FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Septemper 25, 2006

CONTACT: Becky Grisham, Missouri Corn Growers Association, (573) 893-4181

CORN GROWERS CELEBRATE GRAND OPENING OF MISSOURI'S FOURTH ETHANOL PLANT

(LADDONIA, Mo.) -- Members of the Missouri Corn Growers Association (MCGA) joined farmer-investors, community leaders, FFA students, interested citizens as well as national, state and local dignitaries today to celebrate the grand opening of Missouri Ethanol, LLC in Laddonia, Mo.

"This is an exciting day for ethanol in Missouri," comments MCGA CEO Gary Marshall. "The grand opening of Missouri Ethanol is a shining example of what can happen when everyone cooperates for one common good. We applaud the farmer-investors, industry and government officials that worked together to help build an additional market for local corn farmers and an economic generator for the region."

The grand opening of Missouri's newest ethanol plant featured public tours, a fly-over from the Vanguard Squadron (the world's only 100 percent ethanol-powered aerobatic fleet), and a formal program that featured several noted speakers, including U.S. Senators Kit Bond and Jim Talent, U.S. Congressman Kenny Hulshof, Missouri Director of Agriculture Fred Ferrell, Missouri Senate President Pro Tem Michael Gibbons, Missouri State Senator John Cauthorn, Missouri House Speaker Rod Jetton, Broin Companies CEO and President Jeff Broin as well as Marshall representing MCGA.

"Over five years ago, we started working with East Central Ag Products, now Missouri Ethanol," recounts Marshall. "It is extremely gratifying to see this plant come to fruition at a time when our nation's dependence on foreign oil is so apparent. Today's grand opening is a resounding step in the right direction and clearly illustrates the vision and dedication Missouri's value-added agriculture community possesses."

Missouri Ethanol will annually consume approximately 17 million bushels of locally-grown corn to produce 45 million gallons of ethanol and 134,000 tons of distillers dried grains, a high-energy, high-protein livestock and poultry feed. Built through a partnership between East Central Ag Products, North East Missouri Grain, LLC, and Broin Companies, the plant will employ 40 full-time employees with an annual payroll of approximately $1.8 million.

This biorefinery comes online at a time when the ethanol industry's share of the U.S. fuel market is continuing to skyrocket. Ethanol production capacity increased from 200 million gallons per year in 1980 to 4.9 billion gallons annually today. Correspondingly, the number of ethanol plants increased from fewer than 20 to 103 plants-104 including Missouri Ethanol. In addition, there are 43 ethanol refineries and 7 expansions under construction across the nation with a combined annual capacity of nearly 2.9 billion gallons. With today's addition, Missouri ethanol plants now account for the production of approximately 160 million gallons annually of the homegrown, renewable fuel.

"If current market signals continue, we expect as many as four to six additional plants to come online or expand production by 2008, ramping up the state's total ethanol refining capacity to over 480 million gallons…triple the current production," says Marshall. "And what we're most proud of is that all of these existing plants are majority farmer-owned and controlled, moving our producers up the value chain and increasing market demand for Missouri corn."

Missouri Ethanol joins the state's three existing majority farmer-owned ethanol plants in Craig, Macon and Malta Bend. According to recent research, local ethanol plant ownership generates significantly more economic activity for the communities in which the plants are located than plants owned by absentee investors. The study "Economic Impacts on the Farm Community of Cooperative Ownership of Ethanol Production" concludes that, "Since a farmer-owned cooperative ethanol plant is literally a member of the community, the full contribution to the local economy is likely to be as much as 56 percent larger than the impact of an absentee-owned corporate plant." John Urbanchuk of LECG, LLC, conducted the analysis.

The report highlights two important differences that significantly increase the impact of a farmer-owned plant. First, the share of expenditures for operations of a farmer-owned plant derived in the local community is likely to be larger than that of an absentee-owned plant. Secondly, dividends paid to farmer-owners represent additional income that is spent and invested largely in the local community, according to the study.

Today's grand opening of Missouri Ethanol adds another chapter to a tremendous success story for ethanol in Missouri," Marshall said. "We wish them much success in the years to come and greatly appreciate the partnership we have shared and hope to continue years down the road."