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Ethanol for America… Senate Ag Committee members introduced the bipartisan “Ethanol for America Act” to make it easier for Americans to fuel their vehicles with E15. The bill reportedly hopes to eliminate barriers by requiring the EPA to finalize rulemaking from 2021. It would also confirm the compatibility of E15 with existing underground fuel storage and dispensing equipment, ensuring business owners are not required to make costly and unnecessary infrastructure changes.
Separately, Renewable Fuels Association president Geoff Cooper told this year’s National Ethanol Conference quote, “Almost all existing underground storage tanks and dispensers are fully compatible with E15. But antiquated regulations have led many retail station owners to believe expensive equipment upgrades are needed before they can sell E15.”
NCBA Notches Legal Victory Protecting Cattle Producers… (August 11, 2025) – Last week, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) notched a legal victory in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia affirming protections for cattle farmers and ranchers from onerous and unnecessary air emissions reporting requirements.
NCBA, along with a coalition of other livestock and farm groups, has engaged in this litigation for years to ensure that family farmers and ranchers were not forced to file complex, overreaching reports with the federal government about emissions under the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act (EPCRA) and Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
“CERCLA and EPCRA were intended to address the worst industrial and toxic chemicals, not govern family farms and ranches. This decision affirms that family cattle producers should not have to file reports for a natural, biological process under a law meant for significant chemical contaminants,” said NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources Kaitlynn Glover. “NCBA stepped up to protect family farms and ranches through this litigation and we are pleased that the federal district court has brought clarity to this decades-long discussion.” -source: NCBA press release
The U.S. agricultural trade deficit hit a record high in the first half of 2025. Agricultural export value trailed the import value by $4.1 billion in June, a gap that’s 14 percent larger than a year ago, pushing the ag sector’s trade deficit to $28.6 billion through the first half of 2025. For 50 years, the U.S. ag sector has consistently had major trade surpluses, but the growing deficit signals a historic reversal for the sector.
USDA announces payments… The American Relief Act was signed into law on December 21, 2024, and extended the 2018 Farm Bill for one year. USDA’s Risk Management Agency announced it will make a one-time, Congressionally-mandated payment to Approved Insurance Providers administering eligible crop insurance contracts for 2022 and 2023 reinsurance year specialty crops.
The total funding available is $30 million, and RMA will distribute funds to AIPs proportionally, based on their liabilities for eligible crop insurance contracts for 2022 and 2023 reinsurance year specialty crops.
“The additional payment recognizes the great service Approved Insurance Providers and crop insurance agents provide America’s farmers,’ said RMA Administrator Pat Swanson. “We look forward to continuing our progress in expanding crop insurance to specialty crops by engaging directly with the agents servicing these growers.” Funding for the payments comes through the American Relief Act of 2025.
Lanzajet production facility to go green… According to Bloomberg, the world’s first ethanol to jet fuel production facility expects to begin production in September. Lanzajet’s $200 million Georgia location received government funds to get production up and running and after some delay from equipment issues, the company’s CEO Chief Executive Officer Jimmy Samartzis said in an interview, “"My hope is that by the end of the third quarter we are fully operating. The modifications we made to the equipment that was hindering us, unrelated to the technology itself, should satisfy what we need.”
While the news of the world’s first ethanol to jet fuel facility is exciting, the majority of
U.S.-grown corn does not meet low-carbon standards, forcing the company to test the facility using Brazilian sugarcane. The company says it will switch to American-grown feedstocks ‘as soon as possible.’
Once fully operational, the facility is designed to produce 10 million gallons of SAF and renewable diesel per year.
Notable closes…
The soybean market shot higher overnight after President Trump posted bold predictions regarding soybean trade with China. Futures continued higher through the day session…
- September beans were 24 cents higher at $9.91 3/4
- November beans up 23 3/4 to $10.11 1/4
- January beans closed at $10.29 1/2, up 23 cents