FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Brittany Jablonsky, 202-314-3108
[email protected]

WASHINGTON (May 7, 2014) — Today National Farmers Union (NFU) President Roger Johnson joins Michael Scuse, under secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and a number of other renewable energy and agriculture leaders from across the country on a mission to promote U.S.-produced biofuels and other agricultural products in northeast China.

“The U.S. ethanol industry has developed into an extraordinarily productive, efficient and competitive sector of the economy. I am pleased to have the opportunity to promote homegrown biofuels and their environmental benefits to our trading partners,” said Johnson.

The United States could increase domestic demand for biofuels by increasing the percentage of ethanol blended with gasoline. However, the U.S. oil industry has consistently blocked proposals to do so.

“Unfortunately, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is hampering the ethanol industry’s further development by proposing to reduce biofuel production targets under the Renewable Fuel Standard,” said Johnson. “I hope American-grown biofuels can comprise a significant part of China’s long-term clean energy strategy, and I urge the EPA to withdraw its proposal in order to continue to drive demand for ethanol both here and abroad.”

National Farmers Union has been working since 1902 to protect and enhance the economic well-being and quality of life for family farmers, ranchers and rural communities through advocating grassroots-driven policy positions adopted by its membership.

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