WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD NEWS) — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has finalized record Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2026 and 2027, giving agriculture another signal of steady demand from the biofuels sector.
Dr. Faith Parum of the American Farm Bureau Federation said the final rule raises total renewable fuel obligations to 26.81 billion gallons in 2026 and 27.02 billion gallons in 2027, with most of the growth tied to advanced fuels and biomass-based diesel.
The conventional ethanol requirement remains at 15 billion gallons, preserving a major source of corn demand. She also noted that nationwide year-round access to E15 would further strengthen ethanol use by enabling higher blends to be sold more consistently.
The biggest growth came in diesel-related categories. Biomass-based diesel volumes were finalized at 8.86 billion gallons in 2026 and 8.95 billion gallons in 2027, with even higher effective totals following small-refinery exemption reallocations.
Parum said the EPA also changed how small-refinery exemptions are handled by redistributing previously exempted gallons into future obligations. That is intended to keep waived volumes from reducing total renewable fuel demand over time.
For agriculture, the rule points to continued support for corn, soybeans, and soybean oil, while also reinforcing demand for other feedstocks used in advanced fuels. Parum said the final rule gives farmers and biofuel producers more certainty as the market continues to expand.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Dr. Faith Parum says EPA’s final biofuel volumes keep corn demand steady and strengthen the outlook for soybean-based diesel feedstocks.
Tony St. James, RFD News Markets Specialist
Stronger rail movement and lower fuel prices are easing logistics, even as export pace and river conditions remain uneven.
December 22, 2025 02:12 PM
·
Small, locally focused wineries are finding resilience through direct sales and regional loyalty rather than scale alone.
December 22, 2025 02:05 PM
·
Pork producers warn that proposed definitions of “ultra-processed” food in guidelines from the “Make America Healthy Again” plan could negatively impact industry-standard bacon, sausage, and feed practices.
December 22, 2025 01:38 PM
·
Concerns over Chronic Wasting Disease are fueling a long-standing legal battle between Minnesota regulators and deer farmers. The case could soon reach the state’s Supreme Court with broader implications for agriculture.
December 22, 2025 01:31 PM
·
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and Public Lands Council (PLC) are praising the passage of a bill to delist gray wolves as an endangered species by the U.S. House last week.
December 22, 2025 01:23 PM
·
In Minnesota, a legal and legislative battle has reached a tipping point. For over a decade, the state’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the private deer-farming industry have been locked in a dispute over the management of Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD).
December 22, 2025 12:30 PM
·
