Democratic vice presidential candidate Sen. Tim Kaine at the Iowa State Fair with Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack

The Iowa State Fair was a lot quieter this year politically. Last year the fair played host to a total of 20 presidential candidates of both parties last summer while this year it was only the vice presidential candidates of the two major party nominees who visited the butter cow and ate pork with Hawkeye State political figures. Does that mean the candidates have forgotten their biofuels friends in the Midwest?

“Both candidates spent quite a bit of time in Iowa up to the Iowa caucuses the first of February,” said Monte Shaw with the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association. “In the general election, they kind of fly in, they do a big rally with thousands of people, and they fly out.”

Both Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton showed love to the ethanol industry during the primaries and Shaw says the ethanol industry is already working with both sides. “So whichever candidate wins, they’ll have this team that helps them transition into office and we’re communicating as an industry with both those teams,” said Shaw.

Republican VP candidate, Indiana Governor Mike Pence, with Iowa Governor Terry Branstad

Shaw believes the Congressional elections are as important, if not more so, than who becomes president. “We will have to keep our eyes on Congress,” he said. “After all, the RFS is the law of the land. For it to be modified or hurt, it would take an act of Congress.”

In this interview, Shaw also talks about attending the upcoming tour of Quad County Corn Processors with Sen. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Gov. Terry Branstad where the discussion will include the need for an RVP waiver for E15 and ethanol’s ability to add octane for high compression engines. Interview with Monte Shaw, Iowa RFA