Ag Sec. Tom Vilsack releases an interim rule for biofuel feedstocks

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.

Related Stories
Prepare for acute UAN risk and a brief urea shock; maintain steady ammonia and phosphate plans, and monitor potash basis on the coasts.
“A government shutdown impacts all Americans and has serious consequences, including for farmers. It just adds additional uncertainty, disrupts critical services.”
Consumer demand for regional food systems is strong, but the challenge lies in scaling production and infrastructure to meet that growing need.
Dave Kestel, a farmer from Will County and member of the Illinois Farm Bureau, joins us to share a boots-on-the-ground update on the 2025 corn harvest.
American Coalition for Ethanol’s Ron Lamberty shares the significance of California’s approval, opening up the country’s largest gasoline market to a cleaner-burning, often lower-cost fuel option.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated this week that the government will intervene to help, following China’s withdrawal from the U.S. soybean market. One trader says the industry will remain in a holding pattern until Tuesday.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Tara Vander Dussen, fifth-generation dairy farmer, environmental scientist, and co-host of Discover Ag, joined RFD-TV to talk about her work in agriculture and her passion for sharing the story of dairy.
Dr. Jeffrey Gold, President of the University of Nebraska, joined RFD-TV to discuss how seasonal stress and mental health concerns can make it more challenging to get a restful night’s sleep
Dr. Ashley Johnson, with the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), joins us to share the sector’s perspective on new FDA initiatives targeting ultra-processed foods.
Among many longstanding traditions at the FFA Convention & Expo is the National FFA Band.
Pork producers are making Veterans Day a little brighter for Iowa’s military families.
While there has been an increase in outbreaks of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) this migration season, the CDC says the public health risk is low.