As feedstock growers look to the sky for the future of biofuels, some are looking to the sea. However, outfitting a ship to run on biomass diesel is easier said than done.
“Most folks know, or maybe don’t know, these vessels have enormous diesel engines. They probably have a lifespan of 40 or 50 years, and they’re not something that are easily swapped out. So, you’re not going to see a cargo vessel or a cruise line switch out their diesel locomotion for any other alternative fuel, like BV or compressed natural gas or something like that,” said Kurt Kovarik, vice president of federal affairs with Clean Fuels Alliance America.
Biofuel groups are backing the Renewable Fuel for Ocean Going Vessels Act, as it would allow companies using renewable fuels on their ships to claim credits under the RFS. The Clean Fuels Alliance calls it common sense legislation and says it would remove regulatory roadblocks.
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.
January 19, 2026 11:40 AM
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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.
January 17, 2026 05:00 PM
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Rising rural business confidence supports local ag economies, but taxes and labor shortages remain key constraints.
January 17, 2026 02:00 PM
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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.
January 16, 2026 01:44 PM
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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.
January 16, 2026 01:28 PM
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The Pennsylvania Farm Show continues through Saturday, wrapping up another successful year of celebrating agriculture in the Commonwealth.
January 16, 2026 01:26 PM
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