In just over two
decades, U.S. ethanol production capacity has risen from virtually
zero to over 2 billion gallons a year. Dry mill processing plants
produce approximately 55% of the nation’s ethanol today; the rest is
processed in wet mill facilities.
Increased demand has led to several major expansions of existing
ethanol production facilities in the last few years. Growth in
America's ethanol industry has also been as a result of many
farmer-owned organizations building ethanol plants. Since all of the
new plants are dry mill facilities, the volume of distillers grains, a
co-product of ethanol production, is also increasing.
When ethanol is
produced from corn only the starch is used. A variety of highly
valuable feed co-products are produced from the remaining protein,
fiber, vitamins and minerals in dry mill corn processing.
One bushel of corn produces 18 pounds (2.72 gallons) of ethanol and
approximately 17 pounds of distillers grains in various forms:
*Distillers Dried
Solubles (DDS)
*Distillers Dried Grains (DDG)
*Condensed Distillers Solubles (CDS)
*Distillers Wet Grains (DWG)
*Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles (DDGS)
