Efforts to Get Year-Round E15 Sales Could Hurt Soybean Farmers

By Tadeo Ruiz Sandoval

Farmer Mark Recker, who grows corn and soybeans in northeast Iowa, has long advocated for year-round sales of E15 gasoline.

The fuel, which is blended with up to 15 percent corn-based ethanol, currently cannot be sold during the summer in most states without a waiver from the federal government due to emission concerns. But legislation making its way through Congress could soon remove those restrictions.

“This looks like something that could really happen,” said Recker, who has supported E15 for about 20 years. He said most of the farmers he works with share a similar enthusiasm.

“It’s been a goal top of mind, and something we work on every day, every month, every year, and hopefully we’re to that point where we’ve reached the pinnacle,” he said.

The U.S. House approved a version of the bill in May. It’s now being debated in the Senate.

Year-round E15 would mean more demand for corn, which could bring more revenue to farms. That’s good news for farmers like Recker, who have been up against low corn prices for about three years.

But caveats included in the bill could hurt the soybean market — and some experts warn that could ultimately shrink any profit gains for farmers.