OPINION:
An underreported issue playing out in Washington is having a serious impact on U.S. economic security. As we approach 2026, farmers across the country are still operating in limbo as policymakers delay setting the Renewable Volume Obligations.
For producers making planting, financing and investment decisions now, the uncertainty is reshaping what gets planted, what gets sold and whether some farms survive at all.
Across the Midwest, soybean farmers are cutting acres, selling below the cost of production and burning through equity just to stay afloat. Many remain exposed to foreign markets, particularly China, which has repeatedly weaponized trade and shifted purchases to competitors such as Brazil. That dependence leaves American agriculture vulnerable, erodes U.S. leverage and exposes a critical sector of our economy to geopolitical risk.
One argument circulating in Washington is that stronger RVOs are unnecessary because current “crush capacity” is limited. (Crush capacity refers to the facilities that process soybeans into oil and meal for domestic uses such as biofuels and livestock feed.) This argument ignores what is already happening on the ground: New crush plants are under construction or planned in states such as North Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Wisconsin and Ohio. These investments create well-paying jobs not only for farmers but also for construction workers, truckers, equipment dealers, processors and rural communities that depend on a strong, resilient agricultural economy.
The facts are simple: Capacity follows demand. Clear policy signals unlock private investment. Prolonged uncertainty freezes it, weakening domestic supply chains essential to economic security.
The Trump administration has taken steps to provide temporary financial relief to farmers, which is welcome, but short-term aid cannot replace stable markets. Finalizing a strong RVO would immediately expand domestic demand for American-grown crops, strengthen prices at the farm gate and accelerate investment in U.S. processing infrastructure.
Strong RVOs are an America-first economic security opportunity. They reduce reliance on foreign adversaries, strengthen domestic supply chains and support farmers and the workers who move, process and deliver American crops. Washington should seize it.
STEVE CRIM
Founder and president, Common Sense America
Annapolis, Maryland
Please read our comment policy before commenting.