Officials with the 50 million gallon Corn Plus ethanol plant in Winnebago, Minnesota decided this week to shut down their facility next week. According to one of the plant’s board members, most employees will be laid off. Minnesota Corn Grower’s Association President Brian Thalmann says the shutdown is another indication of the economic pressure facing agriculture in Minnesota and across the country.
A Corn Plus ethanol board member says production has been going well at their facility but the lack of a viable export market has stalled profit. Thalmann says ethanol exports have been down for the past two years after several positive years. He also says the large number of small refinery waivers granted by the EPA has had an impact.
Thalmann says both corn and ethanol officials are working with Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue to see if there’s some way to increase the number of stations offering E-15.
Ethanol and Corn industry officials are awaiting an expected announcement from President Trump on how he intends to mitigate the small refinery waiver problem.
