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Ag continues nationwide, year-round E-15 push

The call for action on year-round E-15 was loud at this year’s Farm Progress Show.

Kenneth Hartman, Jr., president of the National Corn Growers Association and a southern Illinois farmer, says expanding access to higher blends of ethanol is an easy way to drive corn demand.

“We’re in a critical situation with the farm economy right now with these prices where they’re at, so we need a bump.”  He says, “We need something to use up some bushels, and you know, for every 1% as far as percentage of ethanol, it basically adds 1/2 a billion bushels of use.”

AUDIO: Kenneth Hartman, Jr. – NCGA

Geoff Cooper, CEO of the Renewable Fuels Association, tells Brownfield it wouldn’t be an immediate solution, but long-term…

“That adds another 6 or 7 billion gallons of demand, but the first step is allowing retailers to sell the fuel year-round.”  He says, “That’s another 2 to 2 1/2 billion bushels of corn demand.”

AUDIO: Geoff Cooper – RFA

Brad Stotler, director of government affairs with the Illinois Corn Growers Association, says the key is finding a vehicle for the legislation in Congress.

“We’re working on that this fall.”  He says, “We’re hoping to attach it to a National Defense Authorization or some sort of year-end spending package.”

AUDIO: Brad Stotler – ICGA

Stotler says a “skinny farm bill” could also be an avenue to pass nationwide E-15; however, time is running short as the current farm bill extension expires at the end of September.

Brownfield spoke with all three at the 2025 Farm Progress Show.