Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[How this summer's drought might affect your car's gasoline]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/14/how-this-summers-drought-might-affect-your-cars-gasoline/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/14/how-this-summers-drought-might-affect-your-cars-gasoline/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/11/14/how-this-summers-drought-might-affect-your-cars-gasoline/#commentsFiled under: ,

Corn farm

In 2007, then-president George Bush signed a law that required increased production of ethanol. Swelling ethanol demand for fuel combined with this past summer's drought has driven the price of corn (used to make ethanol) up. In fact, prices have swollen some 400 percent in the last seven years. That's comforting for corn growers, who are dealing with much smaller yields than normal. But it's not comforting for livestock producers, poultry farmers and grocery shoppers.

Under the law, the amount of ethanol used in gasoline is supposed to increase to 15.2 billion gallons this year, up from five billion in 2007. The Environmental Protection Agency can decide to delay the increase, however, and it has until Tuesday to consider the circumstances. According to The Detroit News, governors from eight states have asked the EPA to waive the ethanol requirements to prevent corn prices from going any higher. They join almost 200 members of Congress, top United Nations officials, two dozen scientists and scores of poultry farmers in opposing the boost in ethanol production. Governors of poultry-producing states Maryland and Delaware say without a waiver, thousands of jobs could be lost.

On the other side are corn-producing states and the farmers who live there. They argue a waiver would harm their agricultural income and, in turn, harm their state economies.

If a waiver is granted, gas formulations might not be affected at all. E10 gasoline (10-percent ethanol) would still be sold at fuel stations across the nation, but an increase in ethanol production would be delayed. If a waiver is not granted, corn growers will see a demand in their product. And since all that new ethanol has to go somewhere, drivers may see more pumps serving E20 E15 gasoline (20 15-percent ethanol) which cannot be used in pre-2001 vehicles.

How this summer's drought might affect your car's gasoline originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>corncorn pricese10e15e20e20 gasolineenvironmental protection agencyepaethanolfarmingfuel pricesgas pricesgasolineWed, 14 Nov 2012 18:30:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20380041/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/11/14/how-this-summers-drought-might-affect-your-cars-gasoline/20380041/article-detail.xml 20380041 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/drought-ethanol-gasoline-628_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/11/drought-ethanol-gasoline-628.jpg <![CDATA[GMO crops so tough that farmers are turning to Kevlar tractor tires]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/02/gmo-crops-so-tough-that-farmers-are-turning-to-kevlar-tractor-ti/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/02/gmo-crops-so-tough-that-farmers-are-turning-to-kevlar-tractor-ti/http://www.autoblog.com/2012/08/02/gmo-crops-so-tough-that-farmers-are-turning-to-kevlar-tractor-ti/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Farmers riding tractor in cornfield

Farming is one of the most difficult ways to earn a living. You'd think that with all the innovations mankind has developed over the centuries, we could make farmers' lives easier. But as it turns out, sometimes miracles of modern science make things tougher. Literally.

Take genetically modified organisms (GMO) for instance. For now, let's ignore the controversy over its safety, usefulness and ethical issues. The main issue for those guys actually growing and harvesting the stuff is much more practical. As it turns out, corn modified to stand tall and tough against pests is also wreaking havoc on tractor tires.

Mark Newhall of Farm Show Magazine tells American Public Media's Marketplace that after the stalks are cut during harvest, the leftover stubs are like "having a field of little spears."

So instead of tractor tires lasting the usual five to six years, they're getting chewed up after just one or two years. One tractor tire can cost thousands of dollars, and some tractors have as many as eight tires.

How does a modern farmer fight back against a genetically modified enemy intent on destroying the very thing his business rides on? The same way our military defends against its enemies: Kevlar. While these augmented tractor tires can't be cheap, they should at least outlast their thin-skinned counterparts.

The use of Kevlar in tires might seem extravagant, but in fact it's very appropriate. The material was invented in 1964 by DuPont during its search for a strong, lightweight material for, you guessed it, tires.

Take a listen to Marketplace's story with the player below.

GMO crops so tough that farmers are turning to Kevlar tractor tires originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cornfarm equipmentfarminggenetically modifiedgmokevlarkevlar+tires+gmokevlar+tractor+tireskevlartiresgmokevlartractortiresmarketplacenprtractortractor tiresThu, 02 Aug 2012 18:15:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20292068/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2012/08/02/gmo-crops-so-tough-that-farmers-are-turning-to-kevlar-tractor-ti/20292068/article-detail.xml 20292068 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/tractor-in-corn-field-opt_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2012/08/tractor-in-corn-field-opt.jpg <![CDATA[30-year-old corn ethanol subsidy nixed by Washington]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/27/30-year-old-corn-ethanol-subsidy-nixed-by-washington/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/27/30-year-old-corn-ethanol-subsidy-nixed-by-washington/http://www.autoblog.com/2011/12/27/30-year-old-corn-ethanol-subsidy-nixed-by-washington/#commentsFiled under: ,



Corn-based ethanol is a controversial fuel in its own right, and a longstanding federal subsidy for blending the biofuel with gasoline has been an additional source of consternation over the last 30 years. According to The Detroit News, Congress has wrapped up its work for 2011 without extending the incentive, a move that's drawn praise from environmental groups and taxpayer advocates.

Hand-in-hand with the discontinuation of the tax subsidy, an import tariff on ethanol imported from Brazil has also been cancelled, which opens the tap for a source of ethanol that doesn't have the reputation of being a dirty diversion of a food crop that corn-based ethanol carries. That means that while the blenders' tax credit is no more, the 2007 legislation calling for a significant increase in the use of renewable fuels is likely not going anywhere if the abundant ethanol produced from Brazil's sugarcane economy can be used instead.

The corn lobby is naturally not thrilled with the news, but it has put on a brave face. Tom Buis of Growth Energy, a group that supports and fosters the cause of domestic ethanol production, tells the DetNews, "without the tax credit, the ethanol industry will survive; it will continue to reduce our dependence on foreign oil, create jobs, and strengthen our economy." That statement isn't exactly at odds with the actions of Congress, since there's now about $6 billion per year that could be plowed into further renewable fuel research and development that would ensure corn ethanol is indeed a stepping stone fuel, as it was sold in the first place.

30-year-old corn ethanol subsidy nixed by Washington originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Dec 2011 11:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelblenders subsidybrazilian ethanolcongresscorncorn ethanolcorn ethanol subsidycorn subsidyethanolTue, 27 Dec 2011 11:31:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20135554/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2011/12/27/30-year-old-corn-ethanol-subsidy-nixed-by-washington/20135554/article-detail.xml 20135554 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/snow-covered-corn-with-birds_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2011/12/snow-covered-corn-with-birds.jpg <![CDATA[PSA: Don't use E85 if your vehicle wasn't designed for it]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/23/psa-dont-use-e85-if-your-vehicle-wasnt-designed-for-it/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/23/psa-dont-use-e85-if-your-vehicle-wasnt-designed-for-it/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/23/psa-dont-use-e85-if-your-vehicle-wasnt-designed-for-it/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The likelihood of accidentally using E85 in a vehicle designed only to run on straight gasoline is pretty damn small, considering the difficulty of even intentionally encountering an E85 pump. Regardless, a group of automakers and petroleum industry officials are reminding consumers that fuels containing blends of ethanol over 10% (E10) are only for "flex-fuel" vehicles. Additionally, consumers are being warned that modifying standard vehicles to use higher blends of ethanol is not recommended. The corrosive effects of ethanol can cause damage to standard fuel system over time, and making the necessary changes to the engine management system calibration will almost certainly run afoul of the EPA and its myriad regulations concerning emissions compliance.

For those wondering if your vehicle is certified to run on E85, check the owner's manual, or go to the National Ethanol Vehicle Coalition's list of flex-fuel vehicles.

[Source: AP]

PSA: Don't use E85 if your vehicle wasn't designed for it originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 May 2006 18:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>biofuelbiomasscorne85emissionsEPAethanolflex fuelobvious things not to doTue, 23 May 2006 18:04:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/620953/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/05/23/psa-dont-use-e85-if-your-vehicle-wasnt-designed-for-it/620953/article-detail.xml 620953 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/e85-(resized-250)_thumbnail.jpg http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/e85-(resized-250).JPG <![CDATA[Corn business booming thanks to need for ethanol fuel]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/corn-business-booming-thanks-to-need-for-ethanol-fuel/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/corn-business-booming-thanks-to-need-for-ethanol-fuel/http://www.autoblog.com/2006/05/16/corn-business-booming-thanks-to-need-for-ethanol-fuel/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Corn production is expected to go up 34 percent to 2.15 billion bushels, thanks to an increase in interest in ethanol, a fuel based on the plant. The bad news is that as demand has gone up, so has the crop's price, from $2.25-$2.65 a bushel, up from $1.95 to $2.05 last year. The amount of corn feeding the ethanol craze is 20 percent, up from just 5 percent a few years ago. Likewise, the demand for soybeans has gone up as well, thanks to an increased interest in soybean-based diesel.

[Source: BusinessWeek]

Corn business booming thanks to need for ethanol fuel originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 16 May 2006 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alternative fuelsAlternativeFuelsbiodieselcorne85ethanolfuelTue, 16 May 2006 18:05:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/618336/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2006/05/16/corn-business-booming-thanks-to-need-for-ethanol-fuel/618336/article-detail.xml 618336 http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/corn_thumbnail.gif http://www.autoblog.com/media/2006/05/corn.gif -1 2