Corn Growers Disappointed with Anti-Carbon Capture Legislation

May 15, 2025

The Iowa Senate passed the anti-pipeline bill (HF 639) with a vote of 27-22, effectively banning carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) projects within Iowa, including those that could achieve 100% voluntary easement. Stu Swanson, Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President and farmer from Galt, Iowa, released the following statement:

“This is a hit to Iowa corn growers and ethanol producers. The decision to ban carbon capture and sequestration projects cuts off our ability to tap into markets for ultra-low carbon ethanol and puts Iowa corn growers at a disadvantage compared to states pursuing CCS projects. Iowa has long been known as the corn state, and this decision impacts our ability to stay competitive as other states and countries seize this new opportunity. Our farmers deserve increased market access, not increased barriers. ICGA is disheartened by this decision but appreciates the support of Senate members who voted in the interest of the Iowa farmer.”

Additional Background:

Production of corn continues to outpace demand. USDA is estimating we will have 1.8 billion bushels of excess corn at the end of the 2025-26 crop year. If this bill is signed by the Governor, it would destroy the opportunity to pursue massive new ethanol markets like Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). Worldwide jet fuel demand is projected to be at 120 billion gallons by 2035. If just 10% of that market could be made into SAF from ethanol, this would equate to nearly 19 billion gallons of new ethanol demand or nearly 6.5 billion bushels of new corn demand. That is more than 1.5 times the amount of corn grown in Iowa today.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.