Farmer First Fuel Incentive Act Promotes Biofuel Growth

Apr 14, 2025
By Farms.com

Farmer First Fuel Act Boosts Bioenergy

The Farmer First Fuel Incentive Act has been introduced by U.S. Senators Roger “Doc” Marshall and Amy Klobuchar. This bipartisan legislation aims to strengthen American agriculture by promoting the production of biofuels such as jet fuel and ethanol using crops like soybeans, corn, and sorghum.

Senator Marshall highlights the significant opportunity this bill presents. Turning soybean oil into jet fuel could become one of the largest markets for farmers, with demand high enough to require four times the current U.S. soybean crop.

The Act also supports farmers using precision agriculture to grow corn or sorghum for ethanol production. A key feature of the legislation is the 45Z tax credit, which would provide farmers and fuel producers with ten years of financial certainty, unlike previous short-term benefits.

Another important element of the bill is the restriction on foreign-grown feedstocks, such as imported used cooking oil. This ensures that only American-grown crops are used in the supported biofuel programs.

Although similar legislation failed in the last Congressional session, Senator Marshall is hopeful about its success this time. He mentions growing bipartisan support and interest from both the House and Senate agriculture committees.

The bill could be included in broader legislation like a farm bill or a reconciliation bill. Senator Marshall has discussed the plan with Secretary of Agriculture Rollins and Treasury Secretary Bessent, indicating strong coordination and support.

Additionally, Marshall supports expanding E15 ethanol blends nationwide, which could help consume much of the corn currently exported by the U.S.

Photo Credit: biofuel1-photo-credit-vista-mipan

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.