Farmers could get some relief, at least from biofuels, as the new White House, EPA and other agencies start to roll out policies. The Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) is optimistic the new administration will help, not hinder agriculture stuck under the weight of high input costs and low commodity prices.
RFA’s Troy Bredenkamp said the ethanol industry expects the president and his team to continue their past support for US biofuels.
“I think we’ll have partners within these agencies to move that forward. And I know that the American farmer has a pretty good friend over there in the White House right now. So, he is very keenly aware, acutely aware of how important they were in the Midwest, in getting him elected, and he’s the kind of guy that doesn’t forget things like that.”
Some question that support, given the president’s avowed love for tariffs and their fear of another Trump trade war. But Bredenkamp said Trump is viewed as pro-ethanol, which could help demand and prices for feedstocks.
“Anything that we could do to increase the blend rate of ethanol into liquid fuels is going to increase our demand for corn. And that’s going to be a good thing for the American corn farmer.”
Among those—permanent year-round sales for E15, though a legislative fix is now needed…a robust 45Z tax break for sustainable aviation fuel, and a now-expected rollback of emission and mileage standards that favor electric vehicles.
(From the National Association of Farm Broadcasters)