EPA’s Renewable Fuel Proposal Boosts Volumes

Jul 08, 2025

By Faith Parum

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on June 13 to increase Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volumes. Renewable fuels are produced from feedstocks — raw materials such as corn, soybeans, used cooking oil, and animal fats.

The NPRM includes higher volume targets for advanced fuels like cellulosic biofuel, which is made from crop residue, and biomass-based diesel, which is derived from soybean oil or animal fats. The proposal would also limit the use of imported materials to generate Renewable Identification Numbers (RINs), which are credits used to track compliance with RFS requirements. This change is intended to make U.S.-grown crops more competitive.

Overall, the proposal would help preserve demand for American feedstocks and expand market opportunities for U.S. farmers. This Market Intel outlines the proposed changes to the Renewable Fuel Standard and examines their potential impact on agriculture.

Renewable Fuel Standard Background

Created in the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, reduce reliance on imported oil and grow the nation’s renewable fuels sector – and the domestic feedstocks that go into it, like corn and soybeans – the RFS program requires specific volumes of renewable fuel, called Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs), to be blended into U.S. transportation fuel each year.

EPA sets these RVOs across four categories: total renewable fuel, advanced biofuel, cellulosic biofuel and biomass-based diesel.

Click here to see more...

Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.