U.S. Ethanol Production in Fewer Hands

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By Annie Shattuck

What was once an industry characterized by farmer co-ops and locally owned refineries, the U.S. ethanol industry is rapidly becoming more corporate. In the past two years, farmers' share of total ethanol production capacity has fallen from 34% to approximately 16%. The top four ethanol producers in the country now own 32.7% of the nation's total production capacity. Out of 20 new plants planned or under construction, none are locally or farmer owned.