EPA Greenlights E15 Year-Round as Iowa Ag Tackles Ethanol and Soybean Challenges

In today's episode of the Iowa Ag Podcast, guest host Andy Peterson delves into significant agricultural developments within Iowa, spotlighting a pivotal decision by the EPA to authorize year-round sales of E15, a fuel blend with higher ethanol content derived from corn. This announcement has been met with mixed reactions from the Iowa Corn Growers Association, which praises the decision but voices frustration over its postponed enforcement until 2025 and its limited nationwide availability. The association is actively working to enhance the carbon intensity (CI) score of corn ethanol to make it more competitive against the lower CI scores of Brazilian ethanol, highlighting the ongoing need for new ethanol markets and acknowledging Governor Reynolds’ support for E15 promotion.

Additionally, the podcast features insightful discussions on challenges facing soybean cultivation, particularly focusing on the issue of herbicide resistance. Andy is joined by Eric Schroeder of Corteva, who discusses the emergence of water hemp resistance to the herbicide 2,4-D, emphasizing the critical importance of employing multiple modes of action and proper stewardship to maintain herbicide efficacy. The episode also covers Corteva's research efforts to discover new herbicides. Furthermore, insights from Brian Fager and Drew Clementson of the Iowa Soybean Association on seeding rate trials illustrate how optimizing seeding rates based on factors like soil type and nutrient availability can significantly boost soybean yield and profitability. Their collaborative approach with farmers on prescription-based seeding rate trials underscores the episode’s overarching theme of innovation, stewardship, and collaboration within the Iowa agriculture sector.

Full show details are at https://iowapodcast.com/epa-and-e15-ethanol-in-iowa