The number of ethanol plants across the central and western Corn Belt enrolled in Monsanto’s Processor Preferred® program has nearly doubled over the past three years to meet the rapidly growing demand for alternative fuels.

Participating plants encourage farmers in their local areas to grow and deliver grain from Monsanto’s Processor Preferred High Fermentable Corn (HFC) hybrids, which are available in over 90 different seed brands. These products not only offer high yield potential but also can produce 2 percent to 4 percent more ethanol per bushel than commodity corn.

This season, about 50 ethanol plants are enrolled in the Processor Preferred program compared with 28 in 2004. These dry grind plants are located in Wisconsin, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Illinois and Kentucky.

“The Processor Preferred program represents a win-win situation for all participants,” said Troy Hobbs, Corn Biofuels Strategy Lead for Monsanto. “Farmers realize higher profit potential because of the strong demand for ethanol, while local processing plants can count on the delivery of HFC grain that offers high ethanol yield potential. Ethanol provides real benefits to rural communities and, as a renewal energy source, is also good for our environment. Ultimately, consumers also benefit by gaining more energy independence from foreign oil sources.”

Hobbs noted that in addition to being offered in a wide variety of seed brands and hybrids, Processor Preferred products also include Monsanto’s leading weed and insect control traits, so that farmers can select high-performing products best suited to their operations. Some ethanol plants, he added, pay a premium for Processor Preferred hybrids.

Monsanto’s commitment to the ethanol industry also includes providing analytical equipment for processing plants to measure corn ethanol yield potential, financial support for installation of E85 pumps in rural communities and incentives for farmers who plant Processor Preferred products to purchase General Motors E85 Flex Fuel vehicles.