April 16, 2026

RFA Offers Congressional Refresher on E15

With Congress back in session following a two-week recess, the Renewable Fuels Association is renewing its push for legislation allowing year-round sales of E15. The group says the policy is critical as Americans face rising fuel prices and farmers navigate ongoing economic challenges. “Nearly two months have passed since the House E15 Rural Domestic Energy Council’s deadline for introducing legislation,” said RDA President and CEO Geoff Cooper. “With the House and Senate now back in session, and with gasoline prices hovering near record highs, we are again calling on Congress to honor its commitments and quickly adopt legislation providing year-round access to lower-cost E15.” The association has released updated resources to support advocates, including fact sheets, policy summaries, and market data. Among them is an analysis showing nationwide E15 sales rose 23 percent in 2025, highlighting growing demand for the lower-cost fuel option. Everything You Need to Know About E15 answers frequently asked questions on the RFA website, giving easy answers to the more pressing E15 questions.

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Boozman: Farm Bill Markup Only Weeks Away

Lawmakers on Capitol Hill returned from the Easter recess with growing optimism that a new five-year farm bill could soon advance. Agri-Pulse said John Boozman (BOZE-man), chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, signaled progress. The Arkansas Senator said he expects movement within weeks rather than months and anticipates a markup in the near future. The bill cleared the House Agriculture Committee in March with unified Republican support and backing from several Democrats. It now awaits consideration on the House floor, potentially as early as this month. Wisconsin Representative Derrick Van Orden said efforts are underway to secure enough votes, expressing hope that bipartisan support will carry the legislation forward. Some provisions remain contentious, including measures to overturn California’s Proposition 12 and to shield pesticide manufacturers from certain lawsuits. Boozman described the House version as “a good bill,” adding he hopes to make targeted adjustments as the process moves ahead.

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Coalition Asks Congress to Boost Domestic Markets in Farmer Relief Package 

A coalition of leading agricultural organizations is urging Congress to prioritize funding for local and regional food procurement in any upcoming farmer economic relief package. The effort is being led by groups including the National Farmers Union, American Farmland Trust, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. In a joint letter, the coalition highlighted the mounting pressures facing family farmers and ranchers, including volatile markets, rising costs, trade disruptions, and extreme weather. They argued that relief efforts should be paired with long-term investments that strengthen domestic markets and create reliable demand for U.S.-grown products. The local and regional supply chains are a cornerstone of rural economic resilience and essential to national food security. “Family farmers are squeezed by low prices, rising costs, and deep uncertainty,” said Rob Larew, president of the NFU. “Investing in local and regional food procurement isn’t just good policy, but it’s how we keep family farms viable.”

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USDA Announces Payments Under Cotton and Wool Trust Funds 

The USDA has announced payments for 2026 through the Pima Agriculture Cotton Trust Fund and the Agriculture Wool Apparel Manufacturers Trust Fund, providing financial support to U.S. textile manufacturers facing ongoing global trade challenges. These programs are designed to offset the effects of tariff inversion, a policy structure that can make it more cost-effective to move production overseas and import finished goods rather than manufacture domestically. The trust payments help level the playing field by compensating U.S. companies as if favorable duty reductions were still in place, enabling them to expand production, support jobs, and remain competitive. “U.S. textile companies produce world-renowned quality products and employ a highly skilled workforce,” said Deputy Ag Secretary Stephen A. Vaden. “These payments strengthen our domestic manufacturers and ensure a fair playing field for American textiles.” The Pima Cotton Trust, established under the 2014 Farm Bill, provides $16 million annually through 2031 to support domestic cotton manufacturers.

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U.S. Peanut Consumption is Growing 

U.S. consumers are eating more peanut butter, which accounts for more than 60 percent of all peanuts consumed for food in the U.S. and is increasingly recognized as a low-cost source of protein. The USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service Peanut Stocks and Processing Report said peanut butter consumption has increased six percent over the average during the previous ten years, while consumption of other peanut products has declined. For the 2024-2025 marketing year, consumption of peanut snacks, which includes peanuts, snack bars, and trail mixes, was below the recent ten-year average. Rising net food consumption of peanuts in the U.S. is supported by expanded peanut production. U.S. peanut production reached a record 6.5 billion pounds in 20245-2025, which was 25 percent higher than in 2014-2015. This growth in the domestic supply has facilitated expanded peanut crush and export volumes of six and ten percent, respectively, since 2014-2015. 

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USDA Reminds Producers About Conservation, Financial Program Deadlines 

The USDA is reminding farmers and landowners of key upcoming deadlines for conservation and financial assistance programs, while also opening an additional opportunity under the Continuous Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Producers can now submit offers for the second batching period of Continuous CRP through May 1, 2026, after the initial signup window closed in March. Meanwhile, April 17, 2026, marks the deadline for both the Farmer Bridge Assistance program and General CRP Signup 66. The Farmer Bridge Assistance program, administered by the Farm Service Agency, has already distributed more than $9.4 billion to row crop producers impacted by trade disruptions and rising production costs. “I know spring is a busy time for farmers and ranchers,” said FSA Administrator Bill Beam. “Don’t miss out on these valuable economic support programs.” CRP allows landowners to convert environmentally sensitive acreage into vegetative cover, improving water quality, reducing erosion, and enhancing wildlife habitat.

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