July 1, 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following Senate passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Corn Refiners Association President and CEO John Bode released a statement welcoming progress to support the nation’s farmers and ranchers and calling for bipartisan work to secure stability for the USDA BioPreferred Program.
“The reconciliation package under consideration on Capitol Hill includes important language to ensure the continuity of the farm safety net and prevent a substantial tax increase, and we are pleased to see the process continue to unfold,” said Bode. “As lawmakers continue their work on this package and other legislation in 2025, CRA stands ready to aid efforts to include an extension of USDA’s BioPreferred Program in a piece of legislation destined for President Trump’s desk. This critical program supports farmers, rural communities, and domestic manufacturing jobs, and its continued success would be a tremendous benefit to the American economy.”
BACKGROUND
Administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the BioPreferred Program provides critical resources to the growing ag bioproducts industry, helps increase domestic demand for biobased products, and provides necessary clarity for both consumers and federal government customers. The program was first created in the 2002 Farm Bill and has received strong, bipartisan support in each subsequent Farm Bill.
The House-passed version of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act originally included a provision extending the life of the BioPreferred program. Unfortunately, due to constraints associated with the reconciliation process, this language was stripped via a technical corrections amendment. As such, CRA is calling for timely action on Capitol Hill to maintain the viability of this important program that supports American jobs and domestic commodity demand.
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About the Corn Refiners Association
The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) is the national trade association representing the corn refining industry of the United States. CRA and its predecessors have served this important segment of American agribusiness since 1913. Corn refiners manufacture sweeteners, starch, advanced bioproducts, corn oil and feed products from corn components such as starch, oil, protein and fiber.