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Indiana farmers urged to speak out against the RFS

Indiana Corn Growers Association is urging farmers to speak out against the Environmental Protection Agency’s updated Renewable Volume Obligation – the amount of renewable fuel in the overall fuel production.

Patrick Pfingsten, public affairs manager for the Indiana Corn Growers Association says the EPA’s new ethanol blend requirements could cut corn demand by 1.5 billion bushels.  “That’s a devastating blow to farmers across Indiana and across the Midwest,” he says.  “And it’s bad for consumers as well because it would restrict access to ethanol which is a cleaner burning, renewable fuel.”

He says farmers need to weigh in on the rule.  “It’s incredibly important for farmers to get interested and get engaged and understand how important it is for them,” he says.  “There are 14 ethanol plants in this state.  If they’re producing less ethanol that is less places for the corn that is grown here to go.  They need to get involved and be able to say to the EPA stop hurting farmers.  Stop messing with the Renewable Fuels Standard.”

Indiana’s 14 ethanol plants produce almost 1 billion gallons of ethanol and account for over $3.6 billion to the Indiana economy.

Pfingsten says ICGA has launched a new website to help growers contact the EPA.  A link can be found HERE.