Farmer leaders and biofuel producers from the Midwest today expressed their concerns about news that the Trump administration has reversed course and decided to side with oil companies in their court battle against biofuels.

The debate centers around a unanimous court decision that would halt the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) abuse of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which have destroyed demand for billions of gallons of homegrown biofuels. Days ago, more than 20 farm and biofuel groups sent a letter asking President Trump to reject “an appeal of the court decision, given the clarity, unanimity, and strength of the ruling.” In a blow to rural communities, the White House now appears ready to defend those exemptions, ensuring continued uncertainty for farm families and jeopardizing jobs for biofuels workers across the Midwest. An extension granted by the court this week gives the administration until March 24 to file a formal appeal.

Speaking for corn, soybean, ethanol and biodiesel producers, as well as rural communities around the Midwest that have been adversely impacted by EPA’s waiver policy, the presidents of the National Corn Growers Association and American Soybean Association, and two biofuel producers held a press call on Wednesday.

Kevin Ross, a corn farmer near Minden, Iowa
Dave Walton, a soybean farmer in Wilton, Iowa
Erik Huschitt, CEO & general manager of Badger State Ethanol in Monroe, Wisconsin
Mitch Miller, CEO of Carbon Green BioEnergy in Lake Odessa, Michigan

Listen to the call here:
SRE case appeal call 50:32