The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently extended until Oct. 11 the deadline for filing comments on requests that it waive the federal Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS), which requires a certain amount of corn ethanol to be blended into gasoline annually.
With drought conditions in most of the Corn Belt their worst in more than 50 years and corn yields expected to drop significantly, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), a number of other livestock and poultry groups, eight governors and 34 Senate and 156 House members have asked EPA to waive the federal mandate for the production of corn ethanol.
NPPC is urging pork industry representatives to submit comments. To comment as a producer, click here. To comment as an employee, click here. To comment as an allied industry member, click here.
The EPA administrator, in consultation with the secretary of agriculture and the secretary of energy, must approve or disapprove a petition for the waiver of the RFS volume requirements within 90 days after the date on which the petition is received by the administrator.