Poultry Industry Fears RFS Increase Will Alter Grain Prices

Randall Weiseman Corn, Energy, Field Crops, Livestock, Poultry

chickensThe U.S. poultry industry is concerned the Renewable Fuel Standard targets for 2017 and 2018 will increase feed prices for poultry farmers. Set by the Environmental Protection Agency, the RFS target for ethanol for 2017 was placed at the statute level of 15 billion gallons. The agency set total biofuel levels – including corn-generated ethanol and biodiesel – at 19.28 billion gallons, up six percent from 2016.

The poultry industry fears the increase will change the amount of corn set aside for ethanol production upward and send corn prices higher. That’s welcome news for corn farmers, but National Chicken Council President Mike Brown said it puts U.S. chicken producers “one drought, flood or freeze away from another crisis.”

He told meat industry publication Meatingplace that the RFS had cost the poultry industry $59 billion since becoming law.

(From the National Association of Farm Broadcasters News Service)