Potential impacts of waiving ethanol blending rules

An analysis of the potential impacts of waiving the federal ethanol mandate was the subject of a web conference Thursday, Aug. 16. In collaboration with Purdue University, Farm Foundation, NFP hosted the web conference, which featured the work of three Purdue University economists. Severe drought has reduced corn production and driven up the price of corn. Faced with significantly higher feed costs, livestock producers have asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to waive part of the Renewable Fuel Standards, which mandates blending of ethanol in gasoline. Purdue University economists Wally Tyner, Farzad Taheripour and Christopher Hurt have completed an analysis of a potential waiver and what it could mean for the ethanol industry and the price of corn. Their findings were presented at Thursday’s web conference. Click here to read more about the conference and to view the PPT.