News

NCGA happy about trade breakthroughs, concerned about refinery exemptions

National Corn Growers Association President Kevin Ross says trade breakthroughs with Japan and the U.S. Mexico Canada Agreement are the best news growers could have for Christmas. On the other hand, he says the NCGA is not happy about small ethanol refinery exemptions granted by the administration. It’s time for Washington to finish the job on trade and ethanol, Ross said during a webinar Wednesday morning.

“We’re here to call on Congress to pass the USMCA and for the administration to follow through on the president’s commitments to American farmers and uphold the integrity of the renewable fuels standard,” said Ross.

Iowa Corn Growers President Jim Greif put in perspective the EPA proposal to use Department of Energy recommendations to restore biofuels demand. Greif says it’s half the originally agreed on figure of 1.35 billion gallons of biofuels demand restoration.

“In corn numbers this means 203 million bushels of corn demand will continue to be eliminated annually,” said Greif, during the same webinar. “That’s like eliminating all the corn acres in the entire state of Colorado.”

Greif also called on President Trump to have the EPA follow the intent of the renewable fuels standard.