Some ethanol plants have stopped production because of the drought.  Dave Loos, technology and business development director for the Illinois Corn Growers Association said the reaction is about more than just a lack of corn for production. He says its market conditions such as corn prices, natural gas prices and the price of ethanol on the market compared with gasoline. Loos says some plants could shut down…



The USDA and Loos say the full extent of the drought’s impact on fuel production won’t be known until harvest. Loos said the recent oil spill in Wisconsin, refinery problems in the Midwest, and a refinery fire in California all led to higher gas prices.