Jay Debertin and Zippy Duvall (CHS/AFBF photos)
The recent events in the Middle East highlight how interconnected the world has become as impacts of global instability are felt by markets around the world and consumers here at home. The need for energy independence in the U.S. has never been clearer. The answer can be found, in part, in farm fields across our country through year-round E15. Ethanol blended fuels made from American-grown corn and sorghum are a renewable, economic addition to America’s energy strategy.
Not only could year-round access to E15 provide savings of an estimated 10 to 30 cents per gallon at the pump, it would also provide a boost to America’s farmers who are suffering through the toughest farm economy in a generation.
Record crops in the U.S. and significant increases in South American competition have driven commodity prices down. Farmers are facing mounting pressure at the farmgate with further erosion of working capital strained by high supply costs. Last month, to no surprise, the Kansas City Federal Reserve released economic data indicating that prices for row crops like corn and soybeans are likely to remain subdued, driving down farmer income for a third straight year of declining revenues. This reflects what many farm families across the country are already experiencing. In 2025 we saw an unfortunate increase in farm bankruptcies compared to last year.
America’s farmers have built a legacy as the most productive and innovative agricultural producers in the world. However, productivity alone is no longer enough to ensure family farms are sustained, and rural communities are strong.
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To position U.S. agriculture for future success, farmers need demand for their products right here in the United States. Congressional passage of year-round E15 would strengthen the U.S. domestic biofuels market, creating long-term certainty for U.S. grain and supporting U.S. energy independence.
Today, under the current U.S. blending limits, ethanol uses about 5.6 billion bushels of corn annually – about one-third of national corn production. E15, a type of gasoline containing 15% ethanol, is a proven fuel blend, yet outdated federal rules still prevent it from being sold year-round in much of the country. The result is higher fuel costs for consumers, lost sales for farmers, and unnecessary dependence on foreign energy.
As U.S. exports decline, estimates show that every percent increase in ethanol in America’s fuel supply could generate reliable demand for roughly 500 million bushels of U.S.-grown corn. This greatly reduces how much our country—and our farmers—rely on international markets. A strong ethanol market also helps stabilize prices and reduces reliance on volatile export markets that can disappear overnight due to trade disputes.
For the energy sector, passing year-round E15 would be easily integrated into existing fuel markets. It provides a practical, scalable pathway for growth—one that supports farmers, provides more affordable fuels to consumers, and complements broader efforts to modernize renewable fuels policy. It also sends a clear signal that the U.S. supports using American feedstocks to meet American energy needs. A robust and integrated U.S. ag and energy market is paramount to ensure competitiveness and economic stability for American farmers.
Rural communities benefit as well. Ethanol plants are economic anchors—providing jobs, supporting local tax bases, and creating markets for grain grown nearby. When ethanol demand grows, it strengthens rural economies and encourages long-term investment. Year-round E15 gives producers and fuel retailers the certainty they need to plan, invest and grow.
Ethanol remains one of the most successful examples of American‑made energy. It is produced from U.S.-grown crops, manufactured in communities across rural America, and blended into fuel used safely by millions of drivers. It also supports jobs across the American economy—from rural ethanol plants and grain elevators to railroads, ports, and fuel retailers.
Support for E15 spans rural and urban communities, as well as both agriculture and energy interests. It is one of the few policies that lowers consumer costs, requires no additional federal spending, strengthens domestic manufacturing, and supports American farmers—all at the same time.
We appreciate the work being done by the House Rural Domestic Energy Council and urge Congress to quickly advance year-round E15 legislation that can be broadly supported across stakeholders and secure enough votes to be passed into law.
As leaders of the largest farmer-owned cooperative and largest organization representing America’s farmers and ranchers, we collectively represent more than 5 million farmers, ranchers, and families, in addition to rural communities and countless others tied to the agricultural economy. It is our honor to act as their voice and urge our lawmakers to implement a common-sense policy that benefits American farmers and American energy independence.
Jay Debertin is president and CEO of CHS Inc. Zippy Duvall is president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.