Farmer frustration mounts over E15

The president of the National Corn Growers Association says frustration continues to mount over the lack of progress on nationwide, year-round E-15.

Ohio farmer Jed Bower told the general session of the 2026 Commodity Classic, “With the lack of work we’re seeing in D.C., we’ve been Midwest nice for too long.”  He says, “They need to hear from us. We need to be aggressive. The American farmer’s been pushed around and bullied for too long, and it’s time we stood up and said, we’re done.”

John Delmotte, president of the Michigan Corn Growers, says missed deadlines by Congress’ Rural Domestic Energy Council are discouraging.

“We have some frustration about their commitment to rural America.”  He says, “We have policy. We had an agreement with American Petroleum. We thought that we were ready to cross the finish line with this issue, and unfortunately, the ball got dropped once again.”

Don Guinnip, vice president of the Illinois Corn Growers, tells Brownfield, “It just doesn’t make sense to most farmers that this is not going to cost the government a thing.”  He says, “This helps to leave our economic situation. Farmers are frustrated. We as their representatives are frustrated too.”

AUDIO: Don Guinnip – Illinois Corn Growers Association

Casey Kelleher, president of the Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board, says watching other countries excitedly embrace higher blends of ethanol adds to the irritation.

“We have to set the tone.”  He says, “These other countries are talking about higher blends, and if we have higher blends, it looks that much better. The new prime minister in Japan has a goal of E10 by 2030 and E20 by 2040. Japan’s at nothing right now.”

Bower says NCGA and state associations continue to lean on legislators to stress the importance of year-round E15 to rural America.

Brownfield spoke with all four at the 2026 Commodity Classic in San Antonio.

AUDIO: Casey Kelleher – Wisconsin Corn Promotion Board