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Farm Bureau is applauding U.S. Senate passage of a comprehensive energy bill that will benefit American farmers, consumers and the environment. The energy measure's highlight – the renewable fuels standard – calls for the use of 5 billion gallons of renewable corn-based ethanol and soybean-based motor fuels by 2010. The measure also bans the petroleum-based oxygenate MTBE. Farm Bureau was instrumental in crafting this historic agreement between the petroleum industry and agriculture.

"The Senate energy bill is a victory for agriculture," said AFBF President Bob Stallman. "The new renewable fuels requirements will triple the use of farm-grown motor fuels over the next 10 years – boosting commodity prices and farm income, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and helping to achieve air pollution reduction goals."

Estimates show the renewable fuel standard will replace 66 billion gallons of foreign crude oil and increase net farm income by more than $6.6 billion per year.

Stallman also praised senators for rejecting a measure that would have increased fuel economy standards for light trucks – an every day "tool" on farms and ranches. Because of the horsepower farmers and ranchers demand from light trucks to perform daily tasks, Stallman said any power reduction as a result of increased efficiency standards would "impose serious hardships on American's farmers and rural communities."

One Farm Bureau supported component did not make it into the final version of the Senate bill. The Senate refused to allow exploration for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Reserve. Ohio Sen. George Voinovich supported Farm Bureau’s position that exploration could be done in a way that would provide America with additional energy without undue harm to the environment. Sen. Mike DeWine voted in opposition to Farm Bureau’s stance.