PLATO, Minn. — Brian Thalmann is a 5th generation farmer and president of the Minnesota Corn Growers Association.
He's wondering what's next after this years tough weather.
"Many of my neighbors had crops that didn't get planted until mid-June," said Thalmann.
Now there's another concern for Minnesota Farmers.
Brian says his frustration as a corn producer may be waivers granted by the administration this month to 31 oil refineries so they don't have to blend
ethanol into their gasoline.
A big chunk of U.S. corn crop is turned into ethanol.
"One more negative," said Thalmann.
Thalmann says 100 percent of his corn crop is turned into ethanol. He has 1400 acres of corn.
"When these exemptions are being granted we're not using the gallons the rule says we're supposed to be using," says Thalmann.
The rule Brian mentions is the EPA Renewable Fuel Standard requiring refineries to blend 15 billion gallons annually.
The American Petroleum Institute calls the RFS policy outdated and issued a statement:
“This rushed, arbitrary policy pushes us further toward E15, a fuel that nearly 70 percent of vehicles on the road today were not to designed to run on. We hope the Administration walks back from the brink of a disastrous political decision that punishes American drivers. Bad policy is bad politics.” — Frank Macchiarola, Vice President of Downstream and Industry Operations, API
Thalmann says the frustration is now reaching a boiling point.
"Harder and harder to keep that optimism things are going to improve."