Proposed refinery exemptions could eliminate 500 million gallons of biomass-based diesel demand and cost soybean farmers nearly $1 billion.
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Soybean Association (MSA) is urging the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to ensure rumored reports of expanded small refinery exemptions (SREs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) do not become reality. Additional SREs would significantly reduce demand for soybean-based biofuels and undermine one of agriculture’s strongest domestic markets.
MSA applauded President Trump and EPA when they finalized the strongest RVOs in the history of the RFS this past spring. Those volumes provided certainty for soybean farmers, encouraged investment in biodiesel and renewable diesel, expanded domestic demand for soybean oil and reinforced the administration’s commitment to American agriculture.
However, recent reports indicate small refinery exemptions for the 2025 compliance year could exceed 1.8 billion Renewable Identification Number (RIN) credits under a revised methodology being considered by EPA. That level would be nearly double the exemptions EPA assumed when it finalized the 2026-27 RVO rule earlier this year.
If these rumors become reality, approving refinery exemptions well beyond original assumptions would erase those gains originally secured by President Trump.
“Missouri soybean farmers supported the President’s actions this past spring because they bolstered U.S. markets, strengthened rural economies and reinforced America’s energy independence” said Cody Brock, president of the Missouri Soybean Association. “The President has consistently emphasized the need to utilize agricultural products domestically, and his record RVO’s validated his commitment to the American farmer. We urge the President to stand by those commitments and reject any rumored proposal that would undo the progress his administration has already made.”
The reported exemptions could eliminate approximately 500 million gallons of biomass-based diesel demand and cost U.S. soybean farmers nearly $1 billion in lost revenue. At a time when farm profitability remains under significant pressure, Missouri soybean farmers cannot afford to lose one of their most important domestic markets.