In a story from the National Association of Farm Broadcasters (NAFB), the Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) welcomed the release of the proposed Renewable Volume Obligations or RVOs for 2026 and 2027 calling the Environmental Protection Agency’s draft rule a very positive signal for America’s ethanol industry and farmers. By prioritizing domestically produced renewable fuels over imports, RFA said the EPA …
Secretary of Agriculture Provides Statement on EPA’s Renewable Fuel Standard
The US Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins released a statement last week supporting the US Environmental Protection Agency’s volume requirements in the Renewable Fuel Standard for American Grown Biofuels. According to an EPA press release, the EPA’s proposed volume requirements for 2026 and 2027 would be the highest ever under the program that “Sets strong growth targets for key renewable …
American Agriculture History Minute: Switching to Electric Power from Kerosene
I’m Mark Oppold with an American Agriculture History Minute reports that by the 1930, more than 90% of rural homes still used kerosene lamps for lighting. Running water and indoor bathrooms were still impossible without power. That would all change in the early 1930s. In fact, for many rural Americans in the 1930s, one of the most memorable experiences of a …
American Agriculture History Minute: Economic Impact of Rural Electrification
Mark Oppold presents an American Agriculture History Minute, describing the challenging conditions of rural life in the mid-1930s, noting that 90% of rural homes lacked electricity. Farmers had to perform tasks like milking cows by hand using kerosene lamps, and families relied on basic wood-range washboards for domestic chores. Mark further explains how the lack of electricity significantly impacted rural …
American Agriculture History Minute: Vision for Rural Electrification
Mark Oppold presents an American Agriculture History Minute, explains that the story of rural electrification began during the 1932 presidential campaign when Democratic nominee Franklin Roosevelt toured the South. During this tour, Roosevelt was deeply affected by witnessing the widespread poverty and sanitation issues in rural areas. Mark describes how Roosevelt believed that bringing electricity to rural areas would be …
American Agriculture History Minute: Rural Electrification Initiative
Mark Oppold presents an American Agriculture History Minute, focuses on the historical development of rural electrification in America during the Roosevelt administration. Mark explains that when President Roosevelt took office in 1933, the initiative to provide electricity to rural America gained significant momentum. Mark further details that on May 11, 1935, President Roosevelt established the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) through …
Rollins Applauds EPA’s Decision to Allow Summer Sale of E-15 Nationwide
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Rollins issued a statement this week in support of the Environmental Protection Agency’s emergency approval of the summer sale of E-15. Tyron Spearman has the story. Secretary Rollins Applauds EPA’s Decision to Allow Summer Sale of E-15 Nationwide (USDA/Washington, D.C./April 28, 2025) – U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins issued the following statement in support of the …
Tracking Agricultural Commodities after Two Months
With two months of 2025 now past us, Mark Oppold takes time to review how certain agricultural commodities have performed thus far this year. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024
RFA Criticizes Musk for Removal of Year-Round E15 from Federal Spending Bill
At last week’s National Ethanol Conference, Renewable Fuels Association (RFA) President and CEO Geoff Cooper expressed frustration over the removal of a year-round E15 sales provision from December’s stop-gap government funding bill. Cooper attributed the decision to opposition from Elon Musk, who was acting as the Trump administration’s efficiency chief, along with certain conservative lawmakers. “But in the eleventh hour, …
How Rural America Looks at the Electricity Issue
With today being the President’s Day Holiday, the markets are closed. So, Mark Oppold takes time to look at how rural America is looking at the electricity issue. Sponsored ContentCIR Agriculture Harvester ProductsMarch 1, 2025Nuseed Carinata Covers New GroundOctober 1, 2024TriEst Ag Group: Partners in ProfitabilityApril 1, 2024