President Trump has invited farmers and biofuels producers to the White House for a big event next week as the industry awaits the government’s announcement on mandates for the fuel additives.
The “celebration of agriculture” event is scheduled for March 27 on the White House South Lawn, sources familiar with the planning told CBS News.
The invitation said: “Later this month, following National Agriculture Week, President Trump plans to host hundreds of farmers and ranchers from around the country on the South Lawn to shine a spotlight on the men and women growing our food, fiber, and fuel.”
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s decision on biofuels is expected around the end of March.
The renewable volume obligations, or RVOs, mandate how much biofuel, such as corn-based ethanol and biodiesel, must be blended into the nation’s fuel supply.
Next week’s meeting could have an impact on the markets amid speculation on the RVO decision coming later this month.
The event comes as the White House and broader Republican Party works to keep key elements of its coalition — the agricultural industry and farming families — on board ahead of the midterm elections, including expensive contests in farming states Georgia, Iowa, Montana, North Carolina, and Texas, where House and Senate races will require strong GOP turnout. But farming communities nationwide have been adversely affected by the president’s tariff policy, as global trading partners scaled back agricultural purchases like soybeans in retaliation for higher levees.
The administration also decided to allow the up to 80,000 metric tons of low-tariff, lower-quality beef from Argentina to be imported to help keep grocery prices down, angering cattle ranchers who argue the decision will hurt domestic production and sales.
White House spokespeople didn’t immediately comment.
In:
- Environmental Protection Agency
- Donald Trump