U.S. Ag Secretary Makes Stop at Atlantic Ethanol Plant

(Atlantic) U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins visited Iowa on Monday. Her first stop was a tour at the Elite Octane ethanol plant in Atlantic.

Following her tour, Secretary Rollins held a press conference alongside prominent figures, including Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, Congressman Zach Nunn, Senator Joni Ernst, Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, and Nick Bowdish, President and CEO of Elite Octane. Bowdish shared his optimistic outlook for biofuel over the next three years.

During the event, Secretary Rollins announced that the USDA will release funding for the higher blend’s infrastructure incentives program. The program will support 543 projects with a total investment of $537 million across 29 states.

Rollins emphasized President Trump’s commitment to supporting America’s farmers, ranchers, and small businesses, particularly in Iowa, where corn and soybean producers play a vital role in ethanol and biodiesel production.

She noted that the USDA actively seeks ways to enhance American energy and promote domestic biofuel initiatives.

Addressing the impact of the tariffs imposed on April 2, Rollins mentioned that the Trump administration is considering financial aid for farmers facing potential retaliation from international trade partners. She assured that the necessary infrastructure is in place to support farmers, although the specifics of the assistance remain to be clarified.

After her time in Atlantic, Rollins continued her tour with visits to a hog farm in Manning and Beck’s Hybrid in Colfax before concluding her day as the keynote speaker at the Iowa Ag Leaders Dinner at the FFA Enrichment Center in Ankeny.

Photo-L-R-Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Mike Naig, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks, Governor Reynolds, Congressman Zach Nunn, U.S. Sec. of Ag. Brooke Rollins, Elite Octane President and CEO Nick Bowdish, and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst.