For years, American farmers have been told to be patient—to wait for export markets, particularly China, to rebound and absorb surplus crops. That advice no longer reflects reality. The global agricultural landscape has shifted, and U.S. producers are paying the price for policies that haven’t kept pace.
America’s share of global soybean exports is declining, while China continues to source more of its soybeans from Brazil and other competitors. Even when trade flows resume, they are increasingly unpredictable, shaped by geopolitics, foreign industrial policy, and global market volatility. Waiting on exports leaves U.S. farmers exposed to weaker prices, sudden disruptions, and prolonged uncertainty—conditions no business can sustainably operate under, especially in agriculture.
The most immediate and reliable lever available to policymakers is domestic demand. And no policy tool has a greater impact on demand for American-grown crops than the Renewable Fuel Standard and its Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs). A strong, finalized RVO immediately increases domestic demand for soybean oil and other agricultural feedstocks. It sends a clear market signal that strengthens prices at the farm gate, drives new private investment in soybean crush capacity, and supports farm income and rural jobs. Just as importantly, it reduces reliance on foreign biofuels and unstable global markets by anchoring demand here at home.
Critics often argue that higher RVOs aren’t feasible because there isn’t enough crush capacity today. But that argument gets the sequence backward. Crush capacity follows demand. It is the certainty created by the RVO that unlocks investment, encourages expansion, and brings new facilities online. Without that certainty, capital stays on the sidelines and farmers bear the cost.
America-First leadership means choosing policies that work for American producers—not asking them to wait on foreign markets or geopolitical competitors. Finalizing strong Renewable Volume Obligations is a straightforward, immediate step the Administration can take to put farmers first, strengthen domestic energy production, and reinforce economic security. The message should be clear: America will grow its own crops, fuel its own economy, and invest in its own rural communities. It’s time to finalize strong RVOs and deliver on an America-First agenda for U.S. agriculture.
