At the recent 2026 Crop Insurance and Reinsurance Bureau annual meeting, Washington ag consultant Jim Wiesemeyer emphasized the critical role of domestic ethanol demand — particularly year-round E15 sales — in supporting U.S. corn growers amid low commodity prices and cash flow pressures.
Wiesemeyer stressed that expanding E15 could significantly boost corn consumption and help reduce burdensome carryover stocks. “If we get year-round E15, it will be very good for the consumption of corn,” Wiesemeyer said. “And that’s going to whittle down those stocks. If you whittle down carryover, that means higher prices, or should be.”
Wiesemeyer says the U.S. lags behind other countries using E25 or E30 blends, calling for higher levels like E20 or E25 to further drive demand. “We really should be at E20 or E25,” he said. “Look at other countries around the world. They’re going E25, E30. So we’re behind the curve on that one. That’s for the future. That’s building for the future to more domestic consumption.”
With farmers facing consecutive low-price years, Wiesemeyer views expanded domestic utilization as a jobs creator and market stabilizer, reducing reliance on volatile exports. Combined with the 45Z clean fuel tax credit and potential RFS increases for 2026-2027, these policies could provide much-needed demand signals. As congressional efforts for permanent nationwide E15 continue amid ongoing debates and missed deadlines, Wiesemeyer remains optimistic that progress on year-round access would temper market negatives and bolster farm incomes by harvest time.
Wiesemeyer gave an update on the agricultural economy at the CIRB annual meeting. Learn more in this interview.
Jim Wiesemeyer, Informa Economics (18:29)