To the editor:

Growing up in northwestern Kansas, I learned that agriculture is a vital part of our state economy. I’ve also seen firsthand how the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) greatly benefits Kansas farmers and their local communities. Unfortunately, as the law currently stands, the Environmental Protection Agency will take over the RFS in 2023, which could have disastrous effects on our farming industry.

Created in 2005, the RFS requires certain volumes of corn ethanol or advanced and cellulosic biofuels to be blended into gasoline. This helped foster a robust market for conventional ethanol, accelerating growth in Kansas’ corn farming industry. Once the EPA takes control in 2023, however, it will only be required to set a floor for advanced biofuel blending volumes. The agency will have the ability to significantly reduce required ethanol volumes and could cut corn ethanol out of the RFS entirely.

Kansas’ 12 ethanol plants have led to significant development in our state and generated millions of dollars of revenue for rural communities. This growth indicates that the RFS has significantly impacted the state’s economy, but the program has cultivated a stable market that can now stand on its own.

It may surprise you that an astounding 98 percent of Kansas’ corn farms are family owned and operated. It’s my hope that any policy implemented would seek to preserve the future of those hardworking families. Retiring the RFS in 2022 would protect Kansas’ essential corn farming industry and ensure a successful future for our state.