Biodiesel runs into quality control problems
Whether biodiesel is to soybeans what ethanol has become for corn may depend on how biodiesel producers respond to quality control problems that were irritating last winter and may produce an explosive backlash as cold weather returns this month. As the St. Paul, MN Pioneer-Press reports "Wide Spread Biodiesel Problems Feared."
Biodiesel is being used in some rock salt mines to minimize diesel particulate to meet new MSHA regulations. Fortunately, underground operating conditions are immune to the challenges of surface winter weather.
So it remains to be seen whether soybean producers will have this expanded market -- and for us consumers, whether biodiesel competition will do for our tofu prices what ethanol did to increase corn demand and hike beef prices.
