It’s been said before that farmers are the backbone of America. At John Deere, we see this daily in our customers, whose tireless work provides for a healthy, safe, and affordable supply of food.
But their work doesn’t stop there. Farmers are also critical to America’s energy security. And there’s significant potential for farmers to play an even greater role in securing our energy future. But only if Congress doesn’t hold them back.
The widespread deployment of innovative precision agriculture technologies and practices in recent decades have led to farm productivity, efficiency, and sustainability gains never seen before. This demonstrates that America’s farmers are more than capable of meeting and exceeding our nation’s demand for both food and clean energy.
In fact, farmers make it possible for the United States to be the single largest producer of renewable fuels in the world. These fuels, including biodiesel made from soybeans and ethanol made from corn, are widely blended into transportation fuel today.
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In the U.S., ethanol is blended with gasoline and makes up about 10% of every gallon sold. Supporting demand for crops grown by farmers makes ethanol a win for American agriculture. And as a lower-cost fuel, it’s also a clear win for American consumers who fill up with gasoline.
Farmers and consumers can benefit even more with E15, a 15% ethanol blend sometimes labeled as Unleaded 88 at the pump. Using E15 drives even more demand for the crops grown to make ethanol, directly supporting farmers. It’s also $0.10 to $0.30 cheaper per gallon than regular gasoline on average, offering real savings for consumers. And because E15 is approved by the EPA for use in gas-powered cars, SUVs, and light-duty trucks model year 2001 and newer, most drivers could benefit.
The benefits of E15 also go beyond cost. Ethanol burns cleaner than gasoline, reducing emissions by up to 52% according to the Department of Energy. Ethanol also supports engine performance, with a higher-octane rating that protects engines and is even used to power high-performance vehicles. Just ask NASCAR, where an E15 blend has been used on more than 20 million racing miles since 2011.
Despite these clear benefits, outdated federal regulations about fuel volatility restrict summertime access to E15 for American consumers. This is despite an Energy Department analysis that concluded E15’s volatility was “indistinguishable from that of 10% ethanol in gasoline.” Nevertheless, the regulations remain in place, limiting choice at the pump and hurting farmers who rely on stable markets for their crops. But Congress can fix this, and they should.
Fixing the E15 restriction isn’t a partisan issue. Earlier this year, the Trump administration took action to provide temporary access to E15 during the summer months. The Biden administration took similar action in 2024. And just this fall, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation expanding access to E15 for Californians in an effort to help lower gas prices. Now, Congress can provide certainty for both farmers and consumers by passing permanent, year-round E15 legislation.
Adding urgency to the issue, farmers across America are facing significant economic pressures, with commodity prices at multi-year lows, interest rates remaining high, and margins tight. By permanently providing year-round access to E15, Congress can support American farmers, ensure consumer access to a lower cost fuel, and help further secure American energy independence.
Let’s give American farmers the certainty they need to keep fueling our nation’s future. Congress should swiftly send permanent, year-round E15 legislation to the President’s desk – because when farmers win, America wins.
Deanna Kovar is president of the Worldwide Agriculture and Turf Division for Production and Precision Agriculture at John Deere.