NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RFD NEWS) — Efforts to authorize year-round E15 gasoline sales stalled this week after the House Rules Committee opted not to include the provision in must-pass funding legislation, citing procedural and policy risks rather than opposition to ethanol itself. The decision delays a long-sought market expansion for biofuels while keeping the issue active for further review.
Farm-state lawmakers supporting E15 argued the change would provide certainty for ethanol markets and expand domestic fuel demand. Others on the committee cautioned that the amendment did not move through regular order, meaning it bypassed the standard committee process. That raised concerns about attaching a major policy change to an underlying spending bill without full vetting, a step some lawmakers warned could jeopardize broader passage.
Opposition also reflected competing regional interests. While many producers favor expanded ethanol blending, some members emphasized the need to consider impacts on small and independent refiners alongside farm interests. Those concerns were central to resistance from lawmakers representing energy-producing states with refining capacity.
Instead of advancing the amendment, House leadership moved to establish the E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council, a temporary panel charged with developing legislative recommendations on year-round E15, refining capacity, and related Renewable Fuel Standard issues. The council is expected to deliver proposals by mid-February, with House leaders targeting late February for potential legislative consideration.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Year-round E15 remains on the table, but procedural caution and competing regional interests pushed action into a slower, negotiated path.
Tony St. James, RFD NEWS Markets Specialist
Oil-led rallies can move soybean prices quickly, but sustained gains will require continued strength in soybean oil and broader biofuel demand signals.
January 22, 2026 10:39 AM
·
Dairy farmer and Discover Ag co-host Tara Vander Dussen joined us to discuss the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, her experience at the signing, and what’s next for her family and farm.
January 21, 2026 12:42 PM
·
The Farm Bureau is making an urgent call to Congress for more farm support. Colton Lacina with Farmers National Company joined us to discuss farmland values and how market dynamics for the year ahead reflect stabilization rather than collapse.
January 21, 2026 12:30 PM
·
Analysts say a Supreme Court decision on tariffs could reshape protein markets, strain U.S.-China trade, and force farmers to rethink global demand strategies.
January 21, 2026 12:03 PM
·
Corn and wheat exports remain a demand bright spot, while soybeans are transitioning into a more typical late-winter shipping slowdown.
January 21, 2026 10:36 AM
·
From meatpacking settlements to landmark NEPA rulings, Roger McEowen outlines the top legal developments in 2025 that will shape agriculture in the years ahead.
January 20, 2026 03:39 PM
·
Despite rising costs and growing food insecurity, meat demand remained strong in 2025 as higher-income consumers offset cutbacks elsewhere. Economists break down the K-shaped economy, upcoming USDA cattle reports, livestock production outlooks, and renewed debate over beef imports and country-of-origin labeling heading into 2026.
January 20, 2026 02:47 PM
·
Corn growers are turning to ethanol, E15 expansion, and export markets to help absorb record supplies and stabilize prices. Farm leaders discuss low-carbon ethanol demand, flex-fuel vehicle challenges, input costs, and the role of USMCA as producers look for market relief in the year ahead.
January 20, 2026 02:04 PM
·
From rising trade tensions in Europe to a pending Supreme Court decision on tariffs and shifting demand from China, global trade policy spearheaded by President Donald Trump continues to shape the outlook for U.S. agriculture—adding uncertainty as farmers navigate another volatile year.
January 20, 2026 01:14 PM
·
