Corn shortage idles ethanol plants

Twenty facilities across the nation halt production because of drought

By: Associated Press - Texarkana Gazette

Associated Press This Oct. 4, 2012, file photo shows un-harvested corn in a field near Council Bluffs, Iowa. Corn growers had high hopes going into the 2012 planting season, but the drought that began last spring hit corn crops hard.

ST. LOUIS—The persistent drought is taking a toll on producers of ethanol, with corn becoming so scarce that nearly two dozen ethanol plants have been forced to halt production.

The Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol industry trade group, provided data to The Associated Press sho...

Published: 02/11/2013