Farm bill extended minus E15 provisions

The Continuing Resolution (CR) passed in December by the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate to extend the provisions of the 2018 Farm Bill for another year is being met with mixed reactions from farmers nationwide. The bill passed days before Christmas prevented a looming government shutdown included a short-term spending measure and drought disaster aid, along with the farm bill extension.

“Farm Bureau thanks the House and the Senate for finding common ground and passing legislation that will keep the government open and help farmers who are struggling with natural disasters, high supply costs and out-of-reach interest rates,” said Zippy Duvall, American Farm Bureau President. “For many farmers, the disaster relief provided through the CR will be the difference between planting for another year or going out of business.”

Duvall said the economic and disaster assistance in the CR is a temporary fix to long-term challenges facing America’s farmers. The farm bill extension also offers a short reprieve, and gives lawmakers some breathing room to pass a modernized farm bill that will provide risk management support.

“If there was ever a prime example of the impact that Farm Bureau has in the nation’s capital, this is it,” said Bill Patterson, president of Ohio Farm Bureau. “I was able to see, firsthand in Washington, the effective leadership of Farm Bureau at all levels when fighting for policies that are so important to agriculture. From President Duvall working long hours on the Hill, to state Farm Bureau presidents meeting with key lawmakers, to Ohio Farm Bureau staff working directly with our state’s delegation and, most importantly, thousands of members making their voices heard, the power of Farm Bureau was evident in giving farmers the support they need to overcome the challenges of 2024 and the certainty required to plan for a successful 2025.”

The final measure did not include authorization for year-round E15 sales, which benefits corn farmers, leads to lower fuel prices, and helps America reach its sustainability goals. This is an initiative Farm Bureau will continue to push for in 2025, according to Duvall, as well as a new, 5-year farm bill.

The Ohio Corn & Wheat Growers Association is part of a broad coalition of stakeholders from the petroleum industry, fuel marketing, retail, ethanol, and the agriculture sector pushing for uniformity and regulation certainty for America’s fuel supply that was particularly disappointed the bill was stripped of previously promised legislation to make E15 an official nationwide, year-round fuel blend. 

“It is disappointing to see that Congress failed to do the right thing and make E15 legal year-round,” said Tadd Nicholson, executive director of Ohio Corn & Wheat. “There was no downside to finally making E15 officially available all year, and it would have brought a commonsense solution to an outdated regulation that must be fixed to help consumers and corn growers now.”

E15, commonly sold in Ohio as Unleaded 88, is a 15% ethanol fuel approved by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). It can be used in 96% of all vehicles on the road today and is consistently a more affordable fuel choice for consumers. However, E15 requires an annual emergency waiver from the EPA to be sold from June through September. 

“Ohio Corn & Wheat and our growers are not giving up the fight to make year-round E15 a reality,” Nicholson said. “It’s the right thing to do for corn growers, the environment, and to help the American consumer.”