Corn growers took to their phones Wednesday morning to send Congress a message: No more excuses on E15.
Farmer delegates meeting in San Antonio for a policy summit of the National Corn Growers Association took a break during the proceedings so members could call their representatives to express impatience with lack of progress in passing legislation to allow year-round, nationwide sales of higher ethanol fuel blends, known as E15.
"Let's blow their phones up," NCGA President Jed Bower told the crowd. "We don't want any more excuses. We're tired of waiting. We're tired of being pushed around and bullied by big industry.”
Efforts by a congressional council to reach agreement on a compromise E15 bill that would satisfy both agriculture and oil refiners are appreciated, but "we can't wait any longer for results," said Bower, an Ohio farmer. “I am extremely frustrated and disappointed that our efforts have not prevailed yet, despite coming so close to passing E15 legislation numerous times."
A difficult farm economy is taking an emotional toll on crop producers who are worried about finances and the ability to pass their farms onto their children, Bower said while flanked by members he brought on stage to highlight their work in lobbying for E15. An expansion of corn-based ethanol sales is seen by the industry as crucial in boosting demand for corn and ethanol as consumption of liquid fuels is expected to decline in coming years. Promising new demand drivers, like sustainable aviation fuel, are still being developed. Meanwhile, roughly 40% of America's annual corn harvest is used for making ethanol.
The E15 council, headed by Rep. Randy Feenstra, R-Iowa, and Stephanie Bice, R-Okla., missed a Feb. 15 deadline to come up with an E15 bill recommendation for the U.S. House of Representatives to consider by today.
Feenstra told Agri-Pulse on Tuesday that lawmakers are “close” to getting an E15 bill on the House floor.
On missing this week's self-imposed deadline of Feb. 25, Feenstra said the recent snowstorm in Washington delayed momentum.
Feenstra, who is running for governor of Iowa this year, indicated that a rift among oil refiners over previously proposed E15 legislation has been smoothed over, though sources tell Agri-Pulse this may be wishful thinking.
“We want to get [it] released and get it to the floor, hopefully here very, very shortly,” Feenstra said.
Feenstra declined to comment on E15 when asked Wednesday morning on Capitol Hill.
Meanwhile, Bower made it clear his group will keep up its fight until E15 is signed into law.
"We are new corn farmers," he said. "We are going to do things differently, and we are tired of the normal business that Congress is doing."
Oliver Ward contributed to this article.
For more news, go to Agri-Pulse.com.
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