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Corn growers at rally: Keep RFS as written

Corn farmers and lawmakers were among the hundreds Wednesday at the Rally for Rural America on Capitol Hill.  One of those at the rally, Illinois Corn Growers President Kenny Hartman tells Brownfield he wants the EPA to follow Congress’ intent on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

“We’re hoping that people know that we need to leave the RFS alone and keep things going the way the law was written to start with,” Hartman told Brownfield, following the rally in Washington, D.C.

The EPA has proposed cutting the RFS for corn ethanol by 3.75 billion gallons through 2016, which represents nearly 1.5 billion bushels in lost corn demand.

In addition to the Rally, Hartman says the 30 Illinois corn growers who traveled to the nation’s capital also met with lawmakers from Illinois.

“It seems like they’re very supportive of ethanol and they’re wanting to work with us,” said Hartman.

The Illinois Corn Growers Association estimates the EPA’s cutting of ethanol volume in gasoline will decrease corn demand to the point that the market price will be below the cost of production.

Hartman was at an earlier rally last month in Kansas City.