This may seem obvious, but I’m going to say it anyway. Now more than ever, farmers and ranchers need and deserve a seat at every table where agriculture’s future is decided.
Agriculture is at an inflection point. Costs for fuel, fertilizer, and other farm inputs are too high, crop prices have stayed mostly flat, and many farm families are feeling financial pressures not seen since the 1980s farm crisis. The American Farm Bureau Federation reported we are in the third consecutive year of declining farm income.
That is why USFRA commissioned the new study, Fueling Agriculture: Biofuels as the Catalyst, which shows biofuels can meaningfully boost farmer incomes and stabilize rural economies. We’re sharing these findings widely to benefit farmers and rural communities alike. You can view the report’s launch performance and impact analytics here. It’s also why we continue to show up with and for farmers and ranchers, from the Rose Garden to the Corn Belt to COP31 in Turkey, as you’ll read more about in this issue. Our focus stays the same: making sure farmers and ranchers aren’t just present in these conversations, but leading them.
Thank you for your continued support.
Kevin Burkum
CEO
U.S. Farmers & Ranchers in Action
This summer, the USFRA team engaged with farmers, partners and ag stakeholders on issues shaping agriculture’s future — from biofuels innovation to rural economic growth.
In June, USFRA Vice Chair Chip Bowling of Maryland Grain Producers represented USFRA at a White House Rose Garden dinner celebrating farmers, alongside President Donald Trump and USDA Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins.
In July, Bowling and USFRA CEO Kevin Burkum connected with growers at the 28th annual Maryland Commodity Classic, discussing how to strengthen rural economies and expand markets for biofuels.
In August, USFRA sponsored the Developing Sustainable Fuel Markets Through Conservation event, where Bowling and Doug Berven of POET, also a USFRA board member, shared insights from USFRA’s new landmark biofuels study. USFRA partners BASF, MagrowTec and Iowa Corn also participated in the event, which explored sustainable fuel markets, carbon intensity scoring, and conservation programs.
The momentum continues, with USFRA set to engage at several key events in the coming months:
– Ogallala Aquifer Resilience Finance & Implementation Convening — Denver, Aug. 26
– Farm Progress Show 2026 — Boone, IA, Sept. 1–3
– Great Lakes Sustainable Fuel Symposium — Dearborn, MI, Sept. 2–3
– Climate Innovation Day — St. Louis, Sept. 17–18
– Climate Week NYC — Sept. 20–27
– Animal Health, Nutrition & Technology Conference — Boston, Oct. 26–28
– World Biofuels, Ethanol & Feedstocks Conference — Barcelona, Nov. 3–5
– United Nations Climate Change Conference — Antalya, Turkey, Nov. 9–20
– Climate Resilience Innovation Forum — New York, Dec. 2-3
Hope to see you there!
USFRA partners with organizations that support the critically significant role of creating opportunities for collaboration, information sharing and solution development in agriculture.
USFRA member United Soybean Board (USB) announced that Courtney Knupp will join the organization as its chief executive officer starting October 1. Knupp currently serves as director of global supply chain at the National Security Council and brings nearly two decades of experience spanning agriculture, international trade, public policy and market development.
USFRA’s podcast, Farm+Food+Facts, is recognized as one of the top podcasts exploring sustainable food systems—and this month’s episodes are not to be missed.
The newest episode features Serena Schaffner, chief marketing officer at the American Pecan Council and the American Pecan Promotion Board, and Larry Don Womack, farmer and USFRA board member, as they discuss the pecan growing season, industry challenges and consumer trends. Listen HERE.
Another episode features Nick Peterson, a farmer from central Minnesota, and Luke Haggerty, research & district field manager for the Minnesota Corn Growers Association, as they discuss key findings from the new 2025 sustainability report from Minnesota Corn Growers. Listen HERE.
Don’t miss out — subscribe to Farm+Food+Facts wherever you listen to podcasts.
Important dates:
Aug. 26: Ogallala Aquifer Resilience Finance & Implementation Convening, Denver
Sept. 1-3: Farm Progress Show, Iowa
Sept. 2-3: Great Lakes Sustainable Fuel Symposium, Michigan
Sept. 17-18: Climate Innovation Day, St. Louis
Sept. 20-27: Climate Week NYC
Oct. 26-28: Animal Health, Nutrition & Technology Innovation, Boston
Nov. 3-5: World Biofuels, Ethanol & Feedstocks, Barcelona
Nov. 9-20: United Nations Climate Change Conference, Antalya, Turkey
Dec. 2-3: Climate Resilience Innovation Forum, New York City
