Ethanol blend ban lifted for eight states

Feb 26, 2024

By Farms.com

The Biden administration announced plans to end the summertime restriction on E15 gasoline blends in eight states from 2025, responding to Midwestern governors' appeals. This ethanol-blended fuel, derived from corn, has been restricted during summer due to smog concerns.

The move aims to bolster the agricultural economy in key states like Minnesota and Wisconsin, while also addressing environmental impact assessments that suggest a neutral to positive effect on air quality.

The decision reflects the administration's commitment to renewable fuels and agricultural prosperity. Ethanol has played a critical role in reducing reliance on oil and cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions. The EPA's studies have indicated that the year-round sale of E15 could slightly reduce emissions contributing to smog, countering the long-held belief that it's environmentally detrimental in warmer seasons.

The ethanol industry and agricultural advocates welcome this change, seeing it as a step forward in promoting sustainable fuels. The delayed implementation has drawn criticism from some sectors, emphasizing the need for immediate action. Meanwhile, oil industry representatives' express concerns over potential impacts on the fuel supply chain.

This policy shift underscores ongoing debates about the role of ethanol in America's energy strategy, balancing economic, environmental, and energy resilience considerations. As the country moves towards more sustainable energy sources, this decision marks a critical point in the dialogue between agricultural interests and environmental stewardship.

Video: Learning to Wrench From Dad the Hard Way

Harvest is a week out and the farm picked this week to fall apart. The truck needs a battery, the barn curtain's got a problem, and the corn and beans are telling us we're out of time to get it all fixed.

So it's a full day of wrenching. Tork supervises while I get the truck back running, then we're out at the hog barn where one rusted up part has the whole curtain system hung up. Ladder work, cable work, and a little dad-and-son disagreement about the right way to do it. We close it out walking the fields, shelling beans and checking corn, because whether everything's fixed or not, harvest starts when harvest starts.

Chapters: 00:00 Everything breaks the week before harvest 01:00 Tork supervises while I fix the truck 12:30 Out to the barn to find the curtain problem 14:30 One rusty part hung up the whole curtain 20:00 Running the curtain cable from the ladder 24:00 Walking the beans and corn before harvest 26:30 Wrapping up

We're a 6th generation family farm in southeast Iowa showing the real ups and downs of pig farming and row crop farming. No script, just the work. Subscribe and follow along.

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