Abstract: Novel strains of yeast and methods for improved ethanol production utilizing the yeast strains are disclosed. In particular, the novel yeast strains Saccharomyces cerevisae YE1358 and YE1615 provide for increased fermentation temperature tolerance, as well as tolerance to increased levels of glucose and ethanol, and thereby provide increased ethanol production as compared to ethanol industry standard strains of Saccharomyces cerevisae. The novel yeast strains also generate decreased residual glucose than the ethanol industry standard yeasts.

Abstract: A method for providing insurance includes providing a bundle of products and services to a crop producer, the bundle of products and services comprising seed products and insurance. The insurance provides a benefit to the crop producer if grain grown from the seed products does not meet or exceed a crop quality threshold. The method further includes determining if crop grown from the seed products meets or exceeds the crop quality threshold and if the crop does not meet or exceed the crop quality threshold, providing the benefit to the crop producer according to the insurance. The benefit may be a cash benefit or a seed credit. The crop quality may be related to a particular end use for the grain such as ethanol production, food production, or use as a livestock feed.