The Wisconsin Soybean Association is urging President Donald Trump and his administration to reject a dramatic expansion of small refinery exemptions under the Renewable Fuel Standard.

Reports indicate exemptions for the 2025 compliance year could exceed 1.8 billion Renewable Identification Number credits, nearly twice the amount EPA anticipated when establishing its 2026-27 renewable fuel volumes. According to the American Soybean Association, exemptions of that magnitude could eliminate approximately 500 million gallons of biomass-based diesel demand and cost U.S. soybean farmers nearly $1 billion in lost revenue.

“The American biofuels industry is responsible for immense economic gain to Wisconsin soybean farmers,” said ASA treasurer and Wisconsin farmer Tanner Johnson. “Cutting volumes now would set farmers and the biofuels industry back a great deal and only help the oil refiners at a time when they’re experiencing record profits.”

WSA recognizes that exemptions are available to small refineries that demonstrate disproportionate economic hardship. However, they must not be expanded so broadly that they weaken the Renewable Fuel Standard and erase demand promised through established blending requirements.

“We strongly support an all-of-the-above energy strategy that includes American-grown biofuels,” said WSA Vice President Matt Rehberg. “Soy-based biodiesel and renewable diesel support farmers, rural jobs and domestic energy production. The administration should stand with American agriculture and protect the biofuel demand it worked to create.”

WSA encourages Wisconsin soybean farmers to visit the Soy Action Center at https://soygrowers.com/soy-action-center/ and urge the administration to reject an unjustified expansion of small refinery exemptions. Farmers are encouraged to personalize the provided message by explaining what reduced soybean and biofuel demand would mean for their farms and communities.