MARC-IV Welcomes Courtney Videchak, Strengthening Technical Capacity for a Low-Carbon Future
New Hire Underscores MARC-IV’s Commitment to Technical Leadership and Low-Carbon Innovation
KEARNEY, Mo. – MARC-IV Consulting (M4) is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Courtney Videchak
as its new Diesel Engine and Low Carbon Fuels Integration Specialist, reinforcing M4’s role as a national technical leader in advancing biodiesel, renewable diesel and other clean fuel technologies.
Weber joins CoverCress, Inc. Board of Directors
Alan Weber was elected to the CoverCress Board as their first independent Director. CoverCress Inc. is an innovative startup company developing a new winter oilseed crop under the CoverCress™ brand. Founded in 2013, the company is converting the native winter annual, field pennycress, using plant breeding to improve yield and maturity combined with advanced gene editing tools to improve fiber and oil composition. CoverCress.com
M4 guest of Missouri Soybean’s Matt Amick on Field to Fleet Podcast
On Episode 11 of Field to Fleet, Matt Amick hosts Steve Howell and Alan Weber to discuss both the history of the biodiesel industry and a look into the future.
Weber Joins Cindy Zimmerman on AgWired.com
Alan Weber recaps sessions from the National Biodiesel Board 2021 Annual Conference with a focus on the expansion of feedstock supplies.
Weber to serve on Agree Ag Data Pilot advisory committee
Alan Weber has been invited to serve on the AGree Ag Data Pilot advisory committee. The goal of the research pilot is to analyze datasets to understand how current and historic implementation of cover crop and no-till practices affected 2019 crop production. This research pilot establishes a framework for collaboration between USDA and land grant universities in order to facilitate research that will assist USDA in carrying out its missions in the areas of conservation and crop risk management.
Alan Weber an advisor to St. Louis based, The Yield Lab
Leveraging his ag production experience, Alan Weber now serves as a Farmer Advisor to the Yield Lab in St. Louis, MO.
https://www.theyieldlab.com/advisors
Richardson appointed to NCWM Board of Directors
M4’s Rebecca Richardson will serve a 5-year term as an at-large member on the NCWM Board of Directors. She is the only active member from industry serving on the Board.
MARC-IV Talks Future of Biofuels
Jim Hibbs of REG (Renewable Energy Group) interviewed MARC-IV’s Steve Howell and Rebecca Richardson at the National Biodiesel Conference in Fort Worth, Texas. Take a look at what the leading experts are saying about the future of biofuels.
MARC-IV talks BIOHEAT at the Atlantic Region Energy Expo (AREE)
Steve Howell from MARC-IV joined Jon Huber from National Oil Heat Research Association (NORA) and Dr. Tom Butcher from the 
Brookhaven Institute. The Atlantic Region Energy Expo (AREE) was held at the Atlantic City Convention Center from April 29-May 1, 2014.
National Association of Farm Broadcasters Talk Food & Fuel
Biodiesel producers had plenty to talk about … and plenty of ears to listen … during the recent National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB) meeting in Kansas City. Makes sense, when you consider how connected the farming and biodiesel industries have been over the years. We caught up with two folks from the National Biodiesel Board at the group’s booth at NAFB: NBB Economist Alan Weber and NBB board member Greg Anderson.
Speaking before the EPA had officially released its lowered Renewable Volume Obligation (RVO) numbers, Alan said the proposed numbers of 1.28 billion gallons for next year, when the industry is approaching 1.7 billion gallons this year, would significantly hurt the 60,000-job biodiesel industry.
“That movement backwards would actually be about 8,000 jobs in the U.S. that we would lose and all that ripple effect throughout the economy,” he said, pointing out that biodiesel is the first commercially available advanced biofuel, getting the job done now.
“There’s a lot of unique alternative fuels out there. We can talk about electricity and hybrid electrics, but when we start thinking about how we move products in the United States, it’s going to be in diesel-powered, class-A over-the-road trucks, powered by a liquid biofuel. And that’s where biodiesel fits in.”
Interview with Alan Weber, NBB economist
Some of the knocks against biodiesel have come from falsehoods spread about how it is hurting livestock producers. Greg, who is a soybean farmer and livestock producer from Nebraska, said just the opposite is true as the soybean meal produced during the crush to get the oil actually enhances the livestock market.
“It works well together. It adds about $12 for every beef carcass, about $1.25 for pork and a few cents for each chicken. It all adds up. We see the value in biodiesel in lowering soybean meal prices, conservatively $25 a ton less. If biodiesel wasn’t there, it’d be more expensive to purchase and higher input costs for those folks to feed,” Greg said.
He also pointed out that while the soybean oil makes up about 19 percent of the bean, right now, because of biodiesel, it’s represents 40 percent of the bean’s value, producing food and fuel.
“We’re not only feeding America, but we’re fueling America.”