COLUMBIA, OHIO (RFD NEWS) — The ethanol and corn industries are ramping up efforts ahead of Wednesday’s House vote on year-round E15 sales, calling the measure a critical step for farmers facing mounting economic pressure.
National Corn Growers Association (NCGA) leaders are expected to spend the week on Capitol Hill urging lawmakers to support the legislation, arguing expanded E15 access could help strengthen domestic corn demand at a time of large supplies and rising production costs.
“Farmers are facing a perfect storm right now,” explains NCGA CEO Neil Caskey. “They’re growing record amounts of corn. About 17 billion bushels of corn were produced in 2025, and we expect a similarly-sized crop in the years ahead. Meanwhile, the cost of inputs just continues to reach new highs. This is expected to be one of the most expensive crops to produce in history, and the price of corn is way too low to support any of this. That’s the perfect storm that’s putting real financial strain on farm families across the U.S.”
Caskey said growers need policy solutions, such as year-round E15 sales, to bridge the widening gap.
“We need solutions that start to change all that, and we need them now,” Caskey adds. “Expanding access to E15 helps create a stronger, more reliable domestic market for our corn. Farmers don’t need more uncertainty. They need demand, and E15 is one of the most immediate ways to deliver that.”
The sorghum industry is also backing the measure.
National Sorghum Producers CEO Tim Lust says growers are frustrated by repeated delays despite years of bipartisan support for a permanent E15 fix.
“This has been a long-running issue, and frankly, farmers are frustrated,” Lust told RFD News. “We’ve seen Congress come close multiple times, only to see the solution delayed again. Just recently, E15 was pulled as an addition to the farm bill at the last minute, which is another example of the issue just being pushed down the road.”
As gasoline and diesel prices continue to rise due to tensions in the Middle East, Lust says there is no reason for consumers and producers to pay more when there is a straightforward path for lawmakers to alleviate the strain.
“Americans should not have to pay significantly more at the pump when E15 is an option that could be passed,” Lust explains. “But the important thing is that momentum is still there. Legislation is now moving forward on its own, and there’s a real opportunity to finally get this done.”
Growth Energy and Renewable Fuels Association are also expected to be in Washington ahead of the vote, citing geopolitical instability and volatile oil prices as additional reasons to permanently authorize year-round E15 sales.
The House vote on the measure is currently scheduled for Wednesday, with agriculture and energy groups closely watching the outcome.
Rising diesel prices continue to pressure farm country, adding strain on both farmers and small-business truckers as transportation costs climb.
Lewie Pugh with the Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association (OOIDA) joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to discuss the latest challenges facing the trucking industry and the ripple effects across agriculture.
In his interview with RFD News, Pugh explained how recent increases in fuel costs are impacting truckers, particularly independent owner-operators working in the spot market, and discussed how higher transportation expenses can ultimately affect both consumers and farmers trying to move goods to market.
Pugh also addressed what he called the “fuel surcharge myth,” explaining why many small truckers have little leverage when trying to recover rising fuel costs through brokers. Finally, he shared his outlook for the trucking industry as operators continue to navigate elevated diesel prices and ongoing uncertainty in the freight market.
trade enforcement concerns.
