Friday August 08 Ag News - Smith on E15 bill - Forge Ind. adds Adam Wolfe - ISU Update on Foreign-held Land - USGBC work in Bangladesh - and more!

 Smith, Budzinski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation, Call on EPA to Cut Red Tape Around E15

Representatives Adrian Smith (R-NE), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), both co-chairs of the Biofuels Caucus, announced introduction of the bipartisan Ethanol for America Act. This legislation would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to finalize a rulemaking from 2021 to make the E15 fuel label clearer and more consumer-oriented. 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.

Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.

"Estimates show access to E15 at the fuel pump can save consumers up to 30 cents per gallon," said Rep. Smith. "This bipartisan bill recognizes E15 compatibility with existing infrastructure and reduces red tape for retailers who wish to provide consumers with more options at the pump. I thank Rep. Budzinski and Sens. Ernst and Klobuchar for their collaboration."

"It’s no secret that access to E15 creates lower prices at the pump for consumers, value added to homegrown crops, stronger rural communities, and domestic energy dominance," said Sen. Ernst. "I’m working to remove regulatory roadblocks and ensure biofuels are offered to folks filling up their cars using existing infrastructure at local gas stations across our nation. We cannot allow outdated red tape to stand in the way of unleashing the benefits of E15."

Original cosponsors in the House of the Ethanol for America Act include Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Tracey Mann (R-KS), Derek Schmidt (R-KS), Mike Flood (R-NE), Randy Feenstra (R-IA), and Brad Finstad (R-MN)

Additionally, Smith, Budzinski, Ernst, and Klobuchar with 13 colleagues in the House and Senate sent a corresponding letter to EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, calling on him to deem existing fuel infrastructure compatible with E15 and outlining: 
    Research shows underground storage tanks and dispensing equipment compatible with E10 are also compatible with E15
    E15 is approved for 96 percent of vehicles on the road today with over 160 billion miles driven using E15, proving it is a safe and reliable choice
    E15 routinely offers lower prices—saving drivers 10 to 30 cents per gallon—and approving current infrastructure avoids costly upgrades for retailers
    Expanding E15 access boosts demand for U.S.-grown corn and strengthens farm incomes, helping create domestic markets for agricultural products. 



NE Pork Summer VIP Baseball Event

The Nebraska Pork Producers Assocation is hosting a summer VIP event and night at the ballpark on Friday August 15th at Werner Park in Omaha.  The Omaha Stormchasers will be taking on the St. Paul Saints, with gates opening at 5:30pm and first pitch at 6:35pm. Click here to reserve your tickets... https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfCf-c8dn_lfi5Fq_bntfeL2fSPt8VOExKuvb6zwIj2MKT4xg/viewform.  



Nebraska Beef Council August Board Meeting

The Nebraska Beef Council Board of Directors will meet at the NBC office in Kearney, NE located at 1319 Central Avenue on Monday, August 18, 2025 beginning at 8:00 a.m. CDT and Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at 8:00 a.m. CDT. The NBC Board of Directors will listen to presentations from outside contractors for the fiscal year 2025-2026 on Monday. Funding decisions will be conducted on Tuesday. For more information, please contact the Nebraska Beef Council office.  



HEFTY'S 2026 KICKOFF MEETING
Nielsen Center in West Point, NE

Join Hefty-West Point on Thursday, August 21st for our Kickoff Meeting!

The meeting will be held at the Nielsen Community Center in West Point with lunch @ 12:30pm and meeting from 1-2:30pm.  Guest speakers include Brian Hefty.  

Topics will include weed control options, input costs, soil fertility, seed traits, new varieties, and industry news.  

RSVP for the event by calling the Hefty Seed Co West Point location at 402-372-9900.  



A-FAN hosts Confined Cattle Lunch and Learn

The Alliance for the Future of Agriculture in Nebraska his hosting an informational meeting on Thursday August 21st.  It's called a Confined Cattle Lunch and Learn event at the UNL Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center at ENREEC near Mead.  This is an event for any producer looking at the opportunity of confined cattle. The day will include research on the benefits of raising cattle under roof, including a tour and FREE lunch!  RSVP here... https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/YciLw4oJju9e2mTmtPrr8w.  



Forge Industries Adds Adam Wolfe to Team

Forge Industries continues to demonstrate its commitment to the livestock industry with the addition of Adam Wolfe to their team. Wolfe, who started with Forge on August 5, 2025, serves as business development manager for the company’s YoungStar anti-slip cattle mat and Te Pari livestock handling equipment dealerships.

Wolfe, located in east central Nebraska, graduated from the University of Nebraska – Lincoln in 2016 with a degree in ag business focused on livestock production. Previous work in the industry includes selling feed for Pellet Technology USA, at Performance Livestock Analytics when it was a start-up, and then in risk management and feedlot consulting with Balance 4ward.

“With Forge, I’m excited about the opportunity we have in the marketplace to combine this relatively young company with legacy brands,” Wolfe said. “I look forward to continuing my career helping livestock producers and working with a family-oriented business.”

Wolfe’s passion for the cattle industry brought him from his native California, where his family ran a small cow/calf operation focused mostly on show and registered cattle, to Nebraska. He then remained in the Midwest following his college graduation, establishing his own herd of registered Red Angus cattle with an emphasis on show heifers and bulls. His herd also includes a few Black Angus and crossbred animals as well.

“I’m just passionate about beef cattle and all aspects of the business from genetics to feeding cattle to producing a quality product,” Wolfe said. “There’s nothing I’d rather do. And it’s hard to find someplace better to work in the beef cattle world than Nebraska where there are high quality herds, a lot of cattle on feed, access to feedstuffs, and more.”

Wolfe will be reaching out to livestock producers in Nebraska and along the cattle corridor of Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, and Iowa to create brand awareness for Forge, YoungStar, and Te Pari. He will make recommendations based on customers’ needs and desires, prepare estimates, assist with delivery and installation, train on products and equipment, consult with customers after the sales orders, provide ongoing product support, and much more.

“With Te Pari, there’s the potential for cattle producers to add new technology to livestock producers’ operations, make life simpler, relieving headaches they have today whether with management or the issue of labor,” he said. “YoungStar mats are a great product with a good return on investment possible due to competitive pricing.” Wolfe believes YoungStar mats address lameness and injury issues robbing profits from producers.

When he’s not working with cattle in one way or another, Wolfe enjoys golf, going to the lake, and spending time with his wife, Courtney, and son, Hayes. 



New Report Unpacks Foreign Interest and Land Leases in Iowa Farmland

As foreign interest in U.S. farmland has grown in recent years, new research-backed insights are available in the July edition of Ag Decision Maker for landowners to stay informed on this evolving topic https://www.extension.iastate.edu/agdm/newsletters/nl2025/jul25.pdf.

The article, “Foreign-held farmland in the United States and Iowa: scale, use, and ownership trends,” provides timely updates not only on foreign interest but also on ownership and lease agreements across Iowa and the U.S.

Rabail Chandio, assistant professor and extension economist at Iowa State University and author of the article, said the information is relevant for all Iowa landowners.

“If you own farmland in Iowa, or are thinking about buying, selling or leasing, it’s smart to understand who else has an interest in that land,” Chandio said. “This information helps give Iowa producers and landowners a clearer picture of how much land is actually foreign-held, what it’s being used for and what kinds of ownership structures are involved.”

Due to Iowa’s strict regulations on corporate and foreign ownership of agricultural land, foreign-owned acreage in Iowa is minimal (less than 2%), making leases the primary form of land interest in the state.

The latest findings also indicate that the majority of these leases are energy-related leases, particularly for wind turbines. This land is often still actively farmed, while energy companies lease the space for turbine infrastructure.

According to the article, foreign-held agricultural land in the U.S. has grown by 2.6 million acres per year since 2017, up by about 600,000 acres annually between 2012–2017. Still, this growth is primarily tied to energy leases rather than outright land sales.

The top Iowa counties with foreign interest in 2023, in order of total foreign acres, are: Poweshiek, Dickinson, Mitchell, Washington, Page, Davis, Pocahontas, Webster, Cherokee and Taylor counties.

While foreign ownership is low in Iowa due to strong legal protections, foreign leasing activity — especially for renewable energy — continues to rise.



RFA Submits Comments Supporting EPA’s Proposed RFS Volumes for 2026, 2027 

In detailed comments submitted today to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the Renewable Fuels Association expressed strong support for EPA’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standard volumes for 2026 and 2027, while also recommending slight modifications to the agency’s plan for prioritizing American-made renewable fuels over import-based fuels.

“We strongly support EPA’s proposed RVOs and, specifically, the implied conventional renewable fuel volumes of 15 billion gallons for both 2026 and 2027,” wrote RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “This will provide the ethanol industry with room for growth as gasoline blends containing 15 percent ethanol (E15) continue to gain momentum in the marketplace. Expanding the use of domestically produced renewable fuels like ethanol is key to achieving President Trump’s vision for lower fuel prices, a stronger agriculture industry, and American energy dominance.”

RFA’s comments voice support for EPA’s goal of prioritizing domestic renewable fuels and feedstocks over imported renewable fuels and feedstocks. However, the association believes certain modifications are needed to EPA’s proposed approach to better reflect market complexities in the wake of other recent policy developments, such as the Trump administration’s tariff implementation, modifications of renewable fuel tax credits under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and the significant increase in the proposed RVO for biomass-based diesel.

“In the wake of these policy changes, we encourage EPA to consider refocusing potential RIN adjustments more narrowly on imports of finished renewable fuel from countries outside of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as fuels made from certain imported feedstocks (sourced from certain countries of origin) that pose the greatest risk to the integrity of the RFS program,” Cooper wrote.  The comments also point out that since corn and sorghum imports are virtually non-existent, EPA’s proposed “feedstock point of origin” tracking requirements are impractical and completely unnecessary for certain renewable fuels like grain-based ethanol.

In addition, while RFA strongly supports EPA’s commitment to reallocating obligated renewable fuel blending volumes lost to small refinery exemptions, Cooper urged EPA to maintain a high standard for determining whether small refineries are truly experiencing “disproportionate economic hardship” (DEH).

“To honor the clear intent and market-forcing purpose of the Clean Air Act’s RFS program, the Agency should maintain a rigorous analytical approach and a high standard of proof for small refiners to demonstrate DEH,” Cooper wrote. “SRE petitioners claiming DEH should be required to provide specific, verifiable data and evidence showing that 1) compliance with the RFS is a central cause of economic difficulty that rises to a level of ‘hardship’, 2) they are truly unable to obtain RINs ‘ratably’ at the same prices as their competitors, and 3) they are somehow unable to pass along their RIN costs in the price of refined products sold to wholesale customers.”

The Friday filing deadline for RVO comments to EPA coincides with the 20th anniversary of the signing of the implementation legislation in 2005 by President George W. Bush. 



USGBC Engages Bangladeshi Customers With Corn Marketing Conference

The U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) recently held a series of meetings and organized a marketing conference in Bangladesh to highlight the value of U.S. origin feed grains to industry stakeholders and end-users.

As a part of this visit, the Council met with poultry industry representatives to present data on the quality and availability of the 2024/25 U.S. corn crop, while also promoting the U.S. as the world’s best logistical option for coarse grain purchases.

“Bangladesh is one of the most important markets in South Asia, as they are customers of U.S. distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) while also being the only market in the region that does not have restrictions on genetically-modified corn imports,” said Alexander Grabois, USGBC manager of global strategies and trade.

“Moreover, Bangladesh has a sizeable annual coarse grain demand of 1.4 million metric tons, and its traditional suppliers are not able to meet the needs of the market.”

These one-on-one meetings were followed by the Council hosting its 2025 Bangladesh Corn Marketing Conference that drew 31 attendees from the Bangladeshi feed industry.

Topics included a detailed overview of the Bangladeshi feed market, a review of the superior performance of U.S. corn in poultry diets, a rollout of the 2024/25 Corn Export Cargo Quality Report and a review of tropical grain storage practices. The conference included remarks from Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy to Bangladesh Ambassador Tracey Ann Jacobson, who gave important insight on the bilateral relationship between the two countries and a budding coarse grain trade.

By highlighting the quality of this year’s corn crop, coupled with the economic advantages of using U.S. corn in animal feed rations, the Council aims to help kick start corn sales to the South Asian nation. Bangladesh has not purchased bulk quantities of U.S. corn since 2017, when it purchased just under 55,000 metric tons (2,165,240 bushels).

Traditionally, Bangladesh has been able to satiate its animals using corn from India; however, India’s recent implementation of a domestic ethanol blending program has led to diminishing exportable supplies and has pushed Bangladesh to search the broader global market for its needs.

“For the Council, continuing to engage our Bangladeshi customers is paramount to ensuring they are able to grow their feed operations while using a feedstock that is high performing and currently the most economical option,” said Kurt Shultz, USGBC senior director of global strategies.

“They are very important DDGS customers, who prefer U.S. origin over others in the market, which makes it even more essential that U.S. corn becomes a preferred option as well. We look forward to them soon becoming regular buyers of U.S. coarse grains.”



2025 ACE Conference Agenda Showcases Biofuel Innovation and Industry Milestones

The American Coalition for Ethanol (ACE) is set to host its 38th annual conference August 20–22, 2025, at The Canopy by Hilton in downtown Sioux Falls, South Dakota. This year’s agenda offers a forward-looking lineup of sessions focused on the most pressing topics and emerging opportunities in biofuels—from 45Z tax credit implementation to low-carbon farming practices, global market expansion, next-gen biofuels and technologies, and producer-driven innovation.

“This year’s agenda is packed with content that reflects where our industry is headed,” said Brian Jennings, ACE CEO. “We’re proud to bring this event to Sioux Falls, where stakeholders can come together to shape the future of ethanol.”

In the lead-up to the conference, ACE attendees are invited to an Open House and Project Launch at the AgriEnergy Innovations ethanol plant in Luverne, Minnesota, on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 20, just ahead of the official kickoff of the ACE conference Welcome Reception at 5:00 p.m. at The Canopy. This event, co-hosted between AgriEnergy and CapCO2 Solutions, celebrates the launch of a collaborative effort to convert ethanol plant CO₂ waste into green methanol.

The Luverne facility is being developed as a biofuels innovation hub, showcasing technologies—including CapCO2’s green methanol platform—with the goal of driving new value for producers, rural communities, and the broader ethanol economy.

“The Luverne Agri-Energy Bio Production Facility is an ideal place to prove out new technologies like CapCO2 Solutions,” said David Kolsrud, ACE Board Member and Director of Badger State Ethanol.  “The CapCO2 Green Methanol project and many other opportunities abound with the facility due to its highly specialized equipment and focus on the next generation of biofuels.”

To participate in the open house event, please RSVP here https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfaKT0RX3ZIgYCmZBHMFdE628NGGW6hce5t14UFrIa5UJByqQ/viewform or when registering for the conference. The 2025 ACE Conference agenda is available at ethanol.org/conference/agenda, which features panels and sessions tailored for anyone interested in learning more about the biofuel industry.