Minnesota farmer leaders head to Las Vegas to see what’s next for the biodiesel industry

Fuel up the jet. Twenty-one farmers, fuel distributors and mechanics from Minnesota are making their way to Las Vegas to attend the National Biodiesel Conference on behalf of the Minnesota Soybean Research & Promotion Council’s (MSR&PC) See For Yourself program.

After a year hiatus due to the pandemic, the NBB See For Yourself program returns in 2022, and industry leaders are ready to get back on track to continue learning about the growing biodiesel industry. With Minnesota having one of the largest impacts in the push for biodiesel, MSR&PC understands the value of engaging with industry leaders about how checkoff dollars are invested. The See For Yourself program gives individuals the ability to see firsthand what MSR&PC is doing to make a difference in Minnesota and how biodiesel makes a huge impact for the profitability of soybean farmers.

Minnesota hits the jackpot for the biodiesel market. Twenty years ago, it became the first state to pass a law requiring minimum blending requirement for biodiesel. In 2005, the state first implemented a 2-percent biodiesel blend in diesel fuel. In 2018, the state moved to a 20-percent biodiesel blend during the summer months and a 5-percent blend during the winter months. Today, biodiesel contributes nearly $1.7 billion toward Minnesota’s economy, adds more than 5,000 jobs and increases demand for soybeans by 13%.