressed into blocks for use in ground meat and treated with ammonium hydroxide gas to kill bacteria, such as E. coli and salmonella.

"It's clear this is a safe product," Branstad said. "It's a lean product, it helps reduce obesity and there is a spurious attack being levied against it by some groups. You can suspect who they might be. They are people who do not like meat."

Branstad went on the offense last week, discussing the issue at a news conference and touring a Nebraska processing plant with governors from Kansas and Texas and lieutenant governors from Nebraska and South Dakota.

Beef Products' plants in Iowa and Kansas each produced about 350,000 pounds of lean, finely textured beef per day, while the one in Texas produced about 200,000 pounds a day. The shutdown has affected 650 jobs, the company said.

Reports over weekend showed that Beef Products' top executives and workers have given $820,750 to congressional and presidential candidates over the past decade, with all but $28,400 going to Republicans. Branstad, a Republican, received $150,000 over the past two years from people tied to Beef Products, his spokesman Tim Albrecht said Monday.

Branstad said he's firing off a letter to all the other governors in the nation, urging them to be equally aggressive on the issue. He also called on students at agricultural colleges in Iowa to use their social media skills "to counter what Hollywood and the media elites and the people who are spreading this misinformation are doing."

"It's their future that's being threatened by this," Branstad said.



Branstad, Reynolds: Schools Should Use Beef

Gov. Terry E. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds released a letter they sent to superintendents Friday afternoon, encouraging them to continue choosing lean, finely textured beef in schools as an effort to battle childhood obesity.

The governor and lieutenant governor penned the letter as a response to the USDA's action allowing schools to choose whether they will continue serving this lean product in Iowa schools. Branstad and Reynolds will continue encouraging supermarkets and restaurants to offer this product as a safe, healthy choice for their consumers.

Text of the letter is as follows:

"The United States Department of Agriculture recently gave you a choice in the beef you serve your students.

"I am asking you to continue choosing the safe and healthy lean, finely textured beef.

"As you know, this safe and healthy product has come under fire in recent weeks, as critics dubbed the product with derogatory smears designed to drive people away from consuming this product.

"The safety of this food is unmatched. In more than 20 years, there has not been one sickness or death associated with E. Coli or other bacteria. If lean, finely textured beef is pulled from schools in Iowa, the risks will be greater in using products deemed less safe.

"Perhaps even more important is the battle we are waging against childhood obesity. First Lady Michelle Obama recently joined me at a rally where 10,000 students learned the value of exercise, eating well and taking good care of their bodies. By removing this lean product, schools will be forced to serve a fattier, unhealthier product. My goal is to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation over the next 5 years. We will not get there if we take a step backwards by removing lean, finely textured beef.

"There will always be naysayers who attempt to bully you away from particular products. Make no mistake -- if I, or the USDA, believed for a moment that the facts, science and health safety were against lean, finely textured beef, we would not be advocating for it so strongly. We are asking you to set an example and not cater to the bullying that is occurring over this product.

"If this product ceases to exist in schools, grocery stores and restaurants, it is estimated that 3,000 jobs could be eliminated. This product is proudly raised, fed, processed, packaged, transported and sold by parents of your school's students. By supporting this great Iowa product and serving it in your schools, you will send a strong signal on behalf of those who rely on it for their living.

"It's safe. It's healthy. It's the right thing to do. Thank you for your serious consideration in continuing to serve lean, finely textured beef in your schools."

Both Branstad and Reynolds signed the letter.



Get Your Grillin’ Face On

Once again, in partnership with The American GrillMaster Experience, the Beef Checkoff Program is kicking off a summer-long grilling tour in 2012. The American GrillMaster Experience is a beef barbecue demonstration and educational tour - including beef grilling demonstrations, product samples, recipes and other checkoff-funded resources - designed to educate and inform consumers about grilling techniques.

A total of 30 events are planned on the 2012 tour, covering 28 states, from March 3 - Nov. 4. Twenty-seven of those events will be in parking lots of Club locations, as part of the Sam’s Club® National BBQ Tour, which is the largest Kansas City Barbeque Society sanctioned competition series.

Click here for the event schedule... http://www.beefboard.org/news/files/FY2012/GrillMasterSchedule.pdf.  



USDA Announces Commodity Credit Corporation Lending Rates for April 2012

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) today announced interest rates for April 2012. The CCC borrowing rate-based charge for April 2012 is 0.125 percent, unchanged from 0.125 in March 2012. For 1996 and subsequent crop year commodity and marketing assistance loans, the interest rate for loans disbursed during April 2012 is 1.125 percent, unchanged from 1.125 in March 2012.

In accordance with the 2008 Farm Bill, interest rates for Farm Storage Facility Loans approved for April 2012 are as follows, 1.500 percent with seven-year loan terms, up from 1.375 in March 2012; 2.125 percent with 10-year loan terms, up from 2.000 in March 2012 and; 2.375 percent with 12-year loan terms, up from 2.250 percent in March 2012.



CWT Assists with 1.9 Million Pounds of Butter and Cheese Export Sales

Cooperatives Working Together (CWT) has accepted five requests for export assistance from Dairy Farmers of America, Darigold, Foremost Farms and Maryland & Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative to sell a total of 371 metric tons (0.818 million pounds) of Cheddar and Monterey Jack cheese and 500 metric tons (1.102 million pounds) of butter to customers in Asia and the Middle East. The product will be delivered April through July 2012.

In 2012, CWT has assisted member cooperatives in making export sales of Cheddar, Monterey Jack and Gouda cheese totaling 37.8 million pounds and butter totaling 33.3 million pounds to 19 countries on four continents. On a butterfat basis, the milk equivalent of these exports is 1.076 billion pounds. That is equivalent to the annual milk production of 51,000 cows.

Assisting CWT members through the Export Assistance program positively impacts producer milk prices in the short-term by reducing inventories that overhang the market and depress cheese and butter prices. In the long-term, CWT’s Export Assistance program helps member cooperatives gain and maintain market share, thus expanding the demand for U.S. dairy products and the farm milk that produces them.

CWT will pay export bonuses to the bidders only when delivery of the product is verified by the submission of the required documentation.



Ethanol Industry Applauds EPA Approvals

Today, for the first time, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved E15 (gasoline with 15 percent ethanol) as a registered fuel. This is one step closer to seeing low-cost, renewable E15 sold into the American fuels marketplace.

This is the most significant development in a three year effort to approve sale of the mid-level ethanol blend, and it follows EPA's approval of health effects testing of the fuel in February.

"Our nation needs E15 to reduce our dependence on foreign oil - it will keep gas prices down at the pump and help to end the extreme fluctuations in gas prices caused by our reliance on fuel from unstable parts of the world," said Tom Buis, CEO of Growth Energy. "Today's announcement from EPA finally puts that goal within reach."

"This announcement strengthens the ethanol industry's efforts to innovate and continue to deliver domestically-produced and affordable alternatives to foreign oil," said Buis. "With ethanol selling an average of a dollar a gallon cheaper than gasoline and $4 a gallon gasoline on the horizon, we'd encourage all Americans to ask their local filling station how soon they will see more-affordable E15."

"American consumers may soon have some much deserved relief at the pump.  Today's EPA decision clears yet another major hurdle in bringing E15 to the marketplace.  States in the Midwest have begun to address their regulatory requirements and perhaps as early as summer we could see E15 at fuel stations in the Heartland of America.  The future for consumers, ethanol producers and this country has just gotten a little brighter, a little stronger," said Bob Dinneen, President and CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association.