News
Encouraging farmers to fuel up with their crop at the pump
The Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association is encouraging farmers to fuel up with their crop at the pump.
Speaking with Brownfield at Farm Science Review, OCWGA Executive Director Tadd Nicholson says the association is encouraging farmers to use Unleaded 88.
“We’re doing a whole lot of talking about ethanol as you might expect from us. Ethanol uses roughly one third of the U.S. corn crop. So, we really want to make sure everybody including farmers are educated specifically on Unleaded 88. It’s a product that has 15 percent ethanol and is higher octane and lower cost and we get to use 50 percent more corn when somebody fills up with it. We want to make sure every farmer that passes by a station that has Unleaded 88 uses that blue handle.”
OCWGA Vice President John Settlemyre says the fuel provides environmental benefits.
“Ethanol, or C2H6O, has a carbon intensity that’s less than other gasoline we’re using,” he says. “So, if we’re trying to reduce our greenhouse gas production and improve our environment, use a fuel that has less carbon. It’s a very simple equation and ethanol makes a lot of sense for us in the long term.
Nicholson says there is a tool that can help people find the fuel.
“Gas Buddy is an app that does a great job of tracking where people can fill up on E85 and Unleaded 88,” he says. “If you’re curious or you haven’t seen it around and you want to know where the closest pump is, download the free app.”
Unleaded 88 has been approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for use in all vehicles that are newer than 2001.
“The newer vehicles perform better on high octane fuels,” Settlemyre says. “They blend ethanol, a higher-octane fuel, to improve the octane rating and to improve the environmental impact. Ethanol is a very good tank mix to use with gasoline.”
Farm Science Review attendees will find a pump and other educational tools in the Ohio Corn and Wheat Growers Association booth on the corner of Corn and Tractor.
Click here for more information.
Audio: Tadd Nicholson and John Settlemyre
Add Comment