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Fuel fight heats up: Oil-biofuel alliance pressures EPA for higher RVOs…A rare coalition of oil and biofuel interests met with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday to push for significantly higher Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for biomass-based biodiesel and conventional ethanol under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), Reuters reports.
The group advocated for a biomass-based biodiesel mandate of 5.5 to 5.7 billion gallons, up sharply from the 3.35 billion gallons set for 2025, according to documents reviewed by Reuters. For conventional ethanol, the group urged maintaining the 15-billion-gallon threshold, although some lobbied for a modest bump to 15.25 billion gallons.
However, internal divisions emerged. The Fueling American Jobs Coalition, which represents smaller independent refiners, opposed the biodiesel hike. Meanwhile, truck stops and fuel retailers boycotted the meeting altogether, demanding the restoration of the $1-per-gallon blender tax credit that expired at the end of 2024. They argue the current substitute — the Clean Fuel Production Credit (45Z) — lacks clarity and fails to stabilize fuel prices.
The coalition’s direct engagement with the EPA is seen as a key escalation, following a previous round of internal talks encouraged by the administration. EPA is expected to announce its proposed RFS levels for 2026 and possibly 2027 soon. While the agency missed its October 2024 deadline for 2026, finalizing both years by December would align more closely with the legal requirement of setting levels 14 months in advance.
What’s next: Watch for a formal EPA proposal possibly within weeks — a move that could shape the U.S. fuel mix well into the next presidential term.
GOP farm bill talks strained by budget cut divide…House and Senate Agriculture Committee Chairs are at odds over how deep to cut agriculture spending, sparking a high-stakes debate that could shape the next farm bill — and test GOP unity. The two Ag panel leaders will huddle today about the topic.
House GOP plan: Chair GT Thompson (R-Pa.) is navigating pushback over the House’s aggressive $230 billion in proposed agriculture cuts over ten years — raising alarms about impacts to SNAP and farm bill viability.
Senate GOP proposal: Chair John Boozman (R-Ark.) backs a far smaller $1 billion reduction, signaling a more cautious approach amid fears of derailing bipartisan farm bill negotiations.
Title I turf war: Some Republicans want to fold key farm bill programs into the reconciliation package. Democrats — and some conservatives — are pushing back, citing risks to bipartisan support and funding flexibility for farm safety net updates. Thompson warns that overusing reconciliation could sap negotiating power for farm bill priorities like conservation and rural development. (Some argue that an even bolder hike in reference prices could in part serve as a possible funding mechanism for any Trump tariff-related aid payments to some in the ag sector.)
SNAP in the crosshairs: Deep cuts to nutrition programs may alienate swing-district Republicans and those from ag-heavy regions who rely on that funding for constituent support.
Upshot: GOP lawmakers must balance fiscal discipline with political pragmatism — while racing against the clock to finalize both the budget and the farm bill.
Inflation Reduction Act faces tweaks, not termination…Momentum is building on Capitol Hill to modify — not dismantle — the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), particularly its clean energy tax incentives. Bloomberg reports that bipartisan interest is emerging to adjust provisions tied to renewable energy credits, with several Republican lawmakers recognizing economic benefits in their states.
Senate Finance Committee Chair Mike Crapo (R-Id.) remarked at a recent town hall that a “technology-neutral tax approach” could gain traction, preserving many clean energy incentives while reshaping how they’re applied.
While full repeal looks unlikely, certain IRA elements remain politically vulnerable. The electric vehicle (EV) tax credits, in particular, may be on the chopping block, as lawmakers show greater support for carbon capture and clean fuels — technologies more aligned with fossil fuel interests.
Bottom line: For now, the IRA appears poised for recalibration, not removal.
Corn growers push back against possible herbicide tariff…Corn producers already grappling with low crop prices and rising input costs are sounding the alarm over potential tariffs on a critical herbicide. Kenneth Hartman, President of the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA), testified before the International Trade Commission (ITC), warning that imposing levies on 2,4-D imports from China and India would hurt U.S. farmers. “Without reliable access to herbicides, farmers stand to lose significant crop yield to weed damage,” Hartman said in prepared remarks.
Hartman argued that Corteva — the sole domestic producer of 2,4-D — does not require trade protection and that U.S. farmers depend on imported supplies to meet demand. The industry is facing increased chemical resistance and slow innovation in new herbicides, making 2,4-D vital.
The U.S. initiated antidumping and countervailing duty investigations on 2,4-D in April 2024. The ITC is now assessing whether Corteva has been materially harmed by foreign imports. A final ruling is expected within six weeks.
NCGA is urging regulators to avoid supply restrictions, warning that additional costs and limited access to essential crop protection tools could further squeeze struggling farmers.
GOP eyes $25,000 SALT cap in Trump-era tax cut revival…Congressional Republicans are quietly crafting a new tax bill that could raise the cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions from $10,000 to as much as $25,000 for individuals, according to insiders familiar with the discussions. The proposal marks a strategic play to win support from swing-district GOP lawmakers — especially those in high-tax states like New York and California — who have made their votes contingent on easing the SALT cap.
Details:
- The measure is still being drafted and hasn’t been presented to President Trump.
- It would renew and expand provisions from Trump’s 2017 tax cuts, including those for individuals and small businesses.
- The bill also includes elements from Trump’s 2024 campaign pledges, such as eliminating taxes on tipped income and possibly on Social Security benefits (though income limits and Senate rules will restrict how far that goes).
- Trump’s no-taxes-on-tips promise is reportedly the most developed part of the proposal so far.
Political implications: The move is viewed as a significant win for moderate Republicans ahead of 2026 midterms. GOP lawmakers are hoping to finalize and pass the bill by August, in part to counter potential economic headwinds from the administration’s tariff-heavy trade policies. Senate Finance Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Id.) is leading the effort, but cautioned that “everything is on the table and nothing’s on the table” until the draft is finalized.
Budget battles ahead: The proposed tax cuts will be paired with spending rollbacks, including partial repeals of Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. Republicans are considering limiting corporate deductions for SALT payments to help pay for the increased individual cap. A budget resolution — including a debt ceiling hike — is expected to pass both chambers before final negotiations on the tax package begin.
Judge allows pork price-fixing case to proceed…A U.S. District Court judge has ruled that several of the nation’s largest pork producers — including Tyson Foods, Smithfield Foods, and JBS USA — must face trial over allegations of a long-running conspiracy to fix pork prices and restrict supply, potentially costing consumers over $1.4 billion. The lawsuit accuses the companies of coordinating production cuts and exchanging non-public data through a third-party service called Agri Stats. This, plaintiffs argue, helped the firms inflate pork prices from 2009 to 2018.
The ruling: Judge John Tunheim, presiding in Minnesota, found there’s sufficient evidence for a jury to infer a coordinated scheme among the defendants. Hormel Foods was dismissed from the case due to insufficient evidence of participation, largely based on its limited role in Agri Stats.
Estimated impact. An expert for the plaintiffs pegged consumer damages at a minimum of $1.4 billion over the alleged conspiracy period. This lawsuit is part of a broader antitrust crackdown on meat producers, with similar claims already yielding hundreds of millions in settlements in the beef, turkey, and chicken markets.
Agri Stats, the data firm central to the claims, is accused of facilitating price coordination by sharing detailed production and pricing reports. The company denies any wrongdoing but has also been ordered to face trial.
Defendants deny all allegations. Hormel welcomed its dismissal.
Why it matters: This decision amplifies scrutiny of information-sharing practices in the meat industry. It also signals that private data exchanges, even if legal in form, may enable anti-competitive behavior — an issue likely to shape regulatory debates moving forward. This one’s heading to trial.
China reviews beef imports amid supply surge; agribusiness exporters watch closely as Beijing weighs new trade barriers. China’s Ministry of Commerce has pledged a “fair and objective” decision in an ongoing anti-dumping investigation that could reshape the global beef trade. Launched on Dec. 27, 2024, the probe was prompted by claims that a 106.28% spike in imports over five years has harmed China’s domestic beef producers.
Hearing overview (March 31, 2025):
- Participants: ~180 representatives, including beef-exporting nations (U.S., Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Australia), trade groups, Chinese importers, and domestic industry players.
- Scope: The investigation applies to all imported beef, not country-specific, underscoring China’s concerns about oversupply and cooling demand in its local market.
- Process: China says it will consider all stakeholder input and follow regulations before issuing any decisions.
U.S. beef in the crosshairs. Exporters from the U.S. are navigating a difficult climate:
- Registration lapses: China let U.S. beef export facility registrations expire on March 16, 2025, complicating sales of beef processed after that date.
- Tariffs in place: U.S. beef continues to face a 10% retaliatory tariff, shrinking margins and eroding competitiveness.
Despite these challenges, U.S. beef remains popular in China’s premium retail and food service markets, not directly competing with lower-priced domestic offerings. Exporters argue that further restrictions would do little to protect China’s local producers.
China imported a record 2.87 million metric tons of beef in 2024, making it the world’s largest beef importer. However, with demand slowing and inventories high, Chinese industry associations are pushing for protective measures.
Of note: The investigation is expected to take eight months, but extensions are possible depending on the outcome.