American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall’s letter to President Joe Biden

March 8, 2022

President Joseph Biden
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Biden,

The American Farm Bureau Federation is the nation’s largest general farm organization. We have members in all 50 states and Puerto Rico engaged in all facets of agriculture. On behalf of our nearly 6 million Farm Bureau member families, I am writing to encourage you and your administration to work with partners in the public and private sectors and Congress to address high energy costs impacting all Americans.

Over the past 15 months, oil prices have increased by 130% to more than $120 per barrel, and gas prices are inching closer to record levels. As Russia’s harmful actions in Ukraine continue and further sanctions are imposed against Russia, oil prices will likely continue to rise, creating even higher consumer costs and threatening U.S. energy and economic security.

Farm Bureau supports removing barriers to domestic energy production, including more drilling and extraction of our energy resources. The utilization of domestically-produced fuels, including biofuels, has reduced our country’s dependence on foreign crude oil, increased farm incomes and provided good-paying jobs in rural America.

Expanding the volume of American-made ethanol in the U.S. fuel supply can help alleviate some of these issues, as ethanol is currently priced 70-80 cents per gallon lower than gasoline. And by displacing imported petroleum, increased biofuel use and domestic energy production will enhance U.S. security and independence while supporting America’s farmers and rural economies.

Achieving domestic energy independence through comprehensive energy sources remains a priority issue for Farm Bureau. We are committed to working with partners in the private and public sectors, your administration and Congress to address the current energy crisis.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

 

Zippy Duvall
President, American Farm Bureau Federation

 

Cc: Secretary Granholm, Department of Energy
Secretary Haaland, Department of Interior
Secretary Vilsack, Department of Agriculture
Administrator Regan, Environmental Protection Agency
Members of Congress