By Steve Holland
WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) – President Donald Trump on Thursday said his administration will announce actions to help U.S. farmers on Friday, as the White House prepares to host hundreds of farmers, ranchers and executives for an event highlighting the agricultural sector.
The move comes as the administration is expected to release long-awaited biofuel blending quotas under the Renewable Fuel Standard, a policy closely watched by corn growers, ethanol producers and oil refiners that dictates how much renewable fuel must be mixed into the nation’s gasoline and diesel supply.
Reuters reported that the Trump administration will release its 2026-27 biofuel blending volume obligations this week, according to two sources familiar with the matter. The rule will not differ materially from volumes proposed by the EPA prior to the onset of the Iran war, the sources said.
Trump, speaking to reporters at a cabinet meeting on Thursday, said U.S. farmers had been mistreated by some countries and touted the multibillion-dollar bailout farmers received to help offset losses related to tariffs.
The biofuel decision comes at a fraught moment for both the oil and farm sectors, with the White House balancing pressure from refiners worried about gasoline prices and farmers counting on stronger biofuel demand to support crop markets.
(Reporting by Steve Holland, Doina Chiacu and Humeyra Pamuk in Washington; Editing by Daphne Psaledakis, Caitlin Webber and Bill Berkrot)
