Congressman named 2014 Fueling Growth Award Winner from Growth Energy for championing renewable fuel

Washington, D.C. - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) this week was named a 2014 Fueling Growth Award Winner from Growth Energy. The award "is the highest honor given to Congressional leaders who vigorously advocate for ethanol?America's homegrown, renewable fuel," according to the organization.

"America is at a crossroads when it comes to its energy future. We can keep increasing our dependence on foreign countries for our energy needs or we can invest in biofuels to promote energy independence," Braley said. "I'm proud to be a strong advocate for energy independence and Iowa's renewable fuels and will do everything possible to ensure Iowa remains at the center of energy innovation."

Braley has consistently fought against the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed cuts to the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)-- greatly harming Iowa's economy and America's move toward energy independence.

Timeline of Highlights of Rep. Braley's Action to Protect the RFS

·         April-2013: Wrote to leaders of House Committee on Energy and Commerce, discussing the economic benefits of the RFS and its importance in America's energy future and invited them to tour bioenergy facilities in Iowa.

·         May-July-2013: Held a series of four educational briefings on the RFS, whose purpose was to educate members of Congress and their staffs on the RFS and its importance to America's economy and march toward energy independence.

·         June-2013: Introduced Rural Energy Investment Act, which would help develop advanced biofuels, wind and other renewable energy resources and energy efficiency and require the federal government to increase their commitment to purchasing biobased products like cleaners, lubricants, building materials, and other industrial products by 50 percent?and reduce the use of products made with Middle East oil.

·         July-2013: Participated in Congressional committee hearing entitled: "Overview of the Renewable Fuel Standard: Stakeholder Perspectives," which included panelists involved in the production of biofuels and the importance of biofuels to Iowa and the nation's economy. Panel included Iowa native and former National Corn Grower president Pam Johnson.

·         August-2013: Toured the POET Biorefinery in Hanlontown, IA and met with employees to discuss Iowa's leadership on biofuel innovation and the importance of the RFS.

·         November-2013: Sent a letter to Farm Bill conference committee encouraging them to include an Energy Title that supports renewable fuel efforts.

·         November-2013: Toured the BioProcess Algae plant in Shenandoah, Iowa to visit with workers and see how ethanol byproducts, such as carbon dioxide, are being used to promote algae growth for use in advancements in a variety of industries.

·         November-2013: Sent a letter to President Obama regarding the negative economic impact and shortsightedness of lowering the RFS.

·         November-2013: Co-hosted a Congressional briefing with Rep. Steve King, and ISU professor Bruce Babcock as a panelist, in order to inform Congressional offices of the negative economic impact of lowering the RFS.

·         November-2013: Sent a letter to EPA Administrator McCarthy, USDA Secretary Vilsack, and OMB Director Burwell in support of an increase in the biodiesel volume requirement in the RFS.

·         November-2013: Sent a letter to EPA Administrator McCarthy urging the Administrator to review the draft proposal for the RFS volume obligations and support an RFS that will support innovation and economic growth, and reduce our reliance on foreign oil.

·         December-2013: Asked Iowans to share their stories of the positive impact the RFS had had on their lives, careers, and communities?later submitting their stories to the EPA during the open comment period.

·         December-2013: Testified in opposition to the reduction at an EPA field hearing in Washington?stressing the economic benefits of the RFS including the value added markets and innovation that come from increased biofuel production. Hearing included other Iowa elected officials (Branstad, Reynolds, and Grassley).

·         January-2014: Met with EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to convey the RFS's impact on Iowa's economy and America's energy independence.

·         January-2014: Joined veterans with VoteVets.org to deliver a petition with more than 100,000 signatures to the EPA in opposition to changing the RFS.

·         March-2014: Met with senior White House Advisor John Podesta and Dan Utech, the White House's top climate advisor, to discuss Iowa's position as a world leader in innovation in wind and biofuel energy production, and the important role the RFS played in that innovation.

·         May-2014: Met with House Congressional leaders and senior White House advisor John Podesta to emphasize the need to protect the RFS in order to spur domestic economic growth and enhance America's energy independence.

·         June-2014: Wrote to the EPA Inspector General General Elkins requesting that he investigate the process involved in crafting the RFS proposal?after reports that there may have been inappropriate lobbying efforts made to lower the RFS standard.  The letter echoed a request made by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)?a nonpartisan group dedicated to promoting ethics and accountability in government.

·         July-2014: Sponsored an educational briefing with Republican Rep. Lee Terry (NE-02) for Members of Congress and their staffs on the importance of the RFS in lowering gas prices and reducing America's dependence on foreign oil.

This year's corn yields are on track for big yields and the soybean outcome still could change, as revealed in the latest Farm Futures producer survey.

ST. CHARLES, ILL., 7:30 A.M., CDT, (08/05/2014) ? Farmers are gearing up to harvest record corn and soybean crops this fall, if weather holds for the rest of the growing season, according to results of the latest Farm Futures survey.

Bin buster potential is high
Corn production could hit 14.331 billion bushels this fall; nearly 3% more than the bin buster they grew in 2013. Average yields of 171.06 bushels per acre (bpa) appear possible nationwide, also a record, after a summer marked by cool temperatures.

Soybeans also appear on track for records, though output could still be trimmed by late summer dryness - or driven higher if conditions moderate into fall. Farm Futures projects yields of 46.07 bpa on average, for a crop of 3.857 billion bushels.

"Soybean yields are still uncertain, with a lot of variance still possible in how the crop will wind up," said Bryce Knorr, Farm Futures senior market analyst. "Drying conditions headed into August are a concern from eastern Kentucky and Tennessee up through Missouri, Iowa and parts of the Dakotas."

Below average precipitation in the second half of July doesn't appear to be harming corn potential, thanks to mild, if not cool conditions in the Midwest that reduced moisture needs for the crop. "Our survey shows potential for larger corn yields if an extended period of grain fill allows kernels to gain weight," Knorr said.

Commodity price indications
Prices of both crops should be headed lower if yield potential holds. "Cheaper corn should encourage some additional demand, but ending stocks on Aug. 31, 2015 could still rise toward 2 billion bushels. That could send the average cash price for the crop under $3.75, with futures prices already below that level. Farmers should get some downside protection from the new farm program, but it may take production problems in other growing regions to stabilize prices," said Knorr.

Soybean inventories should also grow in the year ahead, starting to approach a burdensome level of 400 million bushels. That could push the average cash price for the crop below $10, even with robust export sales.

"Preseason bookings are off to a record start, and better economic growth in China could boost our exports significantly," Knorr said. "But stocks may still be huge a year from now, especially if growers in Brazil follow through with plans to increase production there."

Farm Futures surveyed more than 1,325 growers by email July 21 to Aug. 4. USDA makes its first estimate of 2014 corn and soybean production based on surveys of farmers and their fields Aug. 12.

As rumors swirl on RFS, Branstad, Reynolds and Northey call for action to protect jobs, increase consumer choice

(DES MOINES) - Gov. Terry Branstad, Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Bill Northey today renewed their call for the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to restore a robust Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and abandon their proposed rule that would cost Iowans jobs, decrease consumer choice at the pump and increase our nation's dependency on foreign oil.

According to an Associated Press report, Sen. Al Fraken (D-Minn.) said after meeting with White House officials that he believes the EPA will only partially restore the RFS volume obligation levels for 2014.

"While we're encouraged to see the potential for movement from the Obama Administration, we believe they need to act right away to fully restore a robust Renewable Fuel Standard. Because of the uncertainty at the federal level, corn is now selling below the cost of production," said Branstad. "State and federal officials have worked in a bipartisan manner on this critically important issue. I'm hopeful the Environmental Protection Agency will act to protect Iowa jobs, rural development and Iowa agriculture."

"Now is not the time to retreat from a robust Renewable Fuel Standard that increases consumer choice, creates jobs, encourages economic growth and reduces our dependency on foreign oil," said Reynolds. "The people of Iowa and America have spoken clearly, protect the RFS and abandon the ill-advised Environmental Protection Agency proposal today."

"A strong RFS is vitally important to ensure Iowa customers have access to domestically produced, clean burning ethanol and biodiesel.  The law is working as intended and it is wrong for the EPA to act against congressional intent.  I hope the Obama administration will listen to the thousands of comments supporting access to renewable fuels and fully restore the RFS," Northey said.

Highlights of Iowa leaders' engagement on the RFS include :

• State and Federal elected officials, including Gov. Branstad and Lt. Governor Reynolds, participated in a "Defend the RFS" event.
• Gov. Branstad traveled to Washington, DC, joining a group of Iowa farmers and biofuels producers, to testify at the Federal government's only public hearing and met with EPA Administrator McCarthy.
• Gov. Branstad, Lt. Gov. Reynolds, Secretary Bill Northey and the entire Iowa congressional delegation sent a joint letter to Federal leaders advocating for the many benefits that flow from the RFS.
• Gov. Terry Branstad and Gov. Mark Dayton (D-Minn.) pen an op-ed in support of a strong Renewable Fuel Standard.
• Gov. Terry Branstad brought together a bipartisan group of six governors to sign on to a letter to President Barack Obama, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy and United States Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack expressing their support for a strong RFS.
• Leaders from across the Midwest joined Gov. Branstad and Lt. Gov. Reynolds for their  "Hearing in Heartland," which was open to all interested citizens; 83 panelists from across the Midwest Region spoke from the heart about the importance of the RFS to their livelihoods and a healthy rural economy while only two individuals expressed opposition to a robust RFS.
• Gov. Branstad, in his Condition of the State address, called on the Iowa Legislature to pass a resolution in support a robust RFS. The Legislature unanimously passed bicameral, bipartisan resolutions calling for the EPA to reverse course and support a strong RFS. View the resolutions: House Resolution 101 | Senate Resolution 101
• State of Iowa leaders submitted formal comments to the EPA with current data and analysis that provides Federal leaders the opportunity and obligation to revise their initial volume obligations upward.