Farm Broadcasters Hear from RFA on Planting Intentions

Renewable Fuels Association spokesperson Matt Hartwig was interviewed this week for the National Association of Farm Broadcasting news service about the USDA Prospective Planting report and what it means for ethanol production.

Matt said the report, which forecasts 86 million acres of corn, shows that progress being made toward the goal of producing 15-billion gallons of corn ethanol by the year 2015.

“Most look at a scenario in the year 2015 where the American farmer will produce 15 billion bushels of corn,” Matt said. If the ethanol industry can produce three gallons of ethanol per bushel, that will mean using about one third of that crop to make 15 billion gallons of ethanol.

This year, if farmers only plant the 86 million acres forecast, production should be over 12 billion bushels. “And with carry-in of about 1.5, you’re looking at 13 to 13.75,” Matt says.