The headlines could not come at a worse time. Farm bankruptcies in 2025 were up 46 percent over 2024; the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s new crop report reinforces the January forecast of the largest corn crop ever. The rural farm economy is suffering.
A commonsense fix is within reach. But will Congress punt again?
At first glance, a record corn crop should be good news. But in reality, it has created a crushing oversupply that is overwhelming farm country. Demand has not kept up, which means lower commodity prices and farm income. Farmers work harder, produce more, and yet find themselves with shrinking returns.
Temporary relief and emergency aid have helped keep operations afloat, and farmers are grateful for the Trump administration’s bridge payments. But farm payments don’t clear out bins—stronger markets do; America’s farmers need expanded markets as soon as possible.
The best and easiest solution now lies before Congress: legislation to allow year-round E15 sales nationwide. It is now up to the House’s E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council to present its proposal approach for approving year-round E15 by Sunday, February 15, and the House has promised to hold a vote on the legislative proposal by month’s end.
Because of archaic federal rules, the sale of E15 is restricted during the summer months in much of the country. Allowing E15 to be sold year-round nationwide is the fastest, most effective way to address the farm sector’s supply-demand imbalance. It would ultimately create new demand for more than 2 billion bushels of corn and sorghum, helping turn record harvests from a liability into an opportunity.
Only a few weeks ago in Iowa, President Trump called directly on Congress to send a bill authorizing year-round E15 to his desk. He recognizes that market access for E15 is both urgently needed and embodies his America First agenda. Allowing year-round sales would strengthen energy security by replacing imported oil with renewable fuel produced from the crops grown by American farmers, while building a more resilient domestic fuel supply.
Notably, year-round E15 is backed by members on both sides of the aisle, farm organizations, fuel retailers, consumer advocates, and a broad swath of the petroleum refining industry. December polling also shows it is also supported by two-thirds of registered voters. In today’s divided political climate, that kind of consensus is rare. And yet Congress has kicked this policy can down the road for years, forcing farmers to bear the cost of delay despite a clear solution within reach.
One simple, bipartisan effort can help save family farms, lower costs for drivers, and strengthen America’s energy independence in one motion. Let’s get it done.
