Year-Round E15 Would Benefit Whole Ag Economy

At a time when the farm economy is facing a downward turn, farmers and ranchers are looking for expanded market opportunities. Faith Parum, an economist with the American Farm Bureau Federation, said increased biofuel production could be one avenue to increase farm revenue and boost the entire rural economy.

“Biofuels drive steady demand for corn and soybeans, they create jobs at ethanol and biodiesel plants. They also attract a lot of local investment and keep energy dollars circulating in rural communities.

One simple solution for increasing biofilm demand would be to allow for year-round E15 and American gas pumps. She said demand for homegrown corn would boom at the same time as a big crop settles into bins across the country.”

“Yeah, year-round, E15 would add billions of bushels of new corn demand. It would improve farm income and really help provide long-term market stability for corn growers. Parum points out that there is a straightforward path to make this possibility a reality.”

So right now, we rely on the EPA to give short-term waivers to let us sell it in the summer. What we really need is a congressional fix to get year-round E15 that's not relying on those emergency waivers. This will allow industries and producers to have some stability and know that they'll be able to blend e 15 ethanol year round.