Missouri Soybean Association urges President Trump to protect RFS, keep promise to farmers
- Missouri Soybean Association
- 3 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Missouri Soybean Association is calling on U.S. EPA to reject rumored expansions of small-refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard, warning the proposal could eliminate 500 million gallons of biomass-based diesel demand and cost U.S. soybean farmers nearly $1 billion in lost revenue while undermining domestic markets for soybean oil.
MSA is urging the agency to ensure rumored reports of expanded SREs under RFS do not become reality.
Additional SREs would significantly reduce demand for soybean-based biofuels and undermine one of agriculture’s strongest domestic markets.
MSA applauded President Donald Trump and EPA when the strongest RVOs in the history of RFS were finalized this past spring.
Those volumes provided certainty for soybean farmers, encouraged investment in biodiesel and renewable diesel, expanded domestic demand for soybean oil and reinforced the administration’s commitment to American agriculture.
Recent reports, however, indicate SREs for the 2025 compliance year could exceed 1.8 billion renewable identification number (RIN) credits under a revised methodology being considered by EPA.
That level would be nearly double the exemptions EPA assumed when it finalized the 2026-’27 RVO rule earlier this year.
If these rumors become reality, approving refinery exemptions well beyond original assumptions would erase those gains originally secured by President Trump.
“Missouri soybean farmers supported the president’s actions this past spring because they bolstered U.S. markets, strengthened rural economies and reinforced America’s energy independence,” said MSA President Cody Brock. “The president has consistently emphasized the need to utilize agricultural products domestically, and his record RVOs validated his commitment to the American farmer. We urge the president to stand by those commitments and reject any rumored proposal that would undo the progress his administration has already made.”
The reported exemptions could eliminate approximately 500 million gallons of biomass-based diesel demand and cost U.S. soybean farmers nearly $1 billion in lost revenue.
At a time when farm profitability remains under significant pressure, MSA said Missouri soybean farmers cannot afford to lose one of their most important domestic markets.
