Key topics of discussion before corn growers at last week’s Commodity Classic included increasing the percentage of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply. While they were thrilled by a decision in January by the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals to effectively narrow EPA’s criteria for issuing small refinery waivers from the Renewable Fuels Standard, 13 Republican lawmakers recently sent President Trump a letter asking him to intervene on behalf of the refineries. Gary Marshall, CEO of the Missouri Corn Growers Association, says it’s disappointing that the oil and biofuel industries remain at odds with each other.

Flood control and disaster relief also was a key topic of discussion, and Marshall said many farms impacted by last year’s floods are still unprotected from any rising waters this spring.

Over one-point-four million acres in Missouri went unplanted last year because of flooding and heavy rains during the spring.