The American Soybean Association is warning that additional small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard could take a major bite out of soybean demand. Reports indicate exemptions for the 2025 compliance year could exceed 1.8 billion Renewable Identification Number credits. That’s nearly twice the level EPA assumed when setting current blending requirements. ASA estimates exemptions of that size could eliminate about 500 million gallons of biomass-based diesel demand and cost soybean farmers roughly one billion dollars in lost revenue.

ASA Vice President and Iowa farmer Dave Walton says soybean producers are already struggling financially and can’t afford to lose one of their most important sources of domestic demand. The association is urging President Trump and EPA to reject expanded exemptions and protect the biofuel demand created by higher blending requirements.

By: NATHAN STUEDLEThe American Soybean Association is warning that additional small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard could take a major bite out of soybean demand. Reports indicate exemptions for the 2025 compliance year could exceed 1.8 billion Renewable Identification Number credits. That’s nearly twice the level EPA assumed when setting current blending requirements. ASA estimates exemptions of that size could eliminate about 500 million gallons of biomass-based diesel demand and cost soybean farmers roughly one billion dollars in lost revenue.ASA Vice President and Iowa farmer Dave Walton says soybean producers are already struggling financially and can’t afford to lose one of their most important sources of domestic demand. The association is urging President Trump and EPA to reject expanded exemptions and protect the biofuel demand created by higher blending requirements.

RFS exemptions could cut biofuel demand