Corn growers across the nation are calling on Ford Motor Company to restart production of Flex Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) capable of using up to 85 percent ethanol fuel (E85), and reaffirm its support for rural America.

In a joint letter addressed to Ford President and CEO Jim Farley, the National Corn Growers Association and 20 state corn grower groups expressed concerns over the automaker’s move away from FFVs, particularly in its F-Series truck lineup.

“Farm families have historically chosen the F-150 not only for its towing and payload capabilities but also because it was a truck they could fuel with ethanol – a domestic, renewable fuel made from corn, grown and refined in the very communities where Ford trucks are most popular,” the letter states. “Today’s farm families want to continue driving trucks made in America, powered by fuel made in America.”

In 2014, nearly half of all light-duty vehicles produced by Ford, GM, and Chrysler were FFVs. Since that time, flex-fuel options have disappeared from Ford’s production lines and despite the F-150 remaining the top-selling vehicle in many of the nation’s corn-producing states, Ford no longer offers a flex-fuel model.

“We believe Henry Ford’s original vision to empower farmers and reduce our reliance on foreign oil remains as relevant today as it was in 1908,” the letter concludes. “Let us work together to ensure Ford continues to be Built for America—including the farmers who help feed and fuel it.”