Ag industry can benefit by bringing more certainty to tax policy and credits, said RFA’s Geoff Cooper

Renewable fuel groups are bending the ear of lawmakers, urging them to take action on IRA tax credits that expired at the end of last year.

The RFA’s Geoff Cooper says it could be a while before the industry gets solid answers around 45Z.

”...That’s why, in the meantime, RFA believes Congress should strongly consider reinstating the suite of biofuel tax incentives that expired in December, including the second generation biofuel producer tax credit.”

Cooper says he is optimistic for the year ahead, adding the ethanol industry added $50 billion to the GDP last year, with more than $25 billion in income.

Related Stories
New Resource Makes It Easier for People to Access Data on Rural Development funded Projects in Rural Communities
U.S. agriculture entered the week with mixed signals as weather, logistics, and markets shaped early-year decisions. Here is a regional breakdown of domestic crop and livestock production for the week of Monday, Jan. 19, 2026.
RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey speaks with Texas’s Sen. Ted Cruz and Rep. Vicente Gonzalez about USMCA renegotiation and its impact on U.S.–Mexico agriculture trade.
Rising rural business confidence supports local ag economies, but taxes and labor shortages remain key constraints.
CoBank Knowledge Exchange’s Jeff Johnston shares the group’s positive perspective on expanding data centers into rural areas and weighs the risks and rewards for those communities.
Texas Commissioner of Agriculture Sid Miller joined us to discuss data center expansion, farmland preservation, rural economic impacts, and imminent cattle biosecurity concerns affecting agriculture today.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Frigid winter weather and rapid temperature swings have cattle markets watching closely for livestock stress, as analysts say fluctuations pose the greatest risk.
A new study found that retaining the EPA’s half-RIN credit protects soybean demand, farm income, and crushing-sector strength while preserving biofuel market flexibility.
The U.S. has a bountiful corn supply, but markets are waiting for the January WASDE Report, which will include updated yield estimates.
Rising federal debt is increasing pressure on Washington to limit spending, which could tighten future funding and delivery for agricultural programs.
“I’m not sure where this bridge goes,” trader Brady Huck with Advanced Trading told RFD-TV News earlier this week.