In his final days as Ag Secretary, Tom Vilsack has released an interim rule for biofuel feedstocks. The industry has been waiting for the move, and Vilsack says it will put farmers back in the driver’s seat.
One of the most notable changes surrounds the 40-B credit for sustainable jet fuel. USDA has lifted the bundling requirement, something the industry has been asking for. In previous versions, only corn ethanol qualified for the tax credit if multiple scenarios were met. The new rule would also allow sorghum as a feedstock option. Vilsack says these changes should set the industry up on a proper path.
“Agriculture now is in a position to say that if we use corn in this county and we use it in a no-till circumstance, we use the properly timed fertilizer. This is the benefit to the ethanol production facility that we’ll be producing. They, in turn, can document to whoever’s purchasing saf that, in fact, it results in a CI score that is more than 50% efficient relative to current jet fuel.”
This interim rule is open for discussion, and USDA will take public comment for the next 60 days.
Alissa White with American Farmland Trust joined us to provide insight into climate resilience efforts and strategies to help farmers manage weather-related risks.
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University of Nebraska President Dr. Jeffrey Gold joined us to share practical health and safety guidance for managing respiratory and skin health during the winter season.
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Roger McEowen with the Washburn University School of Law joined us to provide legal analysis on key cases shaping the agricultural landscape heading into the year ahead.
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NASDA declared 2026 the International Year of the Woman Farmer. President Amanda Beal joins us to share NASDA’s new hub, which highlights the impact of women in agriculture worldwide.
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The American Farm Bureau Federation’s 2026 agenda centers on labor stability, biosecurity, and economic resilience for family farms. Expanded DMC coverage improves risk protection for dairy operations facing tighter margins.
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Agronomy experts explain why standing crop residue protects soil and reduces costs for crop growers, while shredding often yields little benefit at higher costs.
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