Year-round sales of E-15 are another major topic on Capitol Hill, which, according to Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE), is one issue up for debate this session with significant bipartisan support.
“We came so close at the end of last year because we had that government funding bill going through that didn’t ultimately work out,” explained Rep. Smith. We’re looking for another vehicle there. I don’t want to give up on a standalone approach either, because I think it has a lot of bipartisan support. So, we’re examining all avenues as we move forward, making sure everyone is aware that this is a good thing. It has bipartisan support. It’s good for both consumers and producers. Let’s get this done.”
Rep. Smith explained that Presidents from both parties have offered waivers to states wanting to offer E-15 during the summer months, but he argues that’s not the same as getting it set in stone — and at the end of the day, he said, consumer choice is an essential part of the process.
In an exclusive interview with RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey, Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) expresses frustration with delays and increasing political divisions surrounding the bill.
The question of whether a traditional, multi-year Farm Bill is a constitutional necessity or merely an outdated artifact of legislative compromise — as opposed to a model of targeted reconciliation and ad hoc assistance — is one of the most critical debates in current agricultural policy.
New farm payment rules allow LLC members to have separate limits, but some local FSA offices are still applying outdated policies, creating confusion for producers.
March brought better prices for several commodities, but rising fuel and feed costs kept margins under pressure.
Corn and cotton gave the strongest signals this week, while soybean demand remained softer than in the previous report.
Utah Senator John Curtis joins us for “Champions of Rural America” to discuss new legislation to improve forest management and wildfire prevention and its broader implications for rural communities and infrastructure.
