Iowa’s biodiesel industry produced 353 million gallons in 2024. More than two billion pounds of soybean oil were used as feedstock to produce the fuel, equivalent to the oil from nearly 178 million bushels of soybeans. (Photo: Iowa Biodiesel Board)
National Biodiesel Day Highlights 'Considerable Work Left' to Boost Clean Fuels
March 18, 2025
Brent Swart, president of the Iowa Soybean Association (ISA) and soybean farmer from Spencer, issued the following statement in honor of National Biodiesel Day on March 18:
“National Biodiesel Day recognizes the important contributions of biodiesel to our local economies, environment and energy security. While these achievements are worth celebrating, there’s a considerable amount of work left to ensure farmers, biofuel producers and consumers can fully capture the benefits of biodiesel and other low-carbon fuels.
“Iowa farmers and biofuel producers are facing the grim reality of non-existent margins, due in part to federal policy uncertainty on domestic renewable fuels production and sluggish trade. Many of our state’s once-thriving biodiesel plants now sit idle or operate at a reduced capacity. These facilities are critical to Iowa’s agricultural economy, with biodiesel supporting 13 percent of the price per bushel of soybeans.
“The time to act on these issues is long overdue. Farmers and other industry stakeholders continue to wait for a final rule on a revised biodiesel tax credit, as well as a federal Renewable Fuel Standard program that better reflects real-world production. A recent feedstock study published by the National Oilseed Processors Association found that U.S. domestic feedstocks – including soybeans grown right here in Iowa – can support 5.3 billion gallons of biomass-based diesel production in 2026 and 6.7 billion gallons by 2030. This is well above past annual renewable fuel obligations set by the Environmental Protection Agency in 2023, 2024 and 2025.
“Despite the current market uncertainty, there are reasons to be optimistic about the future of the U.S. biodiesel industry. Iowa has long been a leader in the space, enacting the first-ever B30 incentive (30 percent biodiesel) to grow domestic energy production, reduce emissions and create stronger demand for the soybeans we produce.”
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Not funded by the soybean checkoff
The Iowa Soybean Association (www.iasoybeans.com) is “Driven To Deliver” increased soybean demand through market development and new uses, farmer-focused research and results, timely information and know-how and policy initiatives enabling farmers and the industry to flourish. Founded in 1964 by farmers to serve farmers, ISA is governed by a board of 22 farmers to advocate on behalf of the state’s 37,000 soybean producers, including more than 15,000 ISA farmer members and industry stakeholders.
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