A coalition of livestock, dairy, meat and poultry groups have filed a petition with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) asking for a waiver “in whole or in substantial part” of the amount of renewable fuel that must be produced from corn ethanol that is required under the Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS) for the remainder of 2012 and for a portion of 2013. The RFS has “directly affected the supply and cost of feed in major agricultural sectors of this country, causing the type of economic harm that justifies issuance of an RFS waiver,” the petition states. The coalition is asking for prompt action to provide relief because of the effects of the drought, stating in the petition, “[i]t is abundantly clear that sufficient harm is occurring now and that economic conditions affecting grain supplies and feed prices will worsen in the months ahead. Both conditions provide an independent basis for a waiver of the RFS.” The RFS requires 13.2 billion gallons of corn-based ethanol to be produced in 2012 and 13.8 billion gallons in 2013. Members of the coalition include the American Feed Industry Association, American Meat Institute, American Sheep Industries Association, Milk Producers Council, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, National Chicken Council, National Pork Producers Council, National Turkey Federation and North American Meat Association.