Strengthening Agriculture With the E30 Challenge

“Ultimately we want to change consumer preference and behavior. We want folks to be comfortable filling up whatever vehicle with E30 and driving away and not even thinking about it,” explains Seurer, who hopes other Midwestern communities will duplicate this challenge and see the positive results for themselves.

Seurer’s message resonated with convention-goer and longtime ethanol advocate, Orrie Swayze. “His message reminds me of an old-time Revival-like the old evangelists! We all need to do more to get the word out. Ethanol has been a part of South Dakota’s agriculture industry for a long time, but it is still a foreign idea among drivers.”

Listening to Swayze’s comments, Davison County farmer, Delmer Mueller chimed in. “If he’s giving an ethanol sermon, he is preaching to the choir. But, it is a good message for us to share with others. When I am at a gas station and I see people using E10, I suggest they try E30.”

Salem farmer Jim Wahle agrees. “I’m all for pushing E30 and ethanol use. I am invested in four ethanol plants,” explains Wahle, who is also the former board president of NuGen Energy.

During his message, Seurer thanked SDFU for their continued support of South Dakota’s ethanol industry and the E30 Challenge. “South Dakota Farmers Union has been a great friend to us.”

His comments were echoed by Glacial Lakes Energy board member, Dale Christensen. “Farmers Union has been a leader for us, helping us gain traction throughout the energy industry. They are also a leader in the push for higher octane fuels like E30.”

Read more about details of the E30 Challenge on page 4 of the September 2018 Union Farmer. 

Today, corn producers out-yield demand. What can be done? “Use more ethanol,” says Jim Seurer, CEO of Glacial Lakes Energy, LLC, during the 2018 State Convention presentation to SDFU members.