November 25th, 2025

Senate Passes Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act

The Senate unanimously passed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act, clearing a major hurdle toward restoring whole and 2% milk options in school meal programs. The bill now heads to the House, where similar legislation passed overwhelmingly in 2023, before it can be sent to the president’s desk. The measure would allow schools to serve whole and reduced-fat milk alongside the current offerings of low-fat, fat-free and flavored varieties. Supporters say the change reflects updated nutrition research showing milk of all fat levels has neutral or positive health effects. Whole and 2% milk remain the most commonly consumed varieties at home. “Restoring schools’ option to offer whole and reduced-fat milk will mean more schoolkids get the essential nutrients they need,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation. The bipartisan bill is sponsored by Sens. Roger Marshall, Peter Welch, Dave McCormick and John Fetterman.

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Trump Dumps Tariffs on Brazilian Foods

President Donald Trump on Thursday lifted the 40% tariffs he imposed in July on Brazilian food imports, reversing a policy that had raised U.S. consumer costs and strained agricultural markets. The move removes duties on Brazilian beef, coffee, cocoa and fruit beginning Nov. 13, and may trigger refunds for tariffs already paid, according to a White House order. The rollback follows similar actions last week easing food tariffs from other countries as the administration reassesses trade measures that contributed to higher grocery prices. Brazil supplies about one-third of U.S. coffee and has become a major source of beef for the U.S. market. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said Trump aimed to “wipe the slate clean” after earlier broad tariff threats, calling the step a shift toward affordability. Commodity markets reacted sharply. U.S. cattle futures fell on concerns about increased Brazilian beef imports, while global coffee prices plunged more than 6% as traders anticipated a surge of Brazilian shipments. 

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USDA to Provide $7 Million for Advanced Biofuel Production

USDA announced Friday that it is making $7 million available nationwide to advanced biofuel producers through the Advanced Biofuel Producer Payment Program, Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said. The funding, authorized under the One Big Beautiful Bill, will support eligible producers by providing quarterly payments based on the actual production of finished advanced biofuels. The enrollment period runs from October 1 to December 15, 2025. “This home-grown biofuel production results in lower prices at the pumps, creates jobs, and puts farmers first,” Rollins said, emphasizing President Donald Trump’s effort to bolster U.S. energy independence and rural economies. Advanced biofuels are defined under 7 CFR Part 4288 and, through this initiative, USDA aims to increase domestic production using American-grown feedstocks. Interested parties can contact their state Rural Development Energy Coordinator for program details. 

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Record Ethanol Exports are Expanding on Strong Demand

U.S. ethanol exports climbed sharply in August, driven by record sales to Canada and the European Union, federal trade data show. Shipments reached 188.8 million gallons, a 15% increase from July and 24% higher than a year earlier. Canada remained the top buyer at 74.4 million gallons, while another 47.6 million gallons moved through the Netherlands for use across the EU. RFD-TV reports that together, those markets accounted for nearly two-thirds of all U.S. ethanol exports. The U.S. imported no foreign ethanol during the month. Other key markets shifted as well. Colombia boosted purchases by 43% to 14.1 million gallons, India rebounded after several slow months, and Mexico increased buying as the United Kingdom, Peru and the Philippines pulled back. Year-to-date exports reached 1.42 billion gallons, 16% ahead of 2024. Exports of distillers dried grains, or DDGs, with solubles also strengthened, rising 10% to 1.17 million metric tons, though cumulative shipments remain slightly below last year. 

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ACA Supports the SPEED Act to Deliver Real Permitting Reform

Last week, the American Carbon Alliance submitted a formal letter of support for the bipartisan SPEED Act — legislation designed to bring long-overdue clarity, accountability, and timeliness to federal environmental reviews. The bill establishes firm review deadlines, streamlines agency coordination, and prevents the kind of regulatory delay that regularly stalls energy, carbon-capture, biofuels, and rural-infrastructure projects. For ethanol producers, rural communities, and carbon capture developers, predictable permitting isn’t a luxury — it’s essential. Investments stall when timelines slip, and rural economies lose opportunities when critical infrastructure gets caught in bureaucratic gridlock. The SPEED Act is a major step toward ensuring the U.S. can actually build the projects needed for lower emissions, stronger energy security, and new economic growth across the Midwest. As of Friday morning, the SPEED Act passed committee markup with a bipartisan vote. 

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Clean Fuels Members Gather in Washington for Annual Meeting

Leaders from the biodiesel, renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel industries gathered in Washington last week for Clean Fuels Alliance America’s annual membership meeting, where the organization set policy priorities and pressed lawmakers for regulatory clarity. The event highlighted the strength of Clean Fuels’ broad membership, which includes producers, feedstock suppliers and technology developers. During the meeting, members elected seven officers to two-year terms. The group also heard from Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, who reiterated her support for renewable fuels and pointed to a bipartisan letter urging the Environmental Protection Agency to reallocate small refinery exemptions and finalize Renewable Fuel Standard rules. Clean Fuels members held 87 meetings with congressional offices, urging lawmakers to push Treasury and EPA to finalize guidance for the 45Z clean fuel tax credit and the 2026–27 RFS. Leaders said regulatory certainty is essential for continued investment, rural economic growth and the industry’s long-term environmental goals. 

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