Farmers Disappointed With Lack of Clarity Around 45Z

Jan 13, 2025

The Department of Treasury released more details today about a tax credit, known as 45Z, that is designed to help the biofuel industry make inroads into the aviation sector.

While today’s news included more information, corn grower leaders said they still need better clarity about the specific environmental practices that will be required for accessing the credit.

“This is disappointing news for growers,” said Iowa Corn Growers Association President Stu Swanson. “We have continually advocated for clear guidelines from Treasury officials, working to provide them with the necessary information they need to get this done. Unfortunately, it feels like our input has gone unrecognized and this issue will now be passed to the new administration.”  

The 45Z tax credit was part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which was signed into law in 2022. The law provides tax incentives to refineries that produce biofuels that can be used in commercial aircraft to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.