Flood damage totals continue to climb in Nebraska and several sectors of agriculture have been casualties, including the ethanol industry. This week Growth Energy Asked the Department of Transportation to provide assistance to help expedite rail delivery of biofuels. Pam Miller with Siouxland Ethanol in Jackson, Nebraska says the did not sustain rail line damage, but routes are down in other areas of the state which has slowed shipping.

She says they are transporting some ethanol and co-product by truck and have switched to producing a modified wet product.

Meanwhile, reports indicated nationally ethanol capacity was down from 13 to 17-percent due to flooding. However, Miller thinks that number is inflated as many plants are doing routine maintenance and few were directly hit by flood waters.

Yesterday’s EIA Report showed weekly ethanol production in the U.S. at 287 million gallons, which is down 3-percent from the previous week and 6.2-percent from last year.