ICGA Asks President Trump to Correct Twisted RFS Proposal

In continued efforts to correct the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) twisted proposed rule that goes against President Trump’s agreement, Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) President Jim Greif spoke at a news conference along with the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA).  The attack of Small Refinery Exemptions (SREs) has eliminated 4.04 billion gallons of biofuels from the RFS program over the last three years. This equates to nearly 1.5 billion bushels of corn. The EPA’s supplemental proposed rule would base any reallocation of waived gallons through the SRE program on the Department of Energy (DOE) recommendations which the EPA has historically not followed. The result of the EPA’s proposal will continue to undercut the RFS when waivers are granted removing market access for cleaner-burning renewable fuels. In efforts to not let this proposed rule get finalized, ICGA has launched a campaign sharing farmer’s stories to ask President Trump to follow through on his promise to support the RFS.

 

ICGA secured media space in the Washington D.C. market to air a commercial in hopes to grab the attention of President Trump and get him to stick to the deal that was agreed to on October 4, 2019. In this deal, the President agreed to base any reallocation of gallons on a three-year average of actual waived gallons. The commercial features ICGA President Jim Greif, Industrial Usage and U.S. Production Committee Chair Kelly Nieuwenhuis and Officer At-Large Mark Recker. The commercial expresses the deep concerns of Iowa’s corn farmers and ICGA members regarding the damage that this proposal could cause if it was adopted.

 

 

 

Video: Independent Seed, National Impact | On The Brink: Episode 9

A survey of 200 independent seed businesses reveals what Canada's seed sector actually contributes — and what it stands to lose.

On the Brink, Justin Funk, a third-generation agri-marketer, shares the findings of a national survey conducted in early 2026. The numbers reframe the conversation: independent seed companies in Canada represent upwards of $1.7 billion in dedicated seed infrastructure, approximately 3,000 full-time equivalent jobs in rural communities, and an estimated $20 million in annual community contributions. And roughly 90% of Canada's cereals, pulses, and other small pollinated crops flow through them.

The survey also asked how dependent these businesses are on public plant breeding to survive. The answer was unambiguous. For policymakers evaluating the future of publicly funded breeding programs, Funk argues the economic case for this sector and the case for public plant breeding are the same argument.

On the Brink is a cross-country video series exploring the future of plant breeding in Canada. Each episode features voices from across the industry in an open, ongoing conversation about innovation and long-term investment in Canadian agriculture.