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Minnesota Farmers Union president calls for biofuels policy with farmers in mind

The president of Minnesota Farmers Union wants to see biofuels policy that accounts for farmers and the environment.

Gary Wertish says renewable fuels like ethanol should play a part in addressing climate change.

“There’s a lot of talk about carbon sequestration and the need to try to work up some type of a program. We’re certainly supportive of that, but it’s got to be a program that actually works for the farmer and actually does some benefits.”

He tells Brownfield the Renewable Fuel Standard needs to be implemented the way Congress intended.

“A lot of talk now about moving to electric cars, which (with) technology will bring us that (and) we understand that. But at the same time, the internal combustion engine is not going away anytime soon and (neither will) the importance of higher blends of renewable fuels. Farmers Union has had a policy of supporting E30 for a number of years already.”

Wertish says a move to higher ethanol blends would reduce emissions and boost rural economies.