Iowa Corn Growers Association
OCTOBER 4, 2019

Corn Farmers Thank Trump Administration and Biofuels Champions for Upholding the Integrity of the RFS

Statement from ICGA President Jim Greif

Iowa corn farmers received positive news today for momentum in the right direction to uphold the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). The Iowa Corn Growers Association (ICGA) thanks President Trump for his commitment to address the demand destruction of corn ethanol brought on by expanded use of small refinery exemptions and prospectively account for those exemptions using a three-year rolling average of actual waived gallons, beginning with the 2020 biofuel standard. This gives hope to Iowa’s rural economy, especially at a time when corn farmers need it most.

We also want to thank Iowa’s elected leaders and Iowa Corn Growers Association members who overwhelmingly responded to communicate with the President the top priority of ICGA -- to retain the RFS and reduce regulatory barriers for higher blends of ethanol. We are grateful for the dedication of our biofuels champions, Senators Ernst and Grassley along with Governor Reynolds, who fought for Iowa’s corn farmers, ethanol plants and rural communities.

We appreciate the Trump Administration is taking steps to make it right to help Iowa corn farmers. ICGA will continue to work with our elected champions and the Administration to ensure the commitments made today are implemented and demand for Iowa corn is restored.


Iowa Corn Growers Association
AUGUST 27, 2019

Iowa Corn Farmers Fed Up with Broken Promises

Today, at the Iowa Corn Growers Association’s (ICGA) Annual Grassroots Summit ICGA delegates and members rallied to express their anger and are calling for the Trump Administration to make it right by following the law and upholding the integrity of the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).

President Trump’s promises on the future of ethanol were broken with the approval of 31 unjustified refinery waivers as it kills the demand for corn, and Iowa corn farmers are fed up. On top of the RFS not being upheld, trade wars and uncertain weather from Mother Nature, farmers are seeing the value of their crop continue to fall as harvest approaches. Farmers cannot take any more financial hits because their livelihoods and futures depend on it.

“Agriculture is in one hell of a bad situation right now. The government put us in this situation, and they need to help us get out of it,” stated Vic Miller a corn farmer from Fayette County. “It’s time for President Trump to make rural America and the RFS great again. He made promises to American farmers and now it’s time for him to keep them.”

Stand with us and stand up for your farm and family by telling the Trump Administration to stop gutting the RFS and to make it right for corn farmers. We need a solution for the sake of rural America. Click here to submit a letter to the President. Submit your comments before the August 30 deadline.


Iowa Corn Growers Association
AUGUST 9, 2019

Iowa Corn Farmers Upset EPA Grants Unjustified Waivers

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today the destruction of more ethanol demand by granting 31 of the requested 38 small refinery exemptions (SRE) waivers from the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS).  

“Granting of the additional 31 refinery exemptions are ridiculous and a slap in the face to farmers,” said Curt Mether, President of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and a farmer from Logan, Iowa. “The RFS could be one of the most effective energy policies in our country’s history, but the waivers gut the policy and destroy corn demand for farmers that are faced not only with challenges from mother nature but market destruction. It is time for President Trump to step in and uphold his promise to farmers and to the RFS.” 

The EPA has handed out an unprecedented number of exemptions to small refineries across the country, effectively destroying more than 2.61 billion gallons of ethanol demand resulting in the destruction of nearly 1 billion bushels of corn demand. Farmers expect the EPA to uphold the RFS as President Trump promised to do.  

“The damage done by the EPA to grant additional unjustified waivers undermines the RFS and destroys markets for Iowa’s corn farmers. Not only do the waivers destroy corn demand, but they benefit oil companies that have record profits. If the President allows his EPA to grant these waivers, he must direct the EPA to reallocate these gallons into the next 2020 renewable volume obligation (RVO) decision to keep in alignment with his promises to American farmers on ethanol,” stated Mether.


Iowa Corn Growers Association
JULY 5, 2019

Iowa Corn Farmers Disappointed EPA Fails to Account for Small Refinery Waivers in Proposed RVO Rule

JOHNSTON, IA – July 5, 2019 – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today the proposed Renewable Volume Obligations (RVO) for the 2020 conventional biofuels requirement at the statutory level of 15 billion gallons under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). However, the EPA’s actions today mean very little if they continue destroy ethanol demand through the use of Small Refinery Exemptions (SRE).

“We are discouraged by the EPA’s decision to not uphold the integrity of the RFS and account for its heavy usage of the Small Refinery Exemption process as required by law,” said Curt Mether, President of the Iowa Corn Growers Association and a farmer from Logan, Iowa. “Farmers are facing a tough economic environment, and the waivers from the EPA are degrading the top priority for Iowa’s corn farmers while impacting our bottom line.”

The EPA has handed out an unprecedented number of exemptions to small refineries across the country, effectively destroying more than 2.7 billion gallons of ethanol demand resulting in the destruction of nearly 1 billion bushels of corn demand. Farmers expect the EPA to uphold the RFS as President Trump promised to do.

“The damage created by the EPA through SREs undermines the RFS and destroys markets for Iowa’s corn farmers. We need President Trump to keep the EPA in alignment with his promises on ethanol,” stated Mether. “ICGA thanks Secretary Perdue and his team at USDA for their continued support and work to ensure the voices of corn farmers are being heard.”