Nebraska’s corn farmers are suing Aventine for using sugar as feedstock

In Nebraska, the state’s corn growers association is suing Aventine Renewable Energy Holdings to stop the company from using cheap beet sugar as feedstock for ethanol production, saying that the company has broken a contract to use local corn exclusively. The company says it has not broken the terms of the contract and claims no wrongdoing. Using beet sugar should earn Aventine a $4 million profit if the sugar holds out through November.