Friday March 27 Ag News - Hogs & Pig Inventory Up - NeFBF Honors Top Ag Advisors - UNL's Ferguson Retires - Iowa Corn Day on the Hill - USGPC Corn Export Cargo Report - and more!

United States Hog Inventory Up Slightly 

United States inventory of all hogs and pigs on March 1, 2026 was 74.3 million head. This was up slightly fromMarch 1, 2025, but down 1 percent from December 1, 2025.   

Breeding inventory, at 5.89 million head, was down 1 percent from last year, and down slightly from the previous quarter.

Market hog inventory, at 68.4 million head, was up 1 percent from last year, but down 2 percent from last quarter. 

The December 2025-February 2026 pig crop, at 33.2 million head, was up 1 percent from last year. Sows farrowing during this period totaled 2.79 million head, down 1 percent from previous year. The sows farrowed 
during this quarter represented 47 percent of the breeding herd. The average pigs saved per litter was 11.90 for the December 2025-February 2026 period, compared to 11.65 last year. 

By State        (1,000 hd  -  % March 1 '25)
Iowa.................:    24,700     102  
Minnesota........:     9,300     103  
North Carolina.:     7,600      95  
Illinois..............:     5,350      96  
Indiana.............:     4,250      99  
Nebraska..........:     3,650     104  

Dec - Jan - Feb 
Nebraska:  180,000 sows farrowing +3%  -  Ave pigs per litter 12.10  -  Pig Crop 2,178,000 +5%
Iowa:          405,000 sows farrowing -6%  -  Ave pigs per litter 11.85  -  Pig Crop 4,799,000 -4%

United States hog producers intend to have 2.86 million sows farrow during the March-May 2026 quarter, up slightly from the actual farrowings during the same period one year earlier, but down 2 percent from the same period two years earlier. Intended farrowings for June-August 2026, at 2.90 million sows, are down 2 percent from the same period one year earlier, and down 3 percent from the same period two years earlier. 

The total number of hogs under contract owned by operations with over 5,000 head, but raised by contractees, accounted for 53 percent of the total United States hog inventory, up 1 percent from the previous year. 




NeFB Foundation Honors Top FFA Advisors at State Convention

Hundreds of FFA members and advisors from all over Nebraska gathered in Lincoln this week for the 2026 Nebraska State FFA Convention. During the event, the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation recognized two advisors whose work stands out in their schools and communities with its annual FFA Advisor of the Year award. 

This year’s honors went to Jessica Evans of Osmond Community Schools and Jacob Goldfuss of Summerland Public Schools. They were recognized during Thursday’s ceremony, each receiving a plaque and a $1,000 award to benefit their local FFA programs. 

Nominated by their students, these teachers were elected for their involvement in the school and community, the way they develop leadership in the classroom, and how they keep students engaged in agriculture. 

“The Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation is proud to congratulate Evans and Goldfuss on this well-deserved honor,” said Megahn Schafer, executive director of the Nebraska Farm Bureau Foundation. “Through their leadership, they’re helping prepare the next generation in agriculture while strengthening their local communities.” 

Evans is the FFA Advisor for the Osmond FFA Chapter. Her students gain hands-on experience in production agriculture through a growing school farm made possible by local partnerships, along with access to equipment, industry expertise, and personalized support in the classroom. Over the past 11 years, she has worked tirelessly to build these opportunities, helping students develop skills and confidence that will carry them beyond high school. 

“I’m incredibly honored to be recognized, especially alongside so many dedicated advisors across the state,” said Evans. “This really reflects the support of our community and the hard work our students put in every day.” 
 
Goldfuss is the FFA Advisor for the Summerland FFA Chapter. He invests countless hours mentoring students, helping them prepare for competitions, State Degrees, and proficiency applications, while fostering a supportive, team-focused environment. His approachable style and dedication encourage students to challenge themselves, grow together, and succeed both in the classroom and through FFA experiences.  

“I’m thankful to be recognized with this award, but it really belongs to our students,” said Goldfuss. “Their hard work, teamwork, and growth every day make our FFA chapter what it is.”



Ferguson retires after 41-year career at Nebraska

Richard Ferguson, professor of soil science in the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture, retired Feb. 28 after a 41-year career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Richard Ferguson’s goals at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln were straightforward: help Nebraska farmers become more productive and profitable while safeguarding soil and water resources; help students understand soil variability and manage crop nutrient inputs accordingly; and support faculty and staff he supervised in reaching their fullest potential and making an impact.

But over 41 years —  and through countless interactions with producers, colleagues, students, and the people of Nebraska and Rwanda — those seemingly simple goals came to define a lifetime of service and a genuine care for everyone around him. 

“Richard has been an example of what it means to fully serve the land‑grant mission. His leadership in nutrient management and precision agriculture has created lasting impact through research, teaching, mentoring and trusted relationships with producers and partners across the state of Nebraska,” said Martha Mamo, agronomy and horticulture department head. 

Ferguson did not always envision a career in agriculture. Growing up in Kansas, just one generation removed from the farm, he spent summers helping his grandfather — gaining a deep appreciation for land stewardship, even as the work worsened his severe allergies.

He did, however, love science. His parents were teachers. His father taught high school and college chemistry, and his mother taught elementary school and worked as a librarian. 

After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas, in 1976, Ferguson began graduate school in microbiology at Emporia State University. After one semester, he wasn’t sure it was the right field of study, so he worked for a couple of years in the agriculture industry in Kansas, managing a grain elevator and fertilizer plant and serving as a fertilizer salesman.

During that time, he engaged with many farmers, and he soon realized they had inquiring minds — producers seeking to be good stewards of their land and to be profitable in their operations. Discussions with an industry agronomist soon helped Ferguson realize the opportunities in crop research and agricultural science.

Those encounters were influential, and he was accepted to Kansas State University to continue his education. A soil fertility scientist named Dave Kissel gave him a shot and offered him an hourly-paid student job. This forever shaped Ferguson’s trajectory in soil science. 

“That opportunity allowed me to see the combination of science and agriculture into a career,” Ferguson said. “I was able to spend six years with Kissel, who was my mentor and adviser for both my master’s and PhD, and he was a tremendous example of how to lead a career in academia and soil science.”

Both his master’s and doctoral work related to nitrogen management, particularly, urea-based fertilizers and the risk of ammonia volatilization. 

Ferguson’s career at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln began in 1985 at the university’s South Central Research and Extension Center near Clay Center. He was drawn to a research and extension position as an assistant professor in the Department of Agronomy because of the combination of practical research, including field and lab studies, and the ability to share what he learned directly with farmers. 

“One strength Nebraska had at the time was the system of research and extension centers,” Ferguson said. “There were five  — I think that was the strongest combination of research and extension capacity that existed in the country.”

Charles Stonecipher, the director of the South Central Research and Extension Center at the time, wanted Ferguson to focus on getting to know the people and the region rather than research. So, his first field studies didn’t start until a year later.

Having a joint appointment is one aspect that Ferguson has valued the most in his career. 

“It has been important to learn from farmers, the issues they’re dealing with, and do research to address those issues,” Ferguson said. “Being able to take the research I've learned from and give it directly to farmers, and then eventually being able to use all of those examples in the classroom, is key.”

When Ferguson started at Nebraska, about 75% of the irrigated land was furrow-irrigated. 

“Today it's probably more like 80% center pivot systems,” he said. So it was very challenging to manage nitrogen in a farm system, especially if the first irrigation applied 8 or 10 inches of water. If your nitrogen fertilizer was in place, it could be lost right away.”

Over time, Ferguson and his colleagues learned the importance of managing irrigation and nitrogen more efficiently. He worked on the application of fertilizer to maintain its availability to the crop and prevent its loss to the environment.

The early precision and site-specific nitrogen management Ferguson was involved in began with the soil, understanding soil variation and measuring it through soil sampling.

“With nutrient use efficiency, there were opportunities for larger-scale funding research projects, but not at the scale that one would see today, which didn’t exist back then,” he said.

He did have funding from the Nebraska Natural Resources Districts. His first large-scale project was the Mid-Nebraska Water Quality Demonstration Project, a water-quality demonstration funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture as part of the National Water Quality Initiative. 

Ferguson was promoted to professor and granted tenure in 1999.

“Richard has been one of my best friends and a solid colleague since the day he interviewed for his position at South Central Research and Extension Center back in the early 80s,” Roger Elmore, professor emeritus in agronomy and horticulture, said. “His character traits include being wise, thoughtful, patient and kind. He is a top-notch, innovative soil scientist excelling in teaching, research, extension and administration.” 

When the South Central Research and Extension Center closed in 2003 due to budget cuts, he moved to Lincoln with the same focus. However, this career change also involved teaching and, eventually, administration duties.

Ferguson’s goal remained the same — to help Nebraska farmers become more productive and profitable while protecting their soil and water resources. 

He received national recognition for Project SENSE, a collaborative on-farm research and educational effort exploring the impacts of in-season, sensor-informed nitrogen management on crop yield, nitrogen use efficiency and profitability. 

Over three years, 54 on-farm study sites across Nebraska compared growers’ standard nitrogen management to sensor-based, in-season approaches. Sensor-based management reduced nitrogen application by 29 pounds per acre and significantly improved nitrogen use efficiency, producing more grain per unit of fertilizer. Yields were slightly lower but net returns were higher. While benefits varied by site, ongoing research was refining those approaches and expanding the use of tools such as drones, aircraft and satellite sensors to improve in-season nitrogen management. 

“I think we have developed processes and nitrogen management in Nebraska that eventually will become the model for the nation and maybe globally,” Ferguson said. “So, detecting the need for nitrogen in crops and applying that in timely ways, that limits the environmental impact of crop production — those are two things that I think I've been very fortunate to be able to contribute to in my career.” 

Ferguson began serving in administrative roles for the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture as associate head for five years, starting in 2012, and later as interim department head in 2017 for 18 months.

“As a large and extremely diverse department, we had a lot of resources and a lot of responsibilities,” he said. “I really enjoyed getting to know the breadth of work our faculty  were doing across the state and getting to know their work better, and how that ties to the depth of work here in Lincoln.”

During his years in administration, he saw significant growth in agricultural technology and in the number of faculty in plant breeding, genetics and biotechnology.

“While a three-way or four-way appointment can be challenging, I really enjoyed the opportunity to intertwine research, teaching and extension in ways that I hope were impactful,” Ferguson said. 

Teaching for Ferguson included farmers, crop consultants, fertilizer dealers, NRD staff, and other practitioners, as well as students in formal classes. His extension courses covered nitrogen management, precision agriculture and soil management. He taught Agronomy 431 Site-Specific Crop Management and Agronomy 831 Spatial Variability of Soils. He also advised a total of 13 master’s and doctoral students over his career.

His appointment combination also set the stage for Ferguson to work outside of Nebraska for five years as the inaugural vice chancellor of the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture, helping establish a new, land-grant modeled agricultural university for East Africa.

In 2018, after serving 34 years at Nebraska, he stepped into this new role to help develop RICA, an English-language institution dedicated to educating and inspiring a new generation of agricultural innovators in Rwanda. Among his many accomplishments, Ferguson is especially proud of seeing the institution’s first class of students graduate in 2023.

Ferguson has published over 100 research articles, 22 book chapters, research bulletins or refereed proceedings, and over 90 extension bulletins and newsletters. He has been recognized as a Fellow of the American Society of Agronomy, the Soil Science Society of America and the Daugherty Water for Food Institute, and is a recipient of the American Society of Agronomy Werner L. Nelson Award for Diagnosis of Yield Limiting Factors, the Leo Walsh Lectureship of the Soil Science Society of America, the Fertilizer Industry Award for Innovative Technologies Advancing the Fertilizer Industry, the Water Guardian Award from the Mid-America CropLife Association and the Epsilon Sigma Phi Award of Merit, among others. 

“The strong foundation Richard built will continue to guide the Department of Agronomy and Horticulture as we move into the next era of digital agriculture research, teaching and extension,” Mamo said. “I am honored to be his colleague and have benefited immensely from his mentorship.”

In retirement, Ferguson plans to remain engaged with the agronomy and horticulture department to help as appropriate, and spend more time developing his photography hobby, refining his gardening skills, traveling with his wife to see his family and spending more time as a grandparent.



UNL's McLean Headed To Utah State 

University of Nebraska–Lincoln’s Derek McLean has been named the next dean of the Quinney College of Agriculture & Natural Resources at Utah State University in Logan. He will begin the role July 1, 2026.

McLean has served since January 2023 as dean of the Agricultural Research Division within UNL’s Institute of Agriculture and Natural Resources, where he advanced initiatives in digital and precision agriculture, the bioeconomy and agricultural security, and oversaw IANR’s research, extension and education centers and other research sites.

"Derek McLean has been a tremendous leader who has advanced strategic initiatives, cultivated and strengthened partnerships, and moved IANR and our state forward," said NU Vice President and Harlan vice chancellor for IANR Tiffany Heng-Moss. 

"On behalf of all of IANR, I wish him the best in the future and look forward to building upon the foundation that he has helped shape."

An interim dean will be named in the coming weeks.



Ricketts Introduces PLOT Act to Combat Communist China’s Ownership of American Farmland

Thursday, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) introduced the Property Location Oversight and Transparency (PLOT) Act in the Senate.  The bill strengthens U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) foreign land ownership reporting system by requiring the USDA to publish geospatial data on foreign agriculture land acquisitions and lowering the foreign ownership reporting thresholds.

“Farms and ranches are the foundation of the Good Life in Nebraska.  But Communist China threatens this,” said Senator Ricketts.  “Communist China has pursued a policy of strategically buying American farmland, they have purchased land around military installations to weaken U.S. national security.  My bill would combat this by strengthening USDA’s foreign ag land reporting system.  The hardworking Americans who feed us should benefit from our farms and ranches.  Communist China should not.”

The PLOT Act would amend the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) to:
  - Require USDA to establish publicly accessible, open-source geospatial data of foreign ag land acquisitions;
  - Require the Secretary of Agriculture, Director of National Intelligence, and the Secretary of Defense to use submitted geospatial data to identify potential national security concerns relating to foreign ownership of agricultural land, including: 
     o   proximity to military installations,
     o   critical infrastructure,
     o   and sensitive environmental areas;
  - Apply lower thresholds for reporting foreign adversaries and prioritizing enforcement actions: 
     o   Decrease the reporting threshold of a single foreign person from 10 percent to 5 percent,
     o   And decrease the reporting threshold for domestic entities substantially directed or controlled by a foreign person from 50 percent to 10 percent;
  - And increase USDA enforcement to prioritize transactions conducted by foreign adversaries, particularly those involving Chinese entities.

Under the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA), foreign entities are required to disclose the transactions of American agricultural land to the USDA.  According to USDA, foreign investors own over 40 million acres of agricultural land across the United States.  That includes Communist China’s purchase of sensitive land surrounding Grand Forks Air Force Base in North Dakota and Fort Bragg in North Carolina.



USGPC Represented At Nebraska Sorghum Symposium

U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) Manager of Global Programs Samantha Redfern (middle) recently spoke about export opportunities for U.S. sorghum at the 2026 Nebraska Sorghum Symposium. Photo courtesy of Nebraska Sorghum. 

Earlier this month, U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council (USGBC) Manager of Global Programs Samantha Redfern traveled to Grand Island, NE to participate in the 2026 Nebraska Sorghum Symposium, hosted by the Nebraska Grain Sorghum Board.

“Collaborating with key industry stakeholders is an important way for the Council to expand awareness of how international markets affect the livelihoods of U.S. farmers,” Redfern said.

“U.S. sorghum is a high quality, versatile crop and it was exciting to share the work being done by the Council and its partners to promote its wide range of applications for humans and livestock.”

Redfern spoke on a panel with United Sorghum Checkoff Program Director of Ingredient Utilization & Pet Food Zach Simon and Renewable Fuels Nebraska President Jacki Fee. Discussions included export opportunities for grain sorghum and sorghum in ethanol production, trade deal negotiations, sustainability, high-value markets and working to educate international buyers on U.S. sorghum's quality and reliability.

Specific markets like Vietnam, India and Mexico were covered to connect sorghum growers in Nebraska to the global agricultural market and how the Council identifies and develops opportunities for U.S. producers. 

“The Council is committed to elevating U.S. sorghum on a global scale, diversifying markets and providing industry services like the U.S. Sorghum Assurances Protocol and Sorghum Harvest Quality Reports that establish U.S. sorghum as the most trusted variety in the international market,” Redfern said.



ICGA Advocates for Policy Priorities During Iowa Corn Day on the Hill 

Wednesday, Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) farmer members from across the state gathered at the State Capitol for the “Iowa Corn Day on the Hill” lobbying event. The delegation included the ICGA Board, county leaders, grassroots advocates, I-LEAD Class 12 members and student FFA members from across the state.   

ICGA members in attendance advocated for a balanced approach to the carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) pipeline, focusing on supporting CCS infrastructure to maintain the ethanol industry’s competitive edge over neighboring states, while protecting landowner rights. Beyond energy, the group emphasized the need for consistent, long-term funding for the Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy and other critical water quality initiatives. Discussions also touched on key legislative priorities including property tax reform, hydrogen and mineral rights, and the removal of the excise tax on E85+ blends to further incentivize high-level ethanol use. 

“Iowa Corn Day on the Hill is one of the most important events we do as an ag association,” said Mark Mueller, ICGA President and farmer from Waverly, Iowa. “Our grassroots policy process is extensive, and once we have those priorities set, it is vital that we take those priorities to the State Capitol and let our voices be heard. When corn growers from across the state come together to connect one-on-one with legislators and share their stories, it is incredibly impactful in getting important issues across the finish line.”  

As a long-standing, well-respected agricultural organization, ICGA serves as a collective voice for Iowa’s corn farmers on agricultural issues at the state and federal level. Grassroot farmer members from across the state are the backbone of our organization and the driving force behind our policy development and implementation efforts. We continue to work towards policies that protect the interests of our members and the Iowa corn industry.  



U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council Releases 2025/2026 Corn Export Cargo Quality Report

The average aggregate quality of U.S. corn samples tested for the U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council’s (USGBC’s) 2025/2026 Corn Export Cargo Quality Report, released this week, was better than or equal to U.S. No. 2 on all grade factors.

“The Council’s Corn Export Cargo Quality Report is now in its 15th edition, a testament to the organization’s dedication and commitment to connecting international end users of feed grains and their co-products to U.S. farmers,” said Mark Wilson, USGBC chairman.

“This report would also not be possible without the tremendous work done by the analysts at Illinois Crop Improvement Association’s Identity Preserved Grain Laboratory and Champaign-Danville Grain Inspection and the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for providing samples for study.”

The report is based on 430 yellow commodity corn samples collected from export shipments as they underwent inspection and grading processes performed by the FGIS or other licensed inspectors.

The 2025 U.S. corn crop experienced favorable growing conditions that contributed to projected record in average yield, permitted a timely harvest and maintained the quality of the crop.

Broken corn and foreign material (BCFM) registered at 2.4 percent after moving through export channels, the lowest in the report’s 15-year history. Protein content was measured at 8.5 percent dry basis, similar to last year's crop and starch concentration was observed at 72.1 percent, higher  than in 2024/2025.

The export cargo quality report is a companion to the 2025/2026 Corn Harvest Quality Report, published last fall. The new report provides information about the quality of the most recent U.S. corn crop at harvest as it enters the international merchandising channels.

Both reports provide reliable information on U.S. corn quality from the farm to the customer based on transparent and consistent methodology, offering an early view of grading factors established by USDA, moisture content and other characteristics not reported elsewhere. The reports identify any noticeable changes occurring between these two time periods caused by shipping and logistics.

Results from the report will be shared with customers around the world by Council staff based in its nine international offices and showcased during events and trade teams to maximize awareness of the quality and applications of U.S. corn.



2026 U.S. Agricultural Market Outlook

The University of Missouri Food & Agricultural Policy Research Institute has released the 2026 U.S. Agricultural Market Outlook.

The near-term outlook for farm finances shows distinct differences between crop and livestock sectors. Net returns remain poor for most row crops as input prices remain elevated and crop prices have moderated. The cattle sector, in contrast, is experiencing record prices and returns to cow-calf producers. Policy uncertainty remains especially high.

This report summarizes baseline projections for agricultural and biofuel markets prepared using information available in January 2026, including macroeconomic forecasts by S&P Global. The baseline reflects current policies, incorporating programs in place in January 2026, but does not reflect any subsequent policy changes. Current geopolitical events in the Middle East, and the related impact on energy and fertilizer prices, add significant near-term uncertainty to the outlook. The baseline is intended to serve as a reasonable point of reference for evaluating alternative scenarios, not a prediction of future market conditions or policy choices.

Some key results:
    Grain and oilseed prices are expected to rebound modestly in 2026 having fallen from their peaks in 2021/22 and 2022/23. Corn, soybeans, and wheat prices remain below their average of the last decade.
    Relative prices and trade uncertainty prompted a significant acreage shift from soybeans to corn in 2025. In the outlook, 2026 corn plantings fall to 94.9 million acres and soybeans plantings rise to 83.3 million.
    Corn prices are projected to average $4.21 for the crop harvested in 2026 with a decline in production offset by lower exports, feed and residual use, and lower, but still plentiful, carryout stocks.
    Soybean prices are projected at $10.39 per bushel for the 2026/27 marketing year. Wheat price rebounds from $4.90 the prior year to $5.58 per bushel in 2026/27.
    Prices for cotton, rice, sorghum, and many other crops, having also declined sharply from recent peaks, show modest increases, but margins also remain poor for these crops.
    The beef cow herd continued to decline through January 2026 and, along with suspended live animal trade with Mexico and robust demand, has resulted in record cow-calf operator profitability. This profitability eventually causes the cycle to turn, and cattle prices start to decline in 2027.
    Lower feed costs have supported livestock profitability. Going forward, the outlook will be sensitive to feed costs, international markets, and animal disease and pest pressures along with domestic demand.
    Fewer incidents of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) late into 2025 and early 2026 have supported the rebuild of the egg-laying flock and notably moderated egg prices, which reached record levels in February 2025. The outlook for eggs depends significantly on the prevalence of future disease outbreaks.
    Provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) increase Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and crop insurance government outlays. Section 5 CCC transfers and subsequent expenditures are assumed to continue in the current-policy baseline, with total mandatory outlays in the outlook at similar levels of expenditure since FY 2019.
    Net farm income fell by one-third between 2022 and 2024 as the drop in crop returns outweighed the effects of stronger cattle prices. Supported by a jump in government payments, farm income in 2025 and 2026 is expected to be above the average of the prior decade.
    Consumer food price inflation rose to 2.8% in 2025 with significant contributions from eggs and beef. The outlook is for a 2.5% increase in consumer food prices in 2026.

Economists with the Food and Agricultural Policy Research Institute (FAPRI) release an annual U.S. Agricultural Market Outlook report each spring. The report gives policymakers, farmers, agribusinesses and the public an overview of the state of the U.S. farm economy. The market projections it contains can be useful to farmers making production choices, to policymakers trying to decide how to respond to agriculture issues, to lenders who must decide whether to make loans and to agribusinesses making investment decisions.



Poll Finds Overwhelming Support for Expanding E15 to Lower Pump Prices

Amid higher prices at the pump and volatile world energy markets, an overwhelming majority of registered voters support expansion of the lower-cost E15 fuel blend and legislation to make the fuel permanently available year-round and nationwide, according to a new poll from Morning Consult, conducted for the Renewable Fuels Association. RFA said the polling results underscore the urgency of securing federal legislation to finally allow uninterrupted sales of E15 all year long.

“These polling results send a clear and unequivocal message to policymakers: American voters want expanded access to lower-cost E15—and they want it now,” said RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “By a margin of eight-to-one, voters who expressed an opinion on E15 support efforts to broaden the availability of this more affordable, cleaner-burning fuel. It’s time for Congress to listen to American voters and get the job done. Hardworking families across the country clearly understand that E15 can help them save money, while enhancing our national energy security at a time of great uncertainty. Many in Congress have voiced support for passing year-round E15 legislation, but now it’s time for action.”

The survey of more than 2,000 registered voters indicates that 71 percent support efforts to increase the availability of E15. Only 12 percent of voters oppose expanding E15, with 17 percent expressing no opinion. Meanwhile, two-thirds of voters (66 percent) support the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would make E15 available year-round by removing an outdated regulatory barrier. Only 15 percent of respondents oppose the legislation. When considering only those respondents that expressed an opinion (i.e., removing those “don’t know” and “no opinion” responses), 85 percent support increasing the availability of E15, while 82 percent support the legislation as a way to help lower fuel prices and support energy independence.

With conflict in the Middle East contributing to near-record high pump prices, 81 percent of respondents are concerned about gas price fluctuations, with 51 percent being “very concerned.” Moreover, 67 percent said rising gas prices would affect their vote in upcoming midterm elections, with only 27 percent saying higher prices will have little or no impact on their vote. And, by a margin of six-to-one, respondents said the current situation in the Middle East makes them more supportive of policies that promote American-made biofuels like ethanol (compared to being less supportive).

In addition, 89 percent believe it is important for America to be energy independent (up 10 percentage points from December’s polling), and 80 percent think renewable fuels like ethanol are important to American energy independence.

Lastly, as EPA prepares to finalize 2026-27 Renewable Fuel Standard volumes, respondents were asked about the debate over exempting small refiners from their biofuel blending obligations. Of those who had an opinion on the matter, 72 percent said oil companies should be required to meet current biofuel blending requirements and only 28 percent believe the government should allow oil companies to avoid blending requirements.

The survey was conducted by Morning Consult March 19–21, among a sample of 2,037 U.S. registered voters. Data were weighted to approximate a target sample based on age, race/ethnicity, gender, educational attainment, 2024 presidential vote, and region. Results have a 2 percent margin of error.