Farm Bureau Welcomes Summer Ethanol Blend Waiver

Apr 26, 2024

US EPA announced that it’s issuing a waiver to allow the use of E15 nationwide again this summer. This action will provide communities with relief at the pump related to market supply issues created by the ongoing war in Ukraine and conflict in the Middle East by increasing fuel supply and offering a variety of gasoline fuel blends from which consumers can choose.

“Not only is ethanol-blended gasoline a valuable market to farmers in Ohio and across the Corn Belt, it also gives consumers a major cost-saving option at the pump,” said Ohio Farm Bureau Executive Vice President Adam Sharp. “Although we will continue to push for a permanent fix to year-round sales of E15, Ohio Farm Bureau members appreciate that their message of the importance of continuing to broaden market opportunities for E15 and strengthen our nation’s energy independence was heard by the US EPA. This decision is a win-win for farmers and consumers.”

The emergency fuel waiver to allow the sale of summer gasoline blends containing 15% ethanol will lengthen the period during which Americans can continue buying E15 from June 1 to Sept. 15.

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Video: Dicamba Returns for Georgia Farmers: What the New EPA Ruling Means for Cotton Growers

After being unavailable in 2024 due to registration issues, dicamba products are returning for Georgia farmers this growing season — but under strict new conditions.

In this report from Tifton, Extension Weed Specialist Stanley Culpepper explains the updated EPA ruling, including new application limits, mandatory training requirements, and the need for a restricted use pesticide license. Among the key changes: a cap of two ½-pound applications per year and the required use of an approved volatility reduction agent with every application.

For Georgia cotton producers, the ruling is significant. According to Taylor Sills with the Georgia Cotton Commission, the vast majority of cotton planted in the state carries the dicamba-tolerant trait — meaning farmers had been paying for technology they couldn’t use.

While environmental groups have expressed concerns over spray drift, Georgia growers have reduced off-target pesticide movement by more than 91% over the past decade. Still, this two-year registration period will come with increased scrutiny, making stewardship and compliance more important than ever.