Judging reports from six Minnesota ethanol plants this quarter, the industry needs something to turn up the gas. The Star Tribune reports that of five of the six companies that reported earnings didn't turn a profit.

The 28th International Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo, the largest trade show for the country's ethanol producers, is taking place at the Minneapolis Convention Center this week. On Tuesday, the convention highlighted how the ethanol industry is faring since the expiration of a federal tax credit.

A new report by BMO Capital Markets paints a picture of Minnesota's economy as slowly but surely recovering. The unemployment rate of less than six percent is helped by fresh hiring in the construction industry and an easing of job cuts among government employees. Housing is still considered a weak spot, but at least prices are recovering and there are signs that more building is on the horizon.

Advanced BioEnergy, based in Bloomington, Minn., says it plans to sell its largest ethanol plant in southeast Nebraska to Flint Hills Resources, the Pioneer Press reports. The Kansas-based refiner has agreed to pay more than $170 million. Advanced BioEnergy CEO Rich Peterson told the newspaper he believes it is the highest sale price for a U.S. ethanol plant in four years.

The Central Minnesota Ethanol Co-Op has suspended operations until they can buy corn or sell ethanol at a better price, the St. Cloud Times reports. The Little Falls plant is using the downtime to complete maintenance and other projects, but most of the 30 employees are out of work.

In less than a decade, the fuel has gone from consuming 10 percent to 40 percent of the country's total grain crop. And agriculture experts tell Reuters that's likely a major driver behind rising corn prices, land prices and farm income.