Trump’s Support Wavering in Farm Country Over Ethanol, Trade Moves

2018 Election, Environmental Protection Agency, Federal Agency/Executive Branch, Federal Regulation, Feedstocks, Field/Orchard/Plantation Crops/Residues, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Opinions, Policy, White House

June 5, 2018

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by Alan Bjerga and Mario Parker (Bloomberg) EPA chief seen as betraying Trump’s promises on biofuels; Trade tensions put demand for agricultural goods at risk — Even as Donald Trump tweets his support for U.S. agriculture, farmer loyalty for the president looks like it’s starting to waver over moves that may undermine corn-based ethanol and escalate trade disputes with countries that import American crops.

A long-anticipated White House announcement expected to lower costs for oil refiners at the expense of ethanol may show that the Environmental Protection Agency is breaking promises to protect the biofuel, according to the National Biodiesel Board. Meanwhile, trade actions also are raising concerns among farmers, said Jon Doggett, executive vice president of the National Corn Growers Association.

“There was strong support for the president,” Doggett said. “There continues to be strong support for the president. However, some of that support is wavering because of the trade issue and ethanol.”

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The controversy is reverberating in politically important agricultural states, several of which host Senate races that may determine which party controls the chamber this year. Two incumbent Democrats in Minnesota and one in Missouri, both states covered by the survey, are up for re-election. Incumbent Democrats are also facing tough battles in North Dakota and Indiana, which also produce biofuels. READ MORE

Midwest Voters Want Trump to Protect RFS (Energy.AgWired.com)

COMMUNITY LEADERS PUSH TO UNLEASH NEBRASKA BIOFUELS *AUDIO* (KNEB)

LAWMAKERS, CANDIDATES APPRECIATE SECRETARY PERDUE’S SUPPORT FOR BIOFUELS (Brownfield Ag News)

Letter: Safeguard ethanol production and Hoosier farmers (Courier & Press)

Washington Insider — Friday — Farmer Political Support May be Softening (DTN The Progressive Farmer)

‘We’re riding a tiger’: The Iowa GOP bets it all on Trump (Politico)

Excerpt from KNEB: In a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue, 55 community leaders from across the Midwest offered their support to combat “special interests seeking to undercut homegrown biofuels and deprive American farmers of a vital market for U.S. crops.” Among the signers were 11 public officials from Nebraska, including State Senators Williams, Hughes, Watermeier, Linehan, Brasch, Briese, Kolterman, Lowe and Friesen, Regent Paul Kenney and Geneva City Council President Eric Kamler.

Listen to Nebraska State Senator Curt Friesen on why he signed the letter: http://post.futurimedia.com/krvnam/playlist/nebraska-senator-joins-the-fight-to-bring-e-15-sales-year-round-4306.html READ MORE

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