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Congressman, Randy Feenstra, Says Facilities Like Iowa Corn Processors In Glidden Play Important Role In Future Of Iowa Ag

Pictured: IA 4th District Congressman, Randy Feenstra (left), speaks with ICP staff during his visit to their Glidden location this week.

 

Iowa’s Fourth District Representative, Randy Feenstra, says the future of value-added agriculture can be found in the innovation of companies like Iowa Corn Processors (ICP) in Glidden. Feenstra visited the facility earlier this week as part of his inaugural 39-county tour. Rather than use Iowa’s primary crop as cattle feed or for biofuel production, ICP instead prepares grain for human consumption. Feenstra says this is a somewhat uncommon use for field corn.

According to the Iowa Corn Growers Association, approximately 57 percent of the corn grown in Iowa goes towards ethanol production. About 33 percent is used as livestock feed with most of the remainder wet-milled into products for industrial purposes. With the Biden administration continuing its push for the nation to transition to all-electric vehicles, demand for ethanol is likely to decline in the coming years. Feenstra says facilities like Glidden’s ICP can provide a crucial alternative market for Iowa farmers if demand wanes.

However, Feenstra says the fight for increased biofuels usage is far from over in Washington, D.C. He references a May 27 House Committee on Science, Space and Technology hearing with U.S. Department of Energy Secretary, Jennifer Granholm.

A Department of Energy study published May 24 says the use of corn ethanol between 2005 and 2019 reduced greenhouse gas emissions by over 500 million tons while its carbon intensity lessened by approximately 23 percent. Feenstra says maintaining reliable demand for corn, be it ethanol, feed, or other uses, is critical for Iowa’s farmers and rural communities.

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