WASHINGTON (RFD NEWS) — It’s a busy day at the White House as farmers, ranchers, and biofuel leaders gather for a “Celebration of Agriculture,” with potential policy announcements expected from the Trump Administration.
Secretary Brooke Rollins shared a message on social media highlighting a family ranch from Oklahoma, pointing to what she called the next generation carrying on American agriculture. She is also expected to drive a tractor from the White House to the U.S. Department of Agriculture building following the event.
Administration officials have also been teasing a major policy announcement for farmers all week — one that is supposed to be revealed at today’s celebration. President Donald Trump said during a cabinet meeting that a “variety of actions” to support farmers would be announced, building on $12 billion already distributed through farm assistance tied to tariff revenues.
“We love the farmers. We gave them 12 billion dollars out of tariff money,” President Trump said. “We have a tremendous amount of tariff money coming in, and we continue to have. We’ve gone, as you know, the Supreme Court gave us a very unfortunate, foolish ruling, a ruling that gives the people who have ripped off our country for many years, gives them some money back. But it’s one of those things. It’s a terrible, terrible, terrible mistake they made, but it’s okay because we have another method that’s just as good. We’ll use the other method. But because the tariff money has been so substantial, we gave our farmers who have been mistreated by some countries. We gave them 12 billion dollars, and they’re extremely happy, and they deserve it. They’ve been great. They never complain. They just go out, and they farm, and they wouldn’t do anything different.”
Some speculate the administration could roll out tax breaks for farmers, while attention is also focused on potential updates to Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs). Renewable Fuels Association CEO Geoff Cooper says an announcement is expected soon, even if it doesn’t come today.
“Maybe it’s early next week? The EPA is finalizing the highest-ever renewable fuel standard volumes for 2026 and 2027,” Cooper explains. “And that will be more good news for the industry at a time when farmers, again, really need a shot in the arm when it comes to demand. So we’re looking forward to that announcement. Very hopeful that EPA will finalize the volumes that it proposed, which again, were the highest ever that we’ve ever seen with the renewable fuel standard.”
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin confirmed Renewable Volume Obligation numbers are on the way.
“Before the end of this month, we will be releasing the new renewable volume obligation numbers,” Zelden said. “This has also been a partnership through the interagency process to be able to get it right. When we came into this position 14 months ago, we inherited a lot of backlog. Pesticide review, by the way, the backlog was 14 and a half 1000. New chemicals, 400. Small refinery exemptions, 175, but the renewable volume obligations were supposed to be set in November of 2024.”
Market analyst Brian Hoops says the recent movement in summer E15 is a positive sign for agriculture, with more support likely to come.
“I think that’s a step in the right direction. It’s a positive sign,” Hoops said. “Not a real game changer, but it does use more corn to produce more ethanol. Certainly, that’s a net positive for the corn farmer, corn producer. Tomorrow, that EVA number or RVO number should be kind of friendly, I think. So bean oil, which has kind of been the leader of the soy complex here over the last six months, will continue to be the leader and probably have a positive reaction to it.”
The event is underway in Washington, with coverage expected later today. RFD NEWS was invited to attend, and we will have more updates for you later on Rural Evening News!
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