The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry narrowly advanced the Agricultural Act out of committee, moving the legislation, commonly referred to as the farm bill 2.0, to the next stage of the legislative process.
The legislation includes several priorities for corn growers, including language that would allow the year-round sale of fuels containing 15% ethanol, commonly known as E15.
The National Corn Growers Association said the committee action was an important step but urged the full Senate to advance the legislation and make year-round E15 sales law this year.
The Senate farm bill provision would expand consumer access to E15 throughout the year. The NCGA said expanded access could lower gasoline prices while supporting the rural economy and U.S. energy security.
Corn growers are advocating for the legislation as the 2026 corn crop moves into harvest. The NCGA said high production costs and continuing economic pressures on agriculture make passage of the farm bill a priority.
The organization also pointed to recent action in the House of Representatives involving the farm bill and E15 as evidence of bipartisan support for expanding access to higher ethanol blends.
The NCGA thanked Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman, R-Ark., Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and other committee members for advancing the legislation and supporting expanded access to E15.
Source: National Corn Growers Association, "NCGA Supports Farm Bill Vote, Urges Further Action as Corn Farmers Harvest Most Expensive Crop"