January 29, 2026

Groups Applaud President’s Call for Year-Round E15

The Renewable Fuels Association applauded President Trump for strongly reaffirming his support for America’s ethanol industry. During a stop in Des Moines, Iowa, he called on Congress to send a bill approving year-round E15 to his desk “very quickly.” Trump said he would sign the bill into law without delay. RFA President and CEO Geoff Cooper said Trump understands the quickest and surest way to boost the farm economy is “to open a vast new market opportunity for grain-based ethanol.” The Iowa Corn Growers Association also applauded the president, saying they appreciate him for shining a light on E15. “He recognizes the weight this legislation holds to us as corn growers,” said ICGA President Steve Kuiper (KY-per). “A recent study by Iowa Corn and the Iowa Renewable Fuels Association shared the positive effects year-round E15 would have on corn growers.” U.S. corn growers have pushed for year-round access for over ten years.

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NFU Urges Buy-Up Coverage Restoration

National Farmers Union submitted comments to the USDA to restore crop insurance buy-up coverage for acres prevented from being planted. NFU warned that recent changes weaken a critical risk management tool for farmers facing mounting economic pressure. Farmers Union President Rob Larew said farmers and ranchers are facing some of the most challenging economic conditions in decades. “The decision to eliminate the option to purchase additional coverage for prevented planting only deepens that strain,” Larew said. “When high input costs, volatile markets, and extreme weather converge, farmers need every risk management tool available to protect their operations, and we strongly urge USDA to restore prevented planting buy-up coverage.” Doing so would mean farmers can continue to manage risk and remain economically viable. When weather conditions prevent timely planting, buy-up coverage provides critical protection for producers of covered commodities in all 50 states, helping them manage financial losses and maintain stability. 

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USMCA Review Roundtable Series

Farmers for Free Trade announced a national series of USMCA roundtables that will bring together farmers, trade experts, and elected officials to discuss the critical importance of strengthening and renewing the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement. The first of three roundtables will be in San Antonio, Texas, on February 24, La Crosse and Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Southeastern Iowa in the Quad Cities region. Additional roundtable locations will be announced throughout the spring and summer. “USMCA is the foundation of American agricultural trade, supporting farmers in every corner of the country,” said Brian Kuehl (KEEL), executive director of Farmers for Free Trade. “Mexico and Canada are our top two agricultural export markets, accounting for over $58 billion in annual exports.” He also said it’s essential that farmers have an opportunity to share directly with their elected representatives how critical this agreement is to their operations and communities. 

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RFA Report Shows Drop in Ethanol Production

Data from the Energy Information Administration, analyzed by the Renewable Fuels Association for the week ending on January 23, showed that ethanol production dropped 0.4 percent to 1.1 million barrels a day. That’s equivalent to 46.8 million gallons a day. Still, output was 9.8 percent higher than the same week last year and 10.2 percent above the three-year average for the week. The four-week average ethanol production rate dropped 0.1 percent to 1.13 million barrels a day. Ethanol stocks shrank 1.3 percent to 25.4 million barrels. Stocks were 1.3 percent less than the same week last year but 2.4 percent above the three-year average. The volume of gasoline supplied to the U.S. market, a measure of implied demand, rebounded 11.8 percent to 8.76 million barrels a day in advance of the winter storm. Demand was 5.5 percent more than a year ago, and 5.3 percent above the three-year average. 

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Food Safety During Super Bowl Celebrations

Super Bowl parties often feature takeout, delivery, and foods that are served over several hours. To help prevent foodborne illness, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service is reminding fans to keep food safety in play on game day. “When food is served throughout the Super Bowl, it can be easy to lose track of how long it’s been sitting out,” said USDA Undersecretary for Food Safety Dr. Mindy Brashears. Many Super Bowl favorites shouldn’t be left out for more than two hours, which is what the USDA calls the Danger Zone. FSIS offers a number of safety tips on handling takeout and delivery safely. They encourage serving food in smaller batches. Bring one batch out in the first half and another in the second half to ensure that food doesn’t stay out for more than two hours. Use a food thermometer to ensure that food reaches a safe minimum internal temperature when cooking at home. 

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January Rural Mainstreet Index Above Growth Neutral

The Rural Mainstreet Index climbed above a growth-neutral score of 50.0 for January. That’s according to the latest monthly survey of bank CEO’s in rural areas of a ten-state region. The January index was at 52.0, its highest reading since July 2023, and up from December’s 50.1. “More than one in three bankers, or 34.7 percent, indicated that their local economy was currently in a recession,” said Dr. Ernie Goss (GAHS) of Creighton University. “Another 27 percent of them expect their local economy to experience recession conditions in the first half of 2026.” Regarding President Trump’s imposition of tariffs, almost 40 percent of the bankers support pulling back on tariffs. After rising above growth-neutral in December, the farm and ranchland index fell below the threshold in January with a reading of 46.0. The farm equipment sales index sank to a very weak 18.8, but was up from December’s even weaker 15.0. 

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