Updated Farm Bill Draft Includes Year-Round E15

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman John Boozman has released an updated farm bill draft that would permanently allow nationwide, year-round sales of E15 gasoline.

The proposal could benefit Minnesota corn and ethanol producers by providing long-term certainty for higher ethanol blends.

The draft also revises proposed cost-sharing requirements for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Beginning in fiscal year 2029, states with SNAP payment error rates of at least six percent would be required to cover part of their benefit costs.

States with error rates of at least 10 percent would pay 20 percent beginning in fiscal year 2031. Both start dates are one year later than proposed in the previous draft.

The Senate Agriculture Committee is scheduled to consider the bill on Thursday, August 6. The provisions remain proposals and are not yet law. Senate Agriculture Committee