Senators complain of slow USDA help for biofuels

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Republican Senators from Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota came out this week and urged Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack to end the delay on financial help for the biofuels industry in their states.

In a letter to the Secretary, the Senators said it was past time that “hardworking biofuel producers receive the critical aid that you promised.”

It was in June when the USDA announced $700 million in aid as part of the Pandemic Assistance for Producers, help that the agency said would be coming within 60 days. But that 60-day promise has come and gone and the Senators called it “unacceptable” that it has actually been 120 days since the promise of biofuels aid was made.

“The pandemic continues to negatively affect biofuel producers. As feedstocks have experienced historic highs, margins to produce biofuel have risen, and many plants remain offline or are operating at reduced rates. With President Biden’s plan to decarbonize the transportation and agriculture sectors, we remind you of the important role of biofuel. It is past time our hardworking biofuel producers receive the critical aid that you promised.”

And the response from the USDA?

“We will be accepting applications for this assistance soon,” said a spokesperson.

The letter was led by Iowa Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, and also signed by Sens. Jerry Moran (Kan.), Deb Fischer (Neb.), Mike Rounds (S.D.), Roger Marshall (Kan.), Ben Sasse (Neb.) and John Thune (S.D.).

Source: POLITICO