Soybean association, biodiesel board officials meet Congressional leaders

The biodiesel tax credit is of extreme importance to the soybean industry.
The biodiesel tax credit is of extreme importance to the soybean industry. | File photo

Policy priorities and strategies were the topic of discussion when the American Soybean Association (ASA) and the National Biodiesel Board (NBB) met in Washington, D.C. last month. 

Included in the meetings were ASA representative and NBB Governing Board member Mike Cunningham from Illinois, other NBB Governing Board members and soybean farmers.

The meetings addressed the biodiesel tax credit, upcoming Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) volume requirements from the Environmental Protection Agency, legislative challenges to reforming RFS, trade issues and the increase in imports.

The biodiesel tax credit is of extreme importance to the soybean industry as it expires at the end of this year. Increasing imports means the tax credit will increasingly shift from a blender’s to a producer’s credit. The EPA will issue a Proposed Rule in late spring adjusting the volume requirements for Advanced Biofuels in 2017 and the Biomass-based diesel category in 2018.

The ASA and NBB worked together to answer questions posed by Congressional offices during Capitol Hill visits last month.