Trade and environmental issues have been the hottest topics in agriculture for the past three Presidential administrations. Policies centered around bettering the environment are lacking any language about using renewable biofuels as a way of bridging to the future. The definition of what is considered a navigable waterway for the use of interstate trade is in question for the third time in as many presidencies. Trade continues to leave producers with more questions than answers.
These are just a few of the topics that Iowa Senator Joni Ernst discussed with Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network early this morning. We talked about the work she is doing along with colleagues on both sides of the aisle, who want some idea of what the Biden Administration has planned to go forward. They have been asking questions but getting different answers from one day to the next.
Biofuels were the first area that the Senator addressed. She talked about joining with Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley and Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar in sending a letter to the Environmental Protection Agency asking them to make biofuels a priority as they move forward with the Biden Administration?s environmental policy goals. Senator Ernst talked about her concerns with how the Biden EPA has been handling the inclusion of ethanol and biodiesel in those plans.
Earlier this week, we heard that the EPA has decided to allow an extension to Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) to refiners going back to 2019. Senator Ernst says that this move is ?unacceptable.? The Senator says that President Biden needs to keep his word on promises he made on the campaign trail when talking with Midwesterners.
On President Biden?s push to reintroduce the Waters of the United States Rule (WOTUS), Senator Ernst cites the fact the Supreme Court has decided to take up the debate. She is asking for the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers to take a pause in their writing of new rules to see what the Supreme Court has to say. It is coming back to what waterways are under federal jurisdiction and state jurisdiction.
Finally, Senator Ernst talked about trade. After a seemingly endless discussion on trade under the Trump Administration, things have been quiet from President Biden. The Phase-1 trade deal with China is long gone. What is being done to proceed? China is looking at grabbing a larger share of global trade, and Ernst says she would like to see the United States counter these moves with a clear trade plan moving forward.
You can find a copy of the bipartisan RFS/Biofuels letter sent to EPA Administrator Regan here. You can also read the letter Senator Ernst mentioned on trade policy here.
