May 22, 2023
EPA's summer approval of E15 should be the first step toward a long-term fuel solutionKey Issues: Ethanol
Author: Neil Caskey
Published by Washington Examiner on May 19, 2023 Thank you to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for working with the Department of Energy, Department of Agriculture and supportive members of Congress to prevent a disruption in the sale of E15 fuel through the coming months. Last year, the EPA took the same action, saving drivers throughout the country anywhere from 23 cents to nearly one dollar per gallon. The EPA’s work to expand access to E15 not only lowers prices at the pump, it also helps increase fuel supply, reduce harmful emissions and strengthen our country’s clean energy future. Neil Caskey, NCGA CEO, discusses in the Washington Examiner how to make this a permanent solution. With the summer driving season around the corner, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has once again used its existing authority to prevent consumers from losing access to a lower-cost and lower-emission fuel choice. At a time when gas prices and demand rise, maintaining...
Read MoreMay 16, 2023
Fuel Your Summer with E15: An Affordable, Homegrown OptionKey Issues: Ethanol
Author: National Corn Growers Association
Temperatures aren’t the only thing rising as Americans look forward to summer vacation – gas prices are higher due to the increased amount of drivers on the road, along with OPEC’s recent decision to cut oil production by more than three million barrels per day. Thankfully, a growing number of retailers are offering consumers an affordable, sustainable fuel solution. E15 – often marketed as Unleaded 88 – saves consumers money at the pump, all while increasing our country’s fuel supply and reducing greenhouse gas and tailpipe emissions. What is E15? Produced from corn, ethanol is a renewable biofuel used to make E15 – a fuel blend made up of 15 percent ethanol and 85 percent gasoline. E15 is approved for use in any 2001 and newer vehicle accounting for more than 96 percent of vehicles on the road. A comparison of pump prices from more than 550 retail stations during the past year shows drivers saved at least 25 cents per gallon with E15, and many retailers offer E15 at an...
Read MoreMay 10, 2023
Corn Growers Are Heard Though Congressional HearingsKey Issues: Farm Bill
Author: Tom Haag
Spring is proving to be a busy time between corn planting and grower leaders taking full advantage of every opportunity to talk about our priorities for the farm bill. The farm bill, which governs many of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s agricultural and food programs, is set to expire at the end of September 2023, providing policymakers with an opportunity to review and update existing programs. NCGA, corn state associations, and grower members are working closely with policymakers to ensure the bill addresses the current and future needs of corn growers. Farm Bill Priorities When I was recently invited to testify about producer perspectives on the farm bill, I was happy to fly to Washington, D.C., and speak before the House Agriculture General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit Subcommittee. Less than a week later, NCGA’s First Vice President Harold Wolle also shared corn grower views on the farm safety net as he testified in front of the Senate...
Read MoreApr 4, 2023
An Exciting Start to Spring for America’s Corn GrowersKey Issues: EthanolHigh-Octane Low-Carbon
Author: Kathy Reding Bergren
Last month was marked by momentum from both the new Congress and our NCGA team. The reintroduction of bills that advance ethanol as an energy, climate and economic solution and our ongoing congressional education campaigns continue to keep NCGA an active voice when it comes to promoting renewable fuels. We are advancing our ethanol policy priorities, but there is much more to be done. Here is the latest on our efforts and what is to come for NCGA. Next Generation Fuels Act Reintroduction. Recently, the U.S. Senate and House reintroduced legislation that has been a top advocacy priority for NCGA and state corn grower associations – the Next Generation Fuels Act. This bipartisan bill would establish a clean, high-octane standard for fuel to enable automakers to deploy advanced engines that improve vehicle fuel efficiency and cut emissions, taking advantage of higher ethanol blends. Our message to Congress is that the Next Generation Fuels Act will lower fuel prices, reduce...
Read MoreFeb 27, 2023
Looking Forward to a Productive Year Ahead in the Nation’s CapitalAuthor: Kathy Reding Bergren
[Editor’s note: Brooke S. Appleton, NCGA’s vice president of public policy, is on maternity leave, and this month’s issue of Ears in Washington has been written by a guest columnist.] As the new Congress picks up the pace, NCGA staff are working on a number of issues in Washington, including the Mexican ban on genetically modified corn, reauthorization of the Farm Bill and biofuels policy, including the reintroduction of Next Generation Fuels Act. Here are some highlights of our work so far: Fighting Mexico’s GM Corn Ban. Mexican officials have issued a decree that would ban imports of biotech corn. That’s problematic for U.S. corn growers, as the majority of corn grown in the U.S. is biotech corn, and Mexico is one of our largest customers. Originally the ban was to take effect in early 2024, a little less than a year from now. But Mexican officials recently announced that biotech corn for human consumption would be banned immediately, while the ban on biotech corn used in...
Read MoreFeb 10, 2023
How Policymakers can Harness the Power of America’s Farms for a Cleaner and Affordable Energy FutureKey Issues: Ethanol
Author: The National Corn Growers Association
As the 118th Congress gets underway, advancing the nation’s long-term energy security while combatting climate change is a leading priority for policymakers. Renewable fuels, such as ethanol, are critical for a cleaner, affordable energy future, and there are several bipartisan steps Washington could take to further advance this immediate climate solution. Expanding access to ethanol is a win-win for consumers and the environment by supporting long-term relief at the pump and reducing emissions. Next Generation Fuels Act The Next Generation Fuels Act is a low-cost solution that would help diversify the nation’s fuel supply, improve vehicle engine efficiency, decarbonize transportation and give drivers affordable choices. This bipartisan legislation would establish a clean, high-octane standard for gasoline and require that sources of additional octane result in at least 40% fewer emissions, allowing automakers to significantly improve vehicle fuel efficiency, all while...
Read MoreJan 5, 2023
New Year Brings Continued Negotiations with Mexico Over Biotech Corn ImportsKey Issues: Trade
Author: Brooke S. Appleton
As we enter 2023, we are reminded that we are now one year out from the effective date of the decree banning most corn imports from the U.S. into Mexico. The National Corn Growers Association, along with state corn partners, ended 2022 sounding the alarm about this issue and we’re seeing results, though there is still work to do. The current predicament emerged last year when President Andrés Manuel López Obrador promised to enact a decree that would ban all imports of biotech corn into Mexico, effective January 31, 2024. Since 90% of U.S. corn is biotech corn and because Mexico is one of our top trading partners, the president’s promise threatened to upend a major economic partnership for our nation’s farmers. A study by World Perspectives showed that it also would adversely affect the Mexican economy and lead to issues of food insecurity. NCGA and state corn partners began an aggressive campaign to bring attention to the issue. We continue to call for the U.S. Trade...
Read More