Farmers are calling for higher ethanol blends in today’s fuel

An ethanol group out of Nebraska says year-round sales of E15 could turn numbers around. They are calling on the Administration to change the Clean Air Act, saying it is long overdue.

“By not allowing that 20–30 years ago in the thinking, we ended up in the situation where we are now. Of course, with the petroleum competitor, who does not want to lose that five percent market share, and they want to fight tooth and nail for that, which I understand. If I were a CEO of Exxon, I’d feel the same way. But I’m not CEO of Exxon. I’m a corn farmer from Nebraska, and my concern lies with my friends and my neighbors, and how we can keep more young farmers in business,” said Janten Bensel with the Nebraska Ethanol Board.

Regular unleaded gas, like most cars use today, is an E10 blend. The group argues that if that went up to 12, it could help consume an extra billion bushels of grain each year. Other renewable fuel groups are calling on Congress to write into law year-round sales of E15. It is an issue they could tackle when returning to Washington next month.

Related Stories
The Final Grain Stocks Report may be the last key figures we see if a government shutdown halts future updates.
Strong corn exports are anchoring U.S. trade, while soybean sales remain steady, but shipments lag.
Michigan corn farmer and NCGA Vice President-Elect Matt Frostic will lead the task force. He joined us on Thursday to share his insights on the escalating corn crisis.
Midwest corn and soy producers are monitoring for disease and lower yields due to the ongoing drought over the last 30 days.
Argentina hopes to boost demand, but critics see the move as a blow to American farmers.
China is making strategic moves by purchasing more soybeans from Argentina and may soon follow the EU and reopen its market to Brazilian chicken exports.

LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Mike Steenhoek with the Soy Transportation Coalition discusses supply chain challenges facing agriculture as snow, sleet and ice threaten most of the Eastern U.S.
Congressman Adrian Smith of Nebraska joined us with the latest on efforts to secure year-round E15 sales.
Nearly everyone in the South Texas ag community appears extremely worried about the potential of a New World screwworm epidemic, according to a local veterinarian. RFD NEWS Correspondent Frank McCaffrey reports.
Large-scale land purchases signal rising competition for ranchland, reinforcing its value while reshaping long-term access and control in rural agriculture.
Brian Earnest, an animal protein economist with CoBank, shares insights into current demand trends and the challenges facing broiler production.
Jack Hubbard, with the Center for the Environment and Welfare, shares context and perspective on the controversial letter about Prop 12 circulating in Washington and how a review shows it misled the public.