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NCGA hopes EPA has reversed RFS decision

The final rule on the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) for 2014 is now in the hands of the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB).

The original EPA proposal cut the corn-based ethanol mandate from 14.4 billion gallons to 13 billion gallons. Chip Bowling, a Maryland farmer and president of the National Corn Growers Association, is hopeful that the EPA has reversed that decision.

bowling-chip-ncga“We’re hoping that they raise it back up to the 14 billion gallons as it should be,” Bowling says. “We’re thinking that they’re going to meet us halfway—that they’ll come up from the 13.1, to 13.6 or 13.7—but our hope is they’ll put it back to where it should be and stick with it.”

With a big corn crop on the way, Bowling says reducing the RFS doesn’t make sense.

“We’re growing another big crop—we’re going to double our carryover from last year to this year—and there’s no reason to back it down now,” he says. “The ethanol market, at this point, is doing well on its own—and it needs to keep moving forward.”

OMB has 90 days to complete its review of the rule.  Many analysts expect it to be published in late September or October, but there is also speculation it may not happen until after the November elections to avoid any political fallout.

AUDIO: Chip Bowling at Farm Progress Show (6:32 MP3)

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