Have you commented to EPA about RFS-2

Here's my letter to any editor who will publish my concerns with RFS-2. Anyone is welcome to use the whole letter or parts--but whatever, be sure and send a comment.

Dear Editor

The future of the U.S. soy biodiesel and corn ethanol industry is at stake. I am encouraging all farmers, neighbors, and fans of renewable fuels to submit comments to the EPA regarding the proposed rule on the RFS-2 implementation. Currently it is significantly flawed and will effectively stop any future production of U.S. soy biodiesel and corn ethanol.

A loss of the domestic biodiesel and corn ethanol market will significantly add more dependence on imported oil and decrease prices paid to U.S. farmers for their soybeans and corn, which will also negatively impact the economies of rural communities.

EPA’s logic includes a faulty measure of the indirect land use; onerous feedstock certification requirements; a major error pertaining to the direct emission calculations for nitrogen in soybean production; lack of accounting for glycerin as a co-product of biodiesel; inaccurate assessment of the energy balance of biodiesel; and lack of accounting for improved agriculture yields and efficiency.

Unless the flaws in EPA’s proposed rule are corrected, soy-based biodiesel and corn ethanol effectively will be excluded from meeting the renewable energy targets established under RFS-2. Nebraska farmers would lose a source of demand for soybeans and corn, jobs would be lost, and our nation would NOT decrease its dependence on imported oil.

That’s why I am asking farmers and renewable fuel fans to contact EPA as well.

There are two online forms to submit comments with the click of a button. Comments must be submitted before the Sept. 25 deadline. Go to:

www.soygrowers.com/policy/RFS2.htm.

or

http://capwiz.com/ncga/issues/alert/

Sincerely,

Debbie Borg

Nebraska farmer

Day 4 in India

Just a few pictures from today.  We got to do our early planned appointments but had to cancel the rest because the country's CM (chief minister) was killed in a helicopter crash--the whole city shut down. 

But we did make it to a Anganwadi (training center) where 25 women came to learn how to use soya in their meals. Each of these women feed about 15 pregnant/lactating mothers and 35 children once a day. There are about 50 of these training centers in this state. For every 1,000 people there is one trained women to provide this feeding program and other basic education for a total of 70,000 feeding centers.


We are headed back to Delhi in the morning and plan to visit the embassy there.

A short note of today's events  We were warmly Biosmart Soy Training Center-where the owner has a facility to train anyone interested how to use and make soy products.

Then we headed to ALEAP - which is a center for women entrepreneurs--which offers amazing opportunity for women wanting to start a business.  

What's interesting is that we are only traveling maybe 15 - 20 miles but it takes a least an hour if traffic is good.

We also toured a small market that was offering only healthy food - which includes many soy products.  We also visited a large supermarket (kinda like our Walmart--but MUCH smaller and no photos were allowed).

The day concluded with a dinner meeting with the Confederation of Women Entrepreneurs.  This group intends to start a cluster (small business) involving some sort of soya product.

Another day full of new sights.   We are in Hyderabad, which I think is a much cleaner city than New Delhi.  As someone said they are more disciplined in their driving than New Delhi drivers (they tend to stay in their lanes a little more often)  Their roads are in much better shape also.  The building going on here is HUGE.

So much more to say - but must get to bed as we have another big day tomorrow.

Here's a shot leaving the hotel-it is very beautiful in the hotel and they are very kind and willing to carry whatever.

Another 14 hour day and more amazing experiences.  We started the day at a college-government run about 2000 students.  No air condition and in many places the boys are on one side and girls on the other.  In India, kids finish high school at age 16 and a bachelor degree is usually done in 3 years, a Phd in 5 years.  They showed great interest in learning about soy and the many health benefits.

 

Also a few pics of the view along the way.